Tennessee basketball has grabbed Chase Lumpkin’s interest. More specifically, the four-star guard in the 2027 recruiting class was struck by something two Vols did last season.
“They’re wonderful at creating players,” Lumpkin told On3’s Jamie Shaw when asked about the Vols. “You see Nate Ament this year, they did really well with him. They also had the guard, Ja’Kobi Gillespie. I admire their style of play. “
According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, Lumpkin, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 180 pounds, is the No. 44 overall player in the 2027 class. He’s the ninth-best shooting guard in the United States and the sixth-best overall player in Georgia, according to McEachern High School in Powder Springs.
According to Shaw, Lumpkin has averaged 26. 0 points, 3. 0 rebounds, 7. 0 assists, and 2. 7 steals per game in EYBL play. He informed Shaw that Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon, and Florida State are now courting him.
“I play aggressively,” Lumpkin stated. “I’m simply a player who will do whatever it takes for my team to win. Whatever it takes, I get people involved, score goals, and so forth.
“My playmaking is really showing. ” During my high school season, I was more of a scoring role, but I have great guys around me this summer. I watch Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous (Alexander), and Jayson Tatum on a regular basis.
Vols have signed four players for their 2026 recruiting class.
Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class presently has four signees and is rated No. 22 nationally and No. 6 in the SEC with a class score of 92. 75.
The Vols signed four-star small forward Ralph Scott, three-star shooting guard Manny Green, and three-star point guard Marquis Clark in the fall. Chris Washington Jr. , a four-star small forward and the group’s highest-ranked recruit, committed on April 16.
According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, Washington is the No. 53 overall player in the class and the No. 18 small forward in the country. Scott ranks No. 71 overall and No. 25 among small forwards, Green is No. 142 overall and No. 36 among shooting guards, and Clark is No. 222 overall and No. 36 among point guards.
Tennessee revamps 2026-27 roster via NCAA Transfer Portal
Tennessee has rebuilt its squad for next season largely via the NCAA transfer portal, signing Juke Harris (Wake Forest), Tyler Lundblade (Belmont), Dai Dai Ames (Cal), Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU), and forwards Miles Rubin (Loyola Chicago), Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame), and Braedan Lue (Kennesaw State).
Rick Barnes was compelled to rebuild his roster after losing six players to the transfer portal, including J. P. Estrella (Michigan), Cade Phillips (Texas A&M), Jaylen Carey (Missouri), Bishop Boswell (Maryland), Amari Evans (Texas), and Clarence Massamba (UC Davis). In total, 11 players left the squad.
Ethan Burg returned home to Israel, and the Vols lost four seniors: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara, Amaree Abram, and Grant Hurst.
2027 Top-10 prospect for Tennessee basketball: Orange runs through Nashville
Malachi Jordan still feels at ease with Tennessee basketball. Even if the top-10 recruit in the 2027 recruiting class attends high school in Arizona. Even though Nashville is his birthplace.
“It’s Rocky Top, man,” Jordan recently told On3’s Jamie Shaw. “That orange, you know, I mean, it passes through Nashville, where I’m from. It’s just a three-hour journey to Knoxville, which I’ve grown up around, and it’s home. “
Jordan, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound small forward, is a four-star prospect from Dream City Christian in Glendale, Arizona. The Nashville native is ranked tenth overall in the Rivals rankings. He is the No. 2 small forward and the No. 2 overall player in Arizona.
‘The family element of Tennessee is important. ‘
Nonetheless, he stated that Tennessee feels like home to him after making an unannounced trip to see the Volunteers.
“The family aspect of Tennessee is important,” Jordan told Shaw. “I mean, they bring their players in, and it’s like a large family over there. The coaches treat all the players as their own sons. I mean, everyone is very close over there. “
Washington, Alabama, and Kansas are additional programs recruiting Jordan. Texas and Arkansas are “the two new ones” in the process.
“I’m not truly in a hurry to commit or start thinking about visits right now,” Jordan said to Shaw. “I just want to enjoy my high school and not rush anything. With the Transfer Portal and all that stuff these days, I really want to just wait it out, to be honest.
“For me, I’m going to be focused on development. I wish to attend a school that can help me advance to the next level. Of course, I want to be one-and-done. I want to be able to go to the league and flourish in it; be an all-star and a champion. And, perhaps, one day have my name added to the Hall of Fame. Those are my goals, so I want to play for a coach who can help me achieve them. “
Vols have signed four players for the 2026 recruiting class.
Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class now has four signees and is placed No. 22 nationally and No. 6 in the SEC with a class score of 92. 75.
The Vols recruited four-star small forward Ralph Scott, three-star shooting guard Manny Green, and three-star point guard Marquis Clark in the fall. Chris Washington Jr. , a four-star small forward and the group’s top-ranked player, signed on April 16.
According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, Washington is the No. 53 overall player in the class and the No. 18 small forward in the country. Scott is ranked No. 71 overall and No. 25 among small forwards, Green is No. 142 overall and No. 36 among shooting guards, and Clark is No. 222 overall and No. 36 among point guards.
