Every time Tennessee gets a commitment in either football or men’s basketball, we will write up an impact report looking at what all that recruit will bring to the Vols over the next few years.
Latest Commit: Jahmai Mashack, SG/SF
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 190 lbs.
School: Etiwanda
Home Town: Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rankings
247Sports Composite: Four-star, No. 92 overall, No. 16 SF, No. 6 CA
247Sports: No. 43 overall, No. 9 SF, No. 3 CA
Rivals: Four-star, No. 48 CA, No. 14 SG
Notable Offers: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisville, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah
What about Mashack’s game did Tennessee like?
In the words of Mashack himself, “they like that I’m a big guard and they like my versatility.”
“I can play and defend multiple positions and can play with or without the ball,” Mashack told Rocky Top Insider Monday night. “So, they know that I can do whatever is needed for the team.”
What does Mashack’s commitment mean for Tennessee?
Mashack’s commitment is significant for Tennessee. With the strong possibility that current freshman guards Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer are one-and-done type of players for Tennessee, the Vols needed to bring in an elite guard that could play alongside Kennedy Chandler, as well as Santiago Vescovi, Victor Bailey Jr. and Josiah-Jordan James in 2021-22.
Should Johnson and Springer prove to only play one season on Rocky Top, Mashack’s athleticism and defensive ability will allow him to slide in and pick up those minutes right away.
How does Mashack fit in with the Vols?
Mashack is yet another Rick Barnes recruit to a tee, that will fit in perfectly within the program. Mashack is a good, hard-working kid who will gel greatly with the Vols’ blue-collar approach because of his mentality and mental makeup.
He can be a great offensive player at Tennessee, but Barnes has always emphasized the defensive side of the basketball before anything else. Mashack is already an elite defender who loves playing defense. Most kids nowadays care more about the offensive side of the ball. Mashack doesn’t, which makes him a great fit in Barnes’ system on top of being a great fit in the program as well.
Scouting Report
As I just mentioned, Mashack’s defensive ability is what stands out first and foremost. Mashack’s great size for a guard and long arms give opposing offensive players fit. When you throw in his athleticism, he’s well-advanced on the defensive end at this point of his development. Mashack has the potential to be the best defensive player in the SEC at some point in his career.
What also makes Mashack such a great defender is his mental makeup. He never takes a play off and plays with an edge. Mashack competes every possession, plays with a toughness not found in most kids his age and is physical with offensive players.
On the offensive end, Mashack will have to continue to develop his jumper. He’s great at scoring in transition and off of cuts towards the basket. Under Barnes, Mashack has an excellent chance at developing into one of the better two-way players in the conference.
