Ralph Scott’s Shocking 2026 Commitment: What This Means for Tennessee Basketball’s Future Under Rick Barnes

When a fresh talent steps onto the college basketball scene, it’s always a moment that stirs up excitement—and Ralph Scott’s recent pledge to join Tennessee basketball does just that. Just about bursting into national attention this summer, the 6-foot-8 forward, now ranked No. 38 nationally, has chosen the Volunteers over some stiff competition—Houston, Purdue, and Texas A&M. Imagine the buzz when Rick Barnes and his assistant made that transatlantic trip to Bermuda, personally connecting with Scott’s family just days before his commitment. Scott’s rise—from unranked early in the year to MVP at an international camp—speaks volumes about his potential, and it breathes new energy into Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class. This move not only marks a significant early win for Barnes but also signals a promising future for the Vols’ roster. Intrigued? LEARN MORE.

Four-star forward Ralph Scott has committed to Tennessee basketball for the 2026 class.
Scott is ranked as the No. 38 prospect nationally and plays at IMG Academy in Florida.
The 6-foot-8 recruit chose the Vols over Houston, Purdue, and Texas A&M.

Ralph Scott committed to Tennessee basketball on Sept. 30, giving the Vols and coach Rick Barnes their first commitment of the 2026 class.

Scott is the No. 38 prospect in the nation and a four-star recruit in the 247Sports Composite after bursting onto the scene in June. The 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward picked Tennessee over Houston, Purdue and Texas A&M. He visited all four, including a mid-September visit to UT.

Barnes and assistant coach Gregg Polinsky flew to Bermuda to meet with Scott’s family on Sept. 25.

Scott, who plays at IMG Academy in Florida, was unranked as a recruit entering the summer.

He was named the MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Americas camp in El Salvador in June. In July, he was a standout at the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta and picked up a rush of scholarship offers following his performance.

Tennessee signed five recruits in the 2025 class.

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. Israeli guard Ethan Burg signed in July.

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.