Tennessee basketball: Vols are in on some big names in 2020

Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball squad is in on some big names for the 2020 recruiting class. Here are a few names you will hear more of this year.

When you are the third highest paid college basketball coach in the land, you better step your game up. I’m not suggesting Rick Barnes is slacking, but the way the UCLA situation went down isn’t the best of looks. One thing is for sure, the Tennessee basketball team better win and win big to satisfy fans.

Barnes has shown that he can develop kids that weren’t the highest rated coming out of high school and win games. But, no one can deny it helps to have talent on the roster.

The Vols only have one commit in the 2020 class so far, but they are in on some big names. The first is the 6-foot-6 small forward, Corey Walker. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, the four-star recruit from Jacksonville, Florida is listed as the 31st prospect in the nation. He’s ranked as the eighth highest small forward and fourth highest recruit from Florida.

Walker is extremely athletic and has great length for his size. The outside jumper is a working process, but he can get hot from time to time. He is long enough to take advantage of smaller players on the block.

At the moment, Rick Barnes and the Tennessee program have offered three five-stars in the 2020 class. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Sharife Cooper is a five-star point guard from Marietta, GA. He ranks 18th nationally, third point guard, and the third highest player in Georgia.

Shooting guard, Jaden Springer is another five-star prospect the Vols could land in 2020. Springer ranks 12th nationally, fourth highest shooting guard, and third highest in Florida.

Finally, Walker Kessler is the last five-star that Tennessee has offered. Like Cooper and Springer, Kessler is ranked inside the top-20 nationally and the second player in Georgia.

There are a few four-star recruits in the mix as well. That list includes Jalen Cone, Keon Johnson, Jayden Stone, Matthew Murrell, Micah Peavy, P.J. Hall, Dain Dainja, Justice Ajogbor, Dylan Cardwell.

If Rick Barnes can sign three players from that list of names, the basketball program will be in great hands moving forward.