NCAA Basketball: Predicting best player from top 2021 recruiting classes
By Ian Mumm
2. Tennessee Volunteers
Recruiting Class: Kennedy Chandler, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Jonas Aidoo, Quentin Diboundje, Jahmai Mashack, and Handje Tamba
The Vols enter 2021 trying to replicate their balanced roster model from last season which helped to put them back in the SEC-conference title picture. While they fell short in both the conference tournament and in the Big Dance, the format helped to take pressure away from their touted freshman and produce a more consistent product on the court. Despite departed pieces at multiple levels of the roster, head coach Rick Barnes has done a great job at positioning the program to follow up last year’s run with another chance at glory.
Led by 5-star recruits Kennedy Chandler and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, the Vols recruiting class is deep with Jonas Aidoo, Jahmai Mashack, Quentin Diboundje, and Handje Tamba rounding out the group. Reloading talent in every position on the floor this offseason, Tennessee is looking ahead towards a seamless transition in 2021. The only questions remaining are how the starting lineup will sort itself out: lean on experience again like last season or allow the freshman a longer leash to learn on the fly?
The reality of either decision is that Tennessee will have to rely on their incoming frontcourt stars a bit more than those joining the backcourt. The presence of Victor Bailey and Sanitago Vescovi help to keep pressure and necessity for Chandler to play every minute and produce constantly game to game at lower levels.
The Vols have reason to lean more on the broad shoulders of 6’9” forward Huntley-Hatfield. The 5-star has all the tools to stretch the floor and create offensive opportunities for himself and others while maintaining consistency on the glass and defensive end of the floor.
Prediction: Brandon Huntley-Hatfield