Just when you thought the roster for the 2025-26 campaign was all locked in for the Tennessee basketball team, head coach Rick Barnes went ahead and pulled a fast one on us. In case you missed it on Friday, 22-year-old combo guard Ethan Burg has committed to the Vols.
Wait, where did this come from? It's a move that had been in the works for a little while, but with Burg getting NCAA clearance, things were finally finalized. It goes without saying, but this is an exciting get for the Vols at this point of the offseason.
Burg is a veteran guard already and he's got pro experience - for the past two seasons, the Israeli standout has suited up for Bnei Herzliya, which is in Israel's top pro league. The 6-3 CG averaged 11 points last campaign and shot 37 percent from downtown. To make things better for Barnes, insider Joe Tipton is reporting that Burg is going to have 2-3 years of eligibility in Knoxville:
NEWS: Tennessee has landed a commitment from 22-year-old international prospect Ethan Burg, source told @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 18, 2025
The 6-3 combo guard from Israel has played professionally the last two seasons. He’s expected to have two-three years of eligibility for the Vols.… pic.twitter.com/pYjAhul0A4
Guard Ethan Burg will reportedly have 2-3 years of eligibiliy with Tennessee basketball
So, not only is Barnes bringing in a veteran playmaker like this, but Burg also isn't going to be one and done? That makes things even better if you ask us. Burg can knock down shots from all over the floor and his experience in the pros is surely going to make a difference once SEC play gets here.
He's one of the many new faces who will be making plays for Barnes next campaign. In addition to Burg, fans are excited about Nate Ament, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and others. They're all ready to put on a show for the Vols once the new season gets here. The hype keeps growing for this team.
Last season, Tennessee was outstanding, reaching the SEC Tournament title game and reaching the Elite Eight. The dreams of playing in the Final Four fell short, but Barnes has reloaded his roster and things are looking exciting for 2025-26. The news on Burg only makes things better, especially with him here for the long haul too.