Four-star small forward Amari Evans committed to Tennessee basketball over a top group that included Pitt and Xavier on Friday night.
Tennessee has long targeted the the 6-foot-5, 200-pound wing and hosted him on a pair of visits this fall, first for an official visit the weekend of the Chattanooga football game and then for an unofficial visit the weekend of the Florida football game.
Evans ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 74 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. A Pittsburgh native who plays his prep basketball for Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Evans ranks as the No. 14 small forward in his call and the No. 11 player in the state of Georgia.
A physical wing, Evans is a strong defender that has a strong basketball IQ and has good instincts on the court. On the offensive side, the blue-chip recruit has most of his success as a spot-up shooter or as a cutter in the half court. His frame and intensity should lead to Evans being a good defensive rebounder at the college level too.
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Oklahoma State, Pitt and Xavier are the three other schools that Evans visited during his recruitment. He saw hometown Pittsburgh twice including an official visit this summer. Evans took an official visit to Xavier in September before his second trip to Tennessee of the fall.
Evans is Tennessee basketball’s second commit in its 2025 recruiting cycle, joining four-star center DeWayne Brown. The four-star recruit’s commitment boosts Tennessee’s recruiting class from No. 61 to No. 23 nationally according to the 247sports team rankings.
The Vols have eight scholarships to work with in the 2025 recruiting cycle. They already have two scholarship spots unfilled this season and have six seniors on their current roster including returnees Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey as well as incoming transfers Darlinstone Dubar, Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic.
Tennessee is after a number of prep prospects including five-stars Chris Cenac, Nate Ament and Brayden Burries. Four-star combo guard Isaiah Denis is announcing his college commitment on Saturday but Ohio State and Wake Forest appears to be the favorites entering the decision. The Vols also plan on kicking the tires with four-star point guard Chance Mallory after he de-committed from Virginia earlier this week.
