Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[mr.checkerboards]

Chandler played well, especially down the stretch but compare his one year contribution to someone here for 3 or 4 years like JJJ or best case scenario Grant Williams. I want players here for more than one year. Maybe we take the occasional likely one and done prospect but I predict ZZZ will have a lot bigger impact over his career than Chandler will.

You can build youre core around guys that will be here that long if you want, but to actually make noise in the dance you need those one and done talents or close to it.

 

[johnfnkelly]

Chandler’s contribution this season was equal to, or more important than any other player. He was the closest thing we had to a player who could score at will, in addition to playing the game like a senior pg.

Chandler is the type of 5* you're looking for, assuming it's not a top 3 level prospect like Paolo. His game translated to college a lot better than a kid like Keon, although Keon might be the better NBA prospect.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Chandler is the type of 5* you're looking for, assuming it's not a top 3 level prospect like Paolo. His game translated to college a lot better than a kid like Keon, although Keon might be the better NBA prospect.

Keon and Springer’s story would have been far different if that team had either KC or ZZ as a PG. I would have loved to have had one of KJ or JS on this year’s roster. Wouldn’t have had nearly as many minutes with KC and ZZ sharing court time though.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Anyone got On3 account that can share? TIA

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

Anyone got On3 account that can share? TIA

Skyy Clark / Credit: Dan Fritz
Class of 2022 four-star Skyy Clark is down to six schools: Louisville, Illinois, Tennessee, USC, Maryland, and Washington.
The 6-3 point guard out of Montverde (Fla.) Academy sat down with On3 to discuss each of his finalists, potential visits, and a timeline for a decision.
Which schools/staffs have been in to see you since you decommitted from Kentucky?
Maryland, Washington, Tennessee, and an in-home visit with Illinois.
Tell me about Maryland and what you think about their new staff.
Maryland came to practice last Tuesday. Coach (Kevin) Willard, Grant (Billmeier), (Tony) Skinn all watched me practice, and then after we went upstairs and talked for a good 30-45 minutes. I actually rock with them. I like Coach Willard a lot. He was giving me examples of when he was coaching Isaiah Whitehead and Myles Powell. He said he’d build the offense around me and the ball is going to be in my hands. He says I remind him a lot of himself, just how tough we are. I rock with him a lot. He’s really cool. So is coach Skinn and coach Grant.
Tennessee, they’re the most recent school to come see you in person. Who came to see you from that program?
Coach (Justin) Gainey. I’ve had multiple phone calls with Coach (Rick) Barnes too.
What did Coach Gainey say to you about Tennessee?
We didn’t really have much conversation about Tennessee because I’ve been talking to Coach Barnes about all of that, but we were just catching up and stuff.
How much do you know about Tennessee’s program and what are your overall thoughts on the school?
I know that they have a great program, and they’ve had a great program for a super long time. I know if Coach Barnes trusts his guards, he’s going to let them rock. We saw that this year with Kennedy (Chandler) and Zakai (Zeigler). I really like what they’re doing over there too.
What’s Washington’s recruiting pitch?
I got the keys. They want to build the team around me and do everything they can to get me to where I want to go. Coach Hop (Mike Hopkins) is probably one of the coolest coaches I’ve ever met. He’s the funniest coach for sure. He’s got so much energy. The Zoom call we had with him, he got on the table and started river dancing. You can’t have a bad day around Coach Hop; he’s all good energy, all the time too.
How did the in-home visit with Illinois go?
I love Coach (Brad) Underwood. He’s another coach that’s just super cool and I like the way he pushes his players. That was my first time meeting him, and he left a really good impression. But I’ve known Coach Tim (Anderson) for as long as I can remember. He recruited me to DePaul in eighth grade. Me and Coach Tim have always kept a super-strong relationship.
What’s your relationship like with Kenny Payne?
We had a good relationship (at Kentucky) before he left. We didn’t really talk much once he left, I don’t think we talked at all once he left because I don’t think it was legal for him to because he was with the Knicks. But ever since he’s come back to Louisville, we’ve been just reconnecting and stuff and it’s been great.
What’s USC’s pitch and who’s been reaching out from over there?
Coach (Andy) Enfield and Coach Jay Morris have. They’ve been great too. It would be nice to go back home but I really like what they’re doing over there too.
Any college visits planned?
Yeah, I plan on going to Louisville, USC, Illinois, and Maryland.
Do you have dates set up for those schools?
No, not yet. But I’ve been working on it. It’ll be after Geico Nationals.
The Jordan Brand Classic (April 15) is in Chicago so I’m thinking about taking my Illinois visit when I’m out there because it’s only like a two-hour drive.
Do you have a timetable for a decision?
Around the Jordan Brand Classic, or mid-April. I’m not for sure yet though. It’ll be in April

 

[johnfnkelly]

Louisville or Illinois

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Yea, no visit plans to Knoxville would suggest we aren’t a major factor imo.

 

[AurantiacoFan]

Julian Phillips and a transfer shooter would be nice for next year.

 

[walkenvol]

Chandler played well, especially down the stretch but compare his one year contribution to someone here for 3 or 4 years like JJJ or best case scenario Grant Williams. I want players here for more than one year. Maybe we take the occasional likely one and done prospect but I predict ZZZ will have a lot bigger impact over his career than Chandler will.

We certainly are better off with a base team of 3+ year players but the occasional 1&done that can blend in with the existing team has the potential to add something that might get our team over the S16 hump

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Could be an option.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Could be an option.

I really like his game. He showed out in the SEC this year on a very bad team. I’m not sure how interested we will be with so few spots available, but I hope we at least reach out and gauge his interest.

 

[AngryButchJones]

Uhhh yes please?? I'd love to get him. But as @TheMookieMonster said, not sure how much we can do with the limited spots we have available. But if we can't get Julian Phillips, getting someone like Oquendo would be awesome. But also not sure if UT would be his top choice. He may want to go somewhere where he can be the No. 1 option, and I'm not sure he'd be that here, not with Santi still here.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Uhhh yes please?? I'd love to get him. But as @TheMookieMonster said, not sure how much we can do with the limited spots we have available. But if we can't get Julian Phillips, getting someone like Oquendo would be awesome. But also not sure if UT would be his top choice. He may want to go somewhere where he can be the No. 1 option, and I'm not sure he'd be that here, not with Santi still here.

I would assume after being on a dog **** team for an entire season he probably just wants to go somewhere he can win more than being #1, which I have no evidence to prove just makes sense to me lol.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Crean seems to respect Barnes, maybe he’ll put in a good word for us.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Promise I’m not high, but they should make a tv show called “transfer portal” they take the biggest and most obscure names from the transfer portal and put them in a house “jersey shore” style. Film everything while they work out/ run pick up games in front of college coaches.

 

[Chemvol]

Promise I’m not high, but they should make a tv show called “transfer portal” they take the biggest and most obscure names from the transfer portal and put them in a house “jersey shore” style. Film everything while they work out/ run pick up games in front of college coaches.

Don't give ESPN any ideas.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

If he can play anything like he did at Illi, this would be a huge get for someone.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

Don't give ESPN any ideas.

Hell, I’d watch it lol

 

[Chemvol]

Hell, I’d watch it lol

I'd copyright that concept (if that's possible) so I'd get paid.

 

[golfballs]

If he can play anything like he did at Illi, this would be a huge get for someone.

Jordan Bowden comp

 

[Dallasbowlin]

I'd copyright that concept (if that's possible) so I'd get paid.

funny story, I once had the idea of a basketball game where you started in high school and had to work your way to the NBA. Few years later, they added the exact same storyline to NBA 2K. Lol

 

[Volfanatic_20]

There have been a ton of questions about Skyy Clark today, here's what I have gathered.

From someone I'll say is close to the situation the description of what I got from the Tennessee perspective is that the Vols are 'kicking the tires.'

Tennessee coaches have met and spoken with Clark. Based on what I can gather, from the nature and depth of their conversations to date I think the Tennessee side was a little surprised to see him go on social media and say that the Vols were in his top six. I don't think Tennessee felt like things had progressed to that point for either party.

Tennessee--and a lot of other programs I imagine--was hoping that Clark would take part in this weekend's Geico Prep School National Championships with his Montverde Academy squad but he apparently has elected not to play. Lots of people would have liked to have had a chance to evaluate him this weekend after he missed so much time with his knee injury.

So, in short, I would say that Tennessee is involved, doing some homework and getting a feel for the situation. I'd pump the brakes on saying anything is about to happen.

On Julian Phillips, that one is far more serious. Phillips is taking part in the Geico event with his Link Year Academy program. The feeling we've gotten is that Philips is going to make a decision pretty quickly and will not be taking any visits before that decision. Barring a change--which could always happen--it sounds like it's coming down to Tennessee, Florida State and USC, the three schools other than LSU that he took official visits to the first time around. This one bears watching for sure but the Vols are in a battle.

Lastly, on transfers, every time a new name shows up in the portal someone wants to know 'Is Tennessee recruiting him.' As of Tuesday evening, March 29, LSU's Brandon Murray is the one guy that I think Tennessee is serious enough about to take right now. Does that mean they aren't looking at other transfers? No. They're literally investigating/evaluating dozens of transfers at the moment and it's a certainty that they'll get serious about some other guys as things develop, but right now it's not a case where they're seriously recruiting dozens of transfers. They've reached out to Murray and are actively pursuing him.

-Rob Lewis, VQ

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Sounds like Phillips is a lean to the Vols.

Clark is going elsewhere. Probably just put us in his Top 6 out of respect for Barnes.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Sounds like Phillips is a lean to the Vols.

Clark is going elsewhere. Probably just put us in his Top 6 out of wanting attention.

FYP