Tennessee Basketball adds Top-50 athlete to 2021 class

A Top-50 recruit committed to Tennessee Basketball, and we could see him and Kennedy Chandler be the Vols’ one-two punch.

Rick Barnes and Tennessee basketball aren’t going to let Jeremy Pruitt and the football program have all of the fun on the recruiting trail as a top-50 recruit just committed to the Vols.

Barnes is using his veteran coaching experience on the recruiting trail to continue to bring in some of the best talent in the country.

We’ve already seen Barnes get a commitment from the No. 2 point guard in the country, Kennedy Chandler, out of Memphis, and now Chandler could be getting another elite athlete to play next to.

The second commitment of Tennessee’s 2021 class came from Jahmai Mashack, a four-star small forward out of Rancho Cucamonga, California. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound forward, is the No. 43 ranked player in the country.

The Vols offered Mashack on June 30, and Barnes was able to get the verbal commitment over Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisville, Texas, and Utah. Gonzaga, Stanford, and UCLA were also reportedly interested in Mashack but have not offered him.

Mashack and Barnes both share a love for defense, which is what Barnes could’ve leaned on to get his verbal commitment.

"“I pride myself on my defense and scoring,” Mashack told Yahoo Sports. “I feel like the number-one thing for me is defense; it has been about defense my entire life. I have been very touted for being a defender and also for being able to get my team buckets so I can get them a lead.”"

With Mashack and Chandler now apart of Tennessee’s 2021 class, they’re starting to build an identity for their class. Will Barnes be able to capitalize on his early success ahead of the basketball season?

Some recruits might have to lean on Tennessee’s performance on the court before they’re willing to commit to the Vols.