Top Four-Star Small Forward Drops Shocking Hint About Tennessee—and It’s Not What Fans Expected

Tennessee does not have a commitment in its 2026 basketball recruiting class. The Vols have six commitments in their 2025 basketball recruiting class: forward DeWayne Brown, small forward Amari Evans, point guard Troy Henderson, forward Nate Ament, shooting guard Clarence Massamba and shooting guard Ethan Burg.Tennessee is recruiting to add commitments to its 2026 basketball signing class.Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).Mayfield officially visited Tennessee on June 23. He was offered a scholarship by the Vols on Tuesday.Four-star small forward Gage Mayfield included the Vols in his top five schools, along with Michigan, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Florida State, according to Joe Tipton of On3.Kennesaw State was the first school to offer him a scholarship. Other schools outside of the top five to offer him scholarships include Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Maryland and Miami.

Tennessee is on the hunt to bolster its 2026 basketball recruiting class, eagerly courting top talent to join the Vols’ future roster. Among the prime targets is four-star small forward Gage Mayfield, a standout from Hale County High School in Moundville, Alabama, who’s earmarked Tennessee as one of his top five finalists alongside Michigan, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Florida State — a list that speaks volumes about the program’s growing allure. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 190 pounds, Mayfield holds the distinction of being the No. 1 player in Alabama and ranks 28th nationally among small forwards according to 247Sports, making his recruitment a pivotal pursuit for Tennessee’s long-term ambitions. After officially visiting Knoxville on June 23, Mayfield received a Vols scholarship offer this past Tuesday, joining several other programs that have recognized his potential early, including Kennesaw State, Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Maryland, and Miami. The Vols currently have zero locks in their 2026 class but are riding the momentum of securing six commitments for 2025 — a mix of promising forwards and guards ready to make an impact. As the recruiting season unfolds, all eyes are on Tennessee as it plots its course to keep climbing the SEC basketball ladder. LEARN MOREThe 6-foot-7, 190-pound prospect is from Hale County High School in Moundville, Alabama. 247Sports ranks Mayfield as the No. 28 small forward in the class and the No. 1 player in Alabama.