As Tennessee basketball continues to win, Rick Barnes has stacked together elite recruiting classes. After landing Nate Ament in the 2025 cycle, he’s turned the page to four strong signings in the 2026 class to help fill out his roster for next season.
Barnes is now looking ahead to the 2027 group. According to a report from Joe Tipton, Barnes was in attendance for the NBPA Top 100 Camp on Wednesday to see some of the best in the class.
He was far from the only premier coach in attendance, too. Other notable head coaches there to see the action included North Carolina’s Mike Malone, Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, UConn’s Dan Hurley, NC State’s Justin Gainey, Auburn’s Steven Pearl, Texas’ Sean Miller, Purdue’s Matt Painter, Vanderbilt’s Mark Byington, Houston’s Kelvin Sampson and many more.
North Carolina’s Mike Malone, Tennessee’s Rick Barnes, Iowa’s Ben McCollum, Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Providence’s Bryan Hodgson, NC State’s Justin Gainey, Auburn’s Steven Pearl, Texas’ Sean Miller, Miami’s Jai Lucas, Purdue’s Matt Painter, Cincinnati’s Jerrod… pic.twitter.com/KhIYTWqeEb
Advertisement— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) June 11, 2026
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The NBPA Top 100 Camp annually features some of the top projected players in the country. This features both domestic and international prospects who project as the next up in the NBA.
“TOP 100 is about professional development and opening doors beyond the court,” NBPA Executive Director Andre Iguodala said. “Basketball can give its players access to worlds they otherwise wouldn’t have. We’re trying to give the next generation the tools to realize those opportunities. This experience is something these guys will remember in 20 years, so we expect them to be all in and make the most of it.”
Currently, the Vols do not hold any commitments within the 2027 class. However, Barnes is getting his foot in the door for top prospects as he continues to reload year after year in the hunt for the program’s first Final Four after making three-straight Elite Eights.
