Tennessee basketball made a major splash on the recruiting trail Tuesday afternoon when four-star wing Ralph Scott committed to Rick Barnes and his staff. Scott was down to a top four that included Houston, Purdue, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Scott took official visits to all four schools the last five weeks and came away convinced Tennessee was the right spot for him as the Vols beat out two of the nation’s top programs and an SEC foe for the highly talented wing.
“On the visit I just felt a really good environment,” Scott told RTI ahead of his commitment. “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.”
Scott ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 37 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 17 small forward in his class.
Tennessee first started recruiting Scott back in June with assistant coach Gregg Polinsky playing the lead role in his recruitment. Polinsky said the Vols up in a great spot before Rick Barnes helped close on Scott’s visit the same weekend that Vol football hosted Georgia.
More From RTI: Pair of Lady Vols Basketball SEC Games Given Prime Time Billing
The 6-foot-8, 190-pound wing has a 7-foot-3 wingspan. His length and athleticism gives him elite potential on both ends of the court and is part of why he is already a strong defender. Scott has a strong jump shot and was one of the highest risers in the 2026 class on the summer AAU circuit after playing with Jamal Shead Elite on the adidas AAU circuit.
“I would say my length and my ability to stretch the floor with my shooting,” Scott said of his game. “Defensively, my ability to guard one through five and my intensity. I can be a Swiss Army knife and be used however I am needed.”
Scott is a Bermuda native who moved to America ahead of his sophomore year. He played at Lakeland Christian as a sophomore before transferring to IMG Academy for his junior and now senior seasons.
The blue-chip wing is Tennessee basketball’s first commit in its 2026 recruiting class and it is a big-time one. Tennessee’s class now ranks at No. 28 nationally and No. 7 in the SEC according to the 247sports team rankings.
Tennessee now turns its recruiting efforts to point guard and in the front court. The Vols hosted five-star point guard Miles Sadler on a visit back in early September and plan on hosting five-star point guard Deron Rippey on an official visit in late October. Four-star power forward Latrell Allmond visited Tennessee the same weekend as Scott. Five-star power forward Christian Collins is scheduled to visit the same weekend as Rippey in late October.
