Make a Push for Top In-State Hoops Prospects
Rick Barnes did a fantastic job of stabilizing the roster with the 2015 class – but the 2016 class is where the immediate future of Tennessee basketball will be decided. Fortunately for the Vols, 2016 is a big year for in-state talent. It’s imperative for the program that Barnes and Co. make up ground on in-state prospects Braxton Blackwell and Abdul Ado.
Blackwell is rated as a 4-star prospect and as the No. 35 player in the nation by 247Sports. He has offers from Kansas, Florida, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Texas, Louisville and others. Ado is rated as a 5-star prospect and as the No. 17 player in the nation per 247Sports. He has visited Tennessee multiple times but is also being heavily pursued by the likes of Louisville, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Auburn and others. They’re both interested in Tennessee, but Barnes has his work cut out from him – he hasn’t had as much time to pursue them as his competitors.
