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Tennessee basketball: Ranking every Vols newcomer for 2022-23

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 12, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during the second half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during the second half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Archbishop Stepinac’s Boogie Fland drives to the net under pressure from Cardinal Hayes’ Tobe Awaka during the CHSAA AA Intersectional final at Hofstra University March 11, 2022. Hayes won 79-59.Stepinac Vs Cardinal Hayes Basketball
Archbishop Stepinac’s Boogie Fland drives to the net under pressure from Cardinal Hayes’ Tobe Awaka during the CHSAA AA Intersectional final at Hofstra University March 11, 2022. Hayes won 79-59.Stepinac Vs Cardinal Hayes Basketball /

Scouting Report. Freshman. Tobe Awaka. player. 534. Pick Analysis. Forward. 4

By reclassifying into the 2022 class, Tobe Awaka becomes the second true power forward on Tennessee basketball this year.

Despite not being as highly touted as D.J. Jefferson, Tobe Awaka fills a direct need. He was a three-star on Rivals and On3 who is not yet rated on 247Sports and doesn’t even have a profile on ESPN. That’s because he was supposed to be part of the 2023 recruiting class, but by reclassifying for 2022, he gives Rick Barnes a ton of flexibility.

Standing at 6’8″ and weighing 240 pounds, Awaka joins Olivier Nkamhoua as the two true power forward for Tennessee basketball. As a result, if Barnes doesn’t move any wings to the four, there’s a chance Awaka works his way into the two-deep rotation early.

In fact, given the injury issues Nkamhoua dealt with this past year, Awaka has a chance to see even more action than anybody would have anticipated. Of course, if Nkamhoua isn’t ready to go, it’s likely Josiah-Jordan James becomes the starter at the four again, and Awaka isn’t a true center. Those things are working against him.

However, Awaka is one of four true post players on the team, joining Nkamhoua, Jonas Aidoo and Uros Plavsic. With the departures of John Fulkerson and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, that gives him a great chance to see a lot of minutes for the Vols this year.

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