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Tennessee Basketball: Rick Barnes is killing it on the recruiting trail

By Colton Pickard

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 07: 2019 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the 2019 Naismith Awards Brunch at the Nicolette Island Pavilion on April 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 07: 2019 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the 2019 Naismith Awards Brunch at the Nicolette Island Pavilion on April 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Rick Barnes and the Vols picked up the official recruits on Wednesday, forming one of the best Tennessee recruiting classes in history.

Tennessee has signed three recruits on Wednesday to make them Vols officially. Tennessee received commits from five-star guard Keon Johnson and four-star forward Corey Walker Jr. Five-star guard Jaden Springer.

Rick Barnes has been on fire on the recruiting trail over the past couple of years, and he continues that trend this week as he locks down three of the best players in the country.

All three of these players are ranked in 247Sports’ top 40 nationally. These three players alone put Tennessee at fourth nationally on 247Sports’ rankings and second in the SEC.

The three teams in front of Tennessee (Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky) all have more commits than Tennessee. If Barnes and the Vols can keep this up throughout the rest of this recruiting cycle, then I think Tennessee could even rise in the rankings.

There are still a few three and four stars available for Barnes to get that haven’t verbally committed to a school yet. There is also a possibility that the Vols could flip a guy or two.

It’s hard to think that Tennessee could put a better trio than Jordan Bone, Grant Williams, and Admiral Schofield on the basketball court, but that could very well be the case next year.

If Josiah-Jordan James decides to stay after this year, then the Vols roster could be absolutely stacked for the 2020-21 season.

I know we’re not supposed to look ahead while we have a season going on right now, but it’s hard not to get excited about next season if Barnes can sign all three of these guys on signing day.

Barnes has worked hard on the recruiting trail this year. I think Barnes and Jeremy Pruitt are competing for the best recruiter in Tennessee.

Next. Vol fans continue to prove they’re the best in the country. dark

I don’t care who wins out in this “competition,” but I hope both coaches recruit the best players in the country. Barnes is looking good so far now let’s see if he can finish off this class. Oh, and how is Texas basketball doing?

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