CBB Rumors: Tennessee Volunteers Gaining Momentum Toward Big Commitment

Q: Who is Jalen Haralson and why is he important for Tennessee Volunteers?

Jalen Haralson is a 6-foot-6 forward rated as a four-star player and the second-best small forward in the college basketball transfer portal, making him a key target for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Q: What recent achievements have boosted Tennessee Volunteers' recruitment efforts?

The Tennessee Volunteers recently reached the Elite Eight, which has increased their appeal and momentum in securing commitments from top prospects in the transfer portal.

Q: What is the significance of Nate Ament's commitment to Tennessee last year?

Nate Ament, a five-star recruit from the same class as Jalen Haralson, is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, highlighting Tennessee's ability to attract high-caliber talent.

Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes has hit the college basketball transfer portal hard this month, securing three commitments just days after taking the program to the Elite Eight. It now appears the Volunteers might be on the verge of a fourth big addition this month.

On3.com‘s Joe Tipton reported ahead of wing Jalen Haralson’s visit to Knoxville on Tuesday, that Tennessee is “picking up steam in this recruitment” and there’s momentum building toward a potential commitment.

Haralson, a 6-foot-6 forward, is rated by Rivals and On3.com as a four-star player in the college basketball transfer portal this cycle. He’s viewed as the second-best small forward on the market and the 39th-best player available this offseason.

Prior to this season, Rivals rated him as the 31st-best player out of high school in the 2025 recruiting class. It was the same class as five-star recruit Nate Ament, a late commitment to Tennessee last year who is now expected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

As a freshman, he started 23-of-27 games for the Fighting Irish. Haralson shot 51.5 percent from the field while averaging 16.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He doesn’t offer much as a perimeter scoring threat, having made just 5-of-25 from beyond the arc in his freshman season, but he got to the free-throw line 181 times (6.7 per game) and shot 67.4 percent on his free-throw attempts.

As he gained more experience as a freshman, Haralson’s play steadily improved. While Notre Dame went 6-13 to end its season, Haralson averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during that run, posting a 52.7 effective field goal percentage, and he averaged 7.4 free-throw attempts per contest.

For Tennessee, he could potentially fill the void created by Ament’s expected departure. His commitment would also mark the fourth for the Volunteers this month, all coming immediately after or during visits to Knoxville.

Entering Wednesday, Tennessee’s transfer portal commitment class featured Belmont shooting guard Tyler Lundblade, California guard Dai Dai Ames, and Loyola big man Miles Rubin. The Volunteers are still actively in pursuit of multiple guards, including a point guard to replace Ja’Kobi Gillespie.

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