From Israeli Courts to Tennessee Triumph: Why Ethan Burg’s Unexpected Commitment Shocks Basketball Fans

Ethan Burg has committed to Tennessee basketball as a late offseason addition to the 2025-26 roster for coach Rick Barnes.

The Vols return senior forward Felix Okpara, junior forwards Cade Phillips and JP Estrella and sophomore guard Bishop Boswell.Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.The 6-foot-3 guard played the past two seasons with Bnei PenLink Herzliya in Israel. He averaged 11 points, shooting 32.9% on 3-pointers. The 22-year-old shot 37.6% on 3-pointers last season, while averaging 11.1 points.

When a player commits to a program, it’s usually about talent, stats, and potential — but every now and then, there’s more beneath the surface that truly captures a coach’s admiration. Take Ethan Burg, a 6-foot-3 Israeli guard who’s just added his name to Tennessee basketball’s 2025-26 roster, thanks to his professional experience overseas and a genuine team-first mindset. His NCAA eligibility is still under the microscope due to his prior pro stint, but that hasn’t stopped the Vols from welcoming him into their fold. Alongside him, the team returns stalwarts like Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips, and Bishop Boswell, while supplementing experience through savvy transfer portal picks. Plus, the 2025 recruiting class is stacked, headlined by the humble yet highly-touted five-star Nate Ament — a prospect that’s rewriting Tennessee’s history books as their highest-ranked signee ever. The blend of seasoned vets, fresh faces, and top-tier talent paints an exciting picture for Rick Barnes’ squad heading into next season. Curious to dive deeper into what makes this group tick? LEARN MOREBurg visited Tennessee in late June.

The Israeli guard is expected to have multiple years of eligibility, but the number is not settled as the process is ongoing. Burg spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Israel, which affects how many years of NCAA eligibility he will have.Guards Grant Hurst and Campbell Duncan round out the roster.Tennessee has all 15 spots accounted for on its roster.

Burg announced his commitment on social media on July 18.The Vols added senior guards Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Amaree Abram along with junior forward Jaylen Carey through the transfer portal.

UT signed five players in the 2025 class, which ranked No. 13 nationally.Five-star prospect Nate Ament is the highest-ranked recruit in program history as the No. 4 recruit nationally. Tennessee signed four-star forward DeWayne Brown II and four-star guard Amari Evans in November. Three-star guard Troy Henderson signed in April. Henderson and Ament played AAU basketball together with Team Loaded 17U. French guard Clarence Massmaba signed with UT in late April.