Five-star forward Julian Phillips is down to four schools and two professional basketball options and will announce his decision on Thursday, May 12, 247sports Travis Branham reported Wednesday.
Tennessee, Auburn, USC, Florida State, South Carolina, G League Ignite and Overtime Elite are the four schools and professional options that Phillips will choose between.
May 12th🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/lLMZ2Cwi5b
— Julian Phillips (@ju1ianphillips) May 4, 2022
Phillips ranks as the nation’s No. 12 overall player and No. 2 power forward according to the 247sports composite rankings. The South Carolina native is the highest ranked uncommitted recruit in the class of 2022 and would be a game changing talent for Tennessee.
Phillips played his prep basketball at Link Academy in Missouri but is originally from Blythewood, South Carolina.
At 6-foot-8, Phillips ranks as a power forward, but the talented recruit boasts a guard skillset with his ability to shoot and handle the basketball. The top 15 recruit frequently plays on the wing on the AAU circuit.
The five-star committed to LSU over Tennessee, USC and Florida State in October after visiting all four schools in the fall. Phillips backed off his commitment to LSU after the Tigers fired head coach Will Wade in March.
Since backing off his commitment to LSU, Phillips has visited his home state school South Carolina as well as Auburn. While the Gamecocks didn’t make Phillips top six, Auburn has made a major move in Phillips recruitment.
Phillips hasn’t visited Tennessee since backing off his commitment to LSU, but did visit Knoxville in the fall. Tennessee has long been a major player in Phillips’ recruitment and remain so eight days before his commitment.
Tennessee currently has four scholarships to fill on the 2022-23 roster. The Vols lost Kennedy Chandler to the NBA and Victor Bailey Jr, Quentin Diboundje, Handje Tamba, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Justin Powell to the transfer portal.
The Vols have signed one prep prospect, B.J. Edwards, and one transfer, Tyreke Key, to date. Both of those players are guards and Tennessee needs front court help with Huntley-Hatfield’s departure and John Fulkerson’s graduation.
The five-star recruit would fill that need and change the ceiling of next season’s team.
Phillips will make his college decision at noon ET on CBS Sports HQ.
