Tennessee basketball announced the signings of all three of its commits in the 2026 recruiting cycle over the last week. Four-star wings Ralph Scott and Manny Green as well as three-star point guard Marquis Clark all put pen to paper and will be a part of the 2026-27 Tennessee basketball team.
Scott was the Vols’ first commit, choosing Tennessee over a top group that included Houston, Purdue and Texas A&M. The 6-foot-8 wing ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 38 player in the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247sports composite rankings.
Green was the next commit to jump on board, committing to Tennessee over a top group that included Auburn, Cal, Georgia Tech and South Florida. The 6-foot-6 wing ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 101 player in the 2026 recruiting cycle according to the 247sports composite rankings.
Clark was the final commit with Tennessee sneaking the under the radar recruit in on a visit in mid-October and locking up his commitment shortly afterward. The 6-foot-1 point guard ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 254 player nationally according to the 247sports composite rankings.
Rocky Top Insider talked to all three players before their commitments this fall. Here’s what each said about why they were choosing Tennessee, Rick Barnes and more.
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On why they chose Tennessee
Scott: “On the visit I just felt a really good environment. I really enjoyed being there. Obviously, the coaching staff is amazing. Coach Barnes, he’s a great coach and I just felt a real connection with him when I got there.”
Green: “I feel like it’s the right spot because they have a good opportunity. High power four, elite program. It fits me and the grit that I play with. It fits right around with me.”
Clark: “That conference. It’s always been a dream to play at a big school like this. When they gave me the opportunity. I couldn’t say no. I had to take it.”
On Rick Barnes
Scott: “I didn’t really know what to expect. But being there, I felt very comfortable around him. He seemed like he really wanted me there. He knew his stuff about me, about my game. He seemed like he really wanted me to be at Tennessee.”
Green: “My relationship with Coach Barnes is pretty tight. He tells me he loves me all the time. He calls and texts and on the visits, I got to really know that he is the real deal. If you want to be a pro, that’s the guy to go to.”
Clark: “Coach Barnes was just being himself and keeping it real. He’s two different people on the court and off the court. But I like that about him. He’ll play around and joke around off the court, have fun. But when he get on that court, there ain’t no play time. He’s all business and that’s what I need from a coach as a player.”
On what Tennessee sees in their games, how they can use them
Scott: “They were saying Kevin Durant, Dalton Knecht where I can get open shots. Get into the midrange. The same type of stuff that Nate Ament is going to be doing. Getting open shots, getting to the rim and playing defense one through five. Being a pest.”
Green: “It matches up with it a lot. From how I’ve been coached in high school to how Rick Barnes coaches. How the premier players he’s had through the program and that he has coached, that’s the main thing— you got to have that to play for him.”
Clark: “He said he likes my size. That I’m a tough guard that likes to get down hill and can knock down the three ball and facilitate. Get my teammates involved. Then we talked about how they want me to start picking up 94 feet to get my defense better. That’s what I’ve been working on.”
On their relationships with their lead recruiter
Scott on Gregg Polinsky: “It’s great. He calls me very often. He started reaching out to me early in summer and we’ve been talking and building a great relationship.”
Green on Gregg Polinsky: “It’s just like a granddad. A granddad, uncle, however you want to call it. Coach Polinsky, every since I first talked to him, it’s been all love. He’s been real with me the whole time.”
Clark on Amorrow Morgan: “He was at Loyola my freshman year and he came up here and always told me he was going to keep his eye out on me. Then he offered me at Cal. Then he left there and always said ‘we’re going to stay in touch’ and he kept his word and offered me at Tennessee.”
