NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 2021 Paolo Banchero’s final 6 teams

Tennessee Volunteers

If playing with Chandler is a huge factor in Banchero’s decision, then Duke, Kentucky and Tennessee are the teams to look at. Chandler is from the state of Tennessee and has the Vols as one of his finalists. That’s what links this prospect with the team, who has quietly become a recruiting power in the past couple of years.

It started with five-star guard Josiah-Jordan James, who averaged 7.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg in his freshman season. It gets even better this offseason, with Tennessee landing a pair of 6’5 shooting guards in Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer, both five-star commits in the top-5 overall recruiting class.

If Banchero does pick the Vols, he’d be the star big man without question. The leading frontcourt options for this upcoming season, John Fulkerson and EJ Anosike are both seniors. Coach Rick Barnes has sent a number of players to the NBA throughout his NCAA Basketball coaching career and can do the same with Banchero. And while it might not be as load as Duke or Kentucky, the five-star forward would be surrounded by a ton of talent for Tennessee and still can showcase himself as the lone frontcourt option.

It’s hard seeing Banchero going to the Vols if Chandler goes to either Duke or Kentucky. But if this truly is a package deal, these two may want to excel somewhere without all the other top-tier freshman players. Vols fans should be hoping for them to decide together, an option that could very well come true.