Four-star forward Chris Washington Jr. is announcing his college commitment at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, he announced on Monday night. A Murfreesboro native, Washington is choosing between Auburn, Ole Miss, Southern Cal, Tennessee and Villanova.
Washington was originally scheduled to visit Tennessee in early February before inclement weather pushed the visit back. He took a visit to Tennessee on Tuesday and the Vols are in a strong spot ahead of Washington’s announcement.
Washington ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 43 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 16 small forward and the top player in the state of Tennessee in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
The 6-foot-9, 195-pound wing is a former Alabama commit and stars at Providence Christian Academy in Murfreesboro. The Vols originally made his top seven back over the summer before he committed and then de-committed to the Crimson Tide back in the fall.
Washington has the ability to both play on the wing as a true three-guard or as a stretch power forward.
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Tennessee signed three players during the early signing period including four-star wing Ralph Scott, four-star Manny Green and three-star point guard Marquis Clark. Washington is the one main prep recruit on their radar in the 2026 cycle as they mostly look to the transfer portal to fill out their roster.
The Vols lost four players to graduation and six players to the transfer portal this offseason including Bishop Boswell, Amari Evans, Clarence Massamba, Cade Phillips, Jaylen Carey and J.P. Estrella. Nate Ament has yet to announced a decision but is expected to declare for the NBA Draft.
Rick Barnes and his staff have landed three transfers to date including Belmont sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade, Cal combo guard Dai Dai Ames and Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin. As things currently stand, Tennessee has five scholarships to work with as they fill out its roster for next season.
The Vols are hosting Notre Dame forward Jalen Haralson and VCU transfer guard Terrence Hill Jr. on a visit in the middle of this week. Barnes and his staff are working to line up more visitis this weekend and continue to pursue highly touted Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris as well.
