Finding elite guards who can play multiple positions has been Rick Barnes’ forte with Tennessee basketball in recent years, and he’s still looking for that player in his 2023 class. Well, he now appears to have the Vols trending for one of those prospects.
Aden Holloway, a four-star across the board, has the Vols in his top four, according to Eric Bossi of 247Sports. Standing between 6’0″ and 6’1″ and weighing in the range of 155 to 170 pounds, Holloway is listed at point guard on every service except On3, where he is listed at combo guard.
Initially from North Carolina, Holloway, who is about to move to California after playing high school ball in Indiana this past year, has the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Auburn Tigers and Miami Hurricanes on his list as well in addition to Tennessee basketball. Here’s a bit of what he said about the Vols.
"“The teammates welcomed me with open arms on my visit. It was like I was going to be there to play with them on the next day, it was crazy. It was nice, I loved it. There’s a lot to like about Tennessee.”"
After playing at Lu Lumiere School in LaPorte, Ind., the Charlotte, N.C., native will be attending Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., for his upcoming senior year. He is also a member of Team CP3 in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League, which is affiliated with Chris Paul.
Being on that team combining with hailing from Mecklenberg County helps explain why Wake Forest is on the list. Bruce Pearl has his own connections to Indiana with nine years of experience coaching the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles in the 1990s and early 2000s, where he won a Division II national title in 1995.
As a result, Barnes and the Vols will have to do a lot of work to lure Holloway away from Auburn and Wake Forest, and Miami won’t be easy either. However, with Cade Phillips, a 6’9″ four-star forward across the board, as the Vols’ only commitment for 2023 so far, there’s room for a guy like Holloway to join.
Currently, Auburn is the unanimous favorite on the Rivals Future Cast and has the only 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction, which brings with it a high confidence interval. On3 has them as an overwhelming majority favorite. Tennessee basketball is the plurality favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast, but landing him will be tough.