It was quite the afternoon for Tennessee’s basketball program.
Just after 1 p.m. ET on Sportscenter’s Instagram account, five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler went live with ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi to announce his commitment to the Vols over Kentucky, Memphis, North Carolina and Duke. The decision sent Twitter into a frenzy.
COMMITTED? #GBO pic.twitter.com/bqMmENvT5M
— Kennedy Chandler (@KChandler_1) August 14, 2020
Here’s a look at the reaction on social media Chandler’s commitment received.
We’ll start with Tennessee’s social media account. Once again, @Vol_Hoops won the day with several elite tweets.
VOLUNTEER ? STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/emRaLOlOcr
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) August 14, 2020
good looking out @JaMorant ✊
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) August 14, 2020
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) August 14, 2020
Then, several former Vols got in on the action. Two-time SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams congratulated Chandler, while also checking in on five-star power forward Paolo Banchero, who is yet another elite prospect that Tennessee has positioned itself well with.
First @KChandler_1 Welcome the family brother, can’t wait to see you hoop in TBA. Second @Pp_doesit what’s good?
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) August 14, 2020
Current Vol Davonte Gaines also got in on the action of checking in with Banchero.
@Pp_doesit what’s up bro , how u been
— Ticket “Hollywood” Gaines (@TheRealTicket0) August 14, 2020
Banchero let “Ticket” know he’s been good lately.
i been good ticket!! https://t.co/B0GnFzqwf3
— Paolo (Paul-Oh)?? (@Pp_doesit) August 14, 2020
Gaines also checked in on the other elite target Tennessee is after, five-star power forward Jabari Smith.
@jabarismithll what’s up brotha
— Ticket “Hollywood” Gaines (@TheRealTicket0) August 14, 2020
Smith appeared to acknowledge the fireworks that took place in Knoxville on Friday.
??♂️??♂️?
— Jabari Smith ll (@jabarismithll) August 14, 2020
Jordan Bowden celebrated in a very Jordan Bowden-type way.
Mood ??? @KChandler_1 welcome brodie ?? pic.twitter.com/kqtueI8rXe
— Jordan Bowden (@_iamjbow) August 14, 2020
Lamonte Turner himself took note of the decade Tennessee basketball is in the midst of. It is the ‘Decade of the Vols’ after all.
Tennessee basketball this decade whewwwwwwwww
— Lamonte’ Turner (@LTurn1) August 14, 2020
Chandler received a very cool congratulations from current Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young. An Oklahoma native, Young stayed home and played for the Sooners.
This is different Lil bro…. I LOVE IT!!!
Ain’t nothing like reppin the home state, trust me??? Go Crazy! https://t.co/fcIm848v0L— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 14, 2020
Ja Morant, current Memphis Grizzlies point guard and soon-to-be NBA Rookie of the Year, was looking forward to seeing who Chandler was going to commit to. Morant and Chandler have formed a tight relationship, as the two frequently work out together.
my brother ? https://t.co/EVRmhFCss6
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 14, 2020
Former Vol standouts and current Philadelphia 76ers Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson took note of the new addition to the Tennessee basketball family.
????? https://t.co/VyP4uMgAGa
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) August 15, 2020
— Josuélito (@J_Rich1) August 15, 2020
Jordan McRae, the Orange Mamba, chimed in on the latest addition to the Tennessee basketball family.
Huge pick up for Tennessee
— Jordan McRae (@JordyMac52) August 14, 2020
Former guard Kevin Punter took note as well.
Tennessee Vols.
— Kevin Punter Jr (@KPJunior_) August 14, 2020
Former Tennessee offensive lineman Ramon Foster celebrated.
Let’s gooooo @Vol_Hoops ????????.
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) August 14, 2020
Current Tennessee center Uros Plavsic was pumped up.
TENNESSEE BASKETBALL!
Yeah that’s the tweet! ???— Uroš Plavšić (@urosp34) August 14, 2020
Omari Thomas celebrated. The current Vol football defensive tackle played center on the basketball court alongside Chandler.
Congrats brother? 3 bestfriends who all grew up together now college together it gets no better than that? @KChandler_1 @JMS4_ https://t.co/ly6xuwGVU1
— Omari “Big O” Thomas? (@901_sxvxge) August 14, 2020
Chandler, Thomas and current Vols freshman running back Jabari Small have been best friends since the second grade, and attended Briarcrest Christian in Memphis together.
been planning this for a while now, finally official. congratulations love you lil bro! ? https://t.co/rQJYKnHuyC
— Jabari $mall (@JMS4_) August 14, 2020
Five-star linebacker commit Terrence Lewis made sure everyone knew it was a great day to be a Vol.
Great Day To Be a VOL ?! Congrats & Welcome @KChandler_1 https://t.co/Sf9JHNIsix
— TerrEnce Not TerrAnce? (@Terrence21Lewis) August 14, 2020
2021 Tennessee quarterback commit Kaidon Salter was excited to see the news.
— ksalt (@KaidonSalter_7) August 14, 2020
2021 Tennessee wide receiver commit Julian Nixon was also excited to see the news.
— Julian Nixon? (@JulianNixon11) August 14, 2020
Tennessee tight ends coach Joe Osovet was thrilled with how Friday went on Rocky Top.
What a FRIDAY ON ROCKY TOP!!#woooooooooooooooo pic.twitter.com/JyjjypgEi5
— Joe Osovet (@CoachOsovet) August 14, 2020
There was plenty of reaction from local media members.
Little bit of perspective here on the Kennedy Chandler commitment. Per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, four of Tennessee's top seven commits of all-time have come in the past three years.
-Josiah-Jordan James
-Keon Johnson
-Jaden Springer
-Kennedy Chandler— Louis Fernandez Jr (@LouisWBIR) August 14, 2020
For years and years, I tried to tell people about the enormous upside of the Tennessee basketball program, and the many obvious reasons it was true.
Even I never thought the #Vols would consistently recruit at this ridiculous level, though. This is special.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) August 14, 2020
Recruits committed to Tennessee in the 2021 class
No. 1 baseball prospect Brady House
No. 10 football prospect Terrence Lewis
No. 11 basketball prospect Kennedy Chandler
No. 23 women's basketball prospect Kaiya Wynn https://t.co/KSo6HwzhSF— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) August 14, 2020
calling in the heavy artillery pic.twitter.com/QA3GGXgblZ
— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) August 14, 2020
Enormous get for @Vol_Hoops , nation's top point guard Kennedy Chandler picks Tennessee over UK, Duke, UNC and Memphis. Big time work by assistant coach @Englishscope24 and Rick Barnes
— Rob Lewis (@Volquest_Rob) August 14, 2020
The FOURTH five-star Rick Barnes and his staff have landed over the last three recruiting cycles.
And there’s the potential for much more in the 2021 class as well.
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) August 14, 2020
Multiple national media outlets and national media members took note of Tennessee basketball’s big addition as well.
Kennedy Chandler, ESPN's No. 1-ranked PG in the class of 2021 has committed to @Vol_Hoops ?
(@KChandler_1) pic.twitter.com/36YCagBszK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 14, 2020
Kennedy Chandler, the No. 1 point guard in the 2021 ESPN 100, has committed to @Vol_Hoops. https://t.co/HkD15OUwoM
— ESPN (@espn) August 14, 2020
Kennedy Chandler, the top point in HS hoops just committed to Tennessee. In my years covering college hoops, can't remember a program rising as far, as fast as Tennessee. FIVE years ago they were 12th in the SEC. Now they have been built into a perennial SEC title contender
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) August 14, 2020
From July 11th, I chose the Tennessee Volunteers as the favorite for Paolo Banchero. That decision and pick remains the same today. pic.twitter.com/Wixv0NBIN1
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) August 15, 2020
Rick Barnes has done a hell of a job on recruiting trail at UT. I won’t lie. I didn’t see this coming AT ALL. Texas firing gave him motivation, @Grant2Will and @admiralelite15 helped with winning/momentum, and he has a hell of a staff w/ Mike Schwartz, Dez Oliver & Kim English.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 14, 2020
Recruiting going uptown for @Vol_Hoops & @RickBarnesUT Wow this commitment is special ! @PaulBiancardi @ESPN App https://t.co/UkROesYMRa
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) August 14, 2020
Tennessee basketball just nabbed the nation’s top PG, five star Kennedy Chandler, the highest rated recruit to ever pick the Vols. Rick Barnes is rolling ridiculous talent into Knoxville.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 14, 2020
To round out the social media buzz, current Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Chris Harris, who is the cousin of Kennedy Chandler, sent his congratulations.
yessir Congrats Cuz go ball ✊??? https://t.co/xLdX9NMsN0
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) August 14, 2020
