Tennessee is in a recruiting battle with Virginia for a 7-foot basketball prospect. The Volunteers recently secured Juke Harris, a top transfer portal player, enhancing their roster for the upcoming season.
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Tennessee reportedly in recruiting battle with Virginia for 7-foot priority target originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tennessee Volunteers have had a dream transfer portal season, one that has been the best since head coach Rick Barnes arrived in Knoxville.
Their latest signee, Juke Harris, was one of the biggest names in the portal, and now he will be in Tennessee for the upcoming season. With Harris, the Vols now have the top transfer portal class.
âTennessee basketball keeps adding to its star-studded transfer portal haul, adding Wake Forest guard Juke Harris on Monday, May 4. Harris, the No. 2-ranked overall player in the transfer portal in USA TODAY's rankings, averaged 21.4 points with 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season on 44.4% shooting. He chose the Vols over Michigan, which he visited, and North Carolina, among others. Harris' commitment lifts Tennessee's portal haul to No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports' class rankings,â USA Todayâs Austin Curtright wrote.
The Vols also had seven-footer Favour Ibe on a visit, and by the sound of it, he is the final target for Barnes and his staff.
âI think right now youâre waiting to see what the visitor (2026 recruit Favour Ibe, who is 7-foot-1) from over the weekend does,â said VolQuestâs Brent Hubbs Tuesday on WNMLâs SportsTalk. âWhat does he do? That sort feels like [thatâs where] it is right now. And then after that, I donât know.â
The specific name of the 7-foot basketball prospect has not been disclosed in the report.
Juke Harris, a highly ranked transfer, is expected to significantly enhance Tennessee's performance, contributing an average of 21.4 points per game last season.
Tennessee is currently in a competitive recruiting battle with Virginia, but specific rankings or comparisons of their recruiting classes have not been provided.
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On Thursday morning, it was reported that Ibe is taking a visit to Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball, meaning Tennessee is now battling another program for his commitment.
âTennessee target and four-star center Favour Ibe will visit Virginia today, per Jamie Shaw. Ibe, the No. 82 overall player in the 2026 class, visited Tennessee over the weekend, but is now set to visit the Cavaliers on Thursday as his recruitment intensifies,â Fox Sports Knoxville posted.
Ibe appears to be the final target for Barnes and his staff for now, which means they are going all in on landing him. He would be a game changer for the Volunteers, as Barnes could develop him into the next Felix Okpara type of player.
Ibe is already an elite rim protector and defensive presence, which is exactly the type of player Barnes covets. Tennessee will have to beat out Virginia and several other programs that are aggressively pursuing him.