Amari Evans first visited Tennessee basketball last January when the Vols hosted South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. The Gamecocks upset Tennessee that night but the way Rick Barnes coached Dalton Knecht, on a night the star scored 31 of the Vols’ 59 points, made a major early impression on Evans.
“The South Carolina game when I came, Rick Barnes just showed me what type of person he is,” Evans told RTI. “When he yelled at Dalton Knecht, I knew he would yell at anybody. Dalton Knecht was arguably the best player in college basketball.”
Evans committed to Tennessee late last week becoming the Vols’ second commit in their 2025 recruiting class. A 6-foot-5 wing who ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 74 player in the 247sports composite rankings, Evans says he “wouldn’t be who he is” if it weren’t for hard coaches like Barnes in his life.
A Pittsburgh native who plays his prep basketball for Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Evans chose Tennessee over a top group that also included Xavier and hometown Pitt.
“Absolutely,” Evans said on whether it was difficult to turn down Pitt. “How could it not (be)? 10 minutes from my house. That was a hard decision but everything happens for a reason.”
Tennessee assistant coach Rod Clark was the lead recruiter for Evans and is a major reason why Evans chose the Vols.
“Even if I wouldn’t have gone to Tennessee, me and him would still have a relationship,” Evans said. “Coach Rod basically told me everything I need. All the tools I need to be able to play as a freshman. Great school. Top five program. I can just surround myself with winning guys.”
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The recipe for Evans to play early at Tennessee is for him to play great defense and hit open shots on the perimeter. As a well built 6-foot-5 wing with a 6-foot-10 wing span, defense and shooting are the strengths of the four-star recruit’s game.
“I definitely feel like I shoot the ball at a high clip,” Evans said. “My best attribute is definitely my defense. A little bit of playmaking in there.”
Tennessee is losing at least six senior off its roster following this season and while they’ll hit the transfer portal hard again this spring, select freshmen will have a chance to earn early playing time next season and Evans believes he’s one that’s capable of seeing the court early.
“I feel like I have a good chance,” Evans said. “The ball is in my court, honestly. If I come in and do what I’m supposed to do then yeah, I should be playing as a freshman.”
Evans became the second commit in Tennessee basketball’s 2025 recruiting class, joining four-star center DeWayne Brown. The Vols’ two-commit recruiting class currently ranked No. 24 nationally according to the 247sports composite rankings.
Tennessee is still in pursuit of a number of targets including five-star guard Brayden Burries, five-star wing Nate Ament and five-star power forward Chris Cenac.
