The Next UT Commit?

Andrew Force July 8, 2021 @ 04:16 PM

Gabe Leeper Gabe Leeper 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN (Cleveland / Team Fastbreak 16u) has accrued numerous college contacts. University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) is tracking his progress. Remember they signed both Daniel Saylor Daniel Saylor 6'10" | PF Sycamore | 2020 State TN and Luke Burnett Luke Burnett 6'2" | PG Knoxville Webb | 2020 State TN out of the ’20 class. The head coach is the familiar John Shulman, formerly of University of Chattanooga and McCallie. Leeper is also talking with the local Lee University, Samford, Montevallo, Barton College, Newberry (D2), Freed-Hardeman, Covenant College, Bryan College, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Oak Hill Christian.

Judah Sault Judah Sault 6'5" | SF Cleveland | 2023 State TN continues to build his reputation. The following programs are maintaining interest in the 6-foot-5 wing: Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Bethune Cookman, Palm Beach Atlantic, Chowan, Graceland, Lee University, and Bryan College. Remember Judah was PrepHoopsTN All-Star in June 2021 and he started for the Class AAA State Tournament Blue Raider team.

Jarred Hall Jarred Hall 6'8" | SF Lebanon | 2023 State #65 Nation TN added N.C. A&T offer Saturday afternoon.

Jasen Brooks Jasen Brooks 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN (Cleveland) remains the most coveted of the CHS quartet, at least at the D1 level. While both Brooks, and possibly Judah will wind up signing D1, Brooks was clearly the most physically advanced from an early age and thus a justifiable D1 target earliest. Right now Brooks boasts offers from: Stetson, Texas Southern. Interested schools already include: Belmont, Central Michigan, Jacksonville, UT Martin, Virginia Tech, Charleston, Ole Miss, SeMo, Arkansas State, Furman, Loyola (IL). Belmont is currently the home of his former teammate, Jacobi Wood Jacobi Wood 6'2" | PG Cleveland | 2020 State #411 Nation TN .

Congratulations to 6’11” 2024 Hawks Forward, Somtochuwku (@somto_cyril) Cyril on receiving an offer from Oklahoma State University.

🇳🇬 #GoPokes #TheHeights pic.x.com/ad7YlysbOk

— Hamilton Heights Boys Basketball (@HHhawksbball) July 9, 2021

The Biggest Deal

For the last month I have been sitting on a juicy, juicy rumor. Now confirmed, this is absolutely the biggest news about the biggest, ok second-biggest star in the Class of 2022. Handje Tamba is a junior at Knoxville Catholic, a former TSSAA State Champion, and as of recently a high-major D1 target.

A source told me early June that there was a chance Tamba was going to reclass “up” into the Class of 2021 and immediately enroll in University of Tennessee. In other words, Tamba would no longer be a junior in high school and would instantly become a freshman in college…a scholarship player for the forthcoming University of Tennessee basketball team.

Tamba’s guardian, Brett Patterson, and I talked at length about this potential eventuality Friday July 2nd. Is it possible that he will reclass to ’21 and sign with Tennessee?

“It is possible. We just did our official (to UT) visit last week,” acknowledged Mr. Patterson. “Trying to make some decisions in the next few weeks. He is still talking to several other schools as well.”

For Tennessee fans at-large and Tamba and his supporters specifically this is enormous news! Tamba was very, very, very raw and needed to learn the game. He is still relatively raw for an American high school player. Alas, he is not American. Tamba’s trajectory is so exciting and the potential for greatness is still just being sniffed out. Tennessee Head Coach Rick Barnes is in love with both Tamba and Felix Okpara Felix Okpara 6'11" | C Hamilton Heights | 2022 #51 Nation MO (’21). Imagining a frontcourt with the pair would be mystical for the Tennessee staff. What Tennessee has done in-state in the last 3 years is remarkable. Landing talents like Keon Johnson Keon Johnson 6'5" | SG The Webb School | 2020 State #21 Nation TN , Kennedy Chandler, Jaden Springer, etc. is incredible considering where University of Tennessee has been through extended patches of play. The program really is recruiting at an all-time high and landing Tamba would only further that trend.

Carrington Allen Carrington Allen 6'3" | SG Oakland | 2022 State TN (EAB Gold 17u) earned his first college offer. Campbellsville University-Harrodsburg made him a college basketball offer!

🚨RECRUITING UPDATES🚨:
ALEX HYDER
2023 6'2 G
AAU: @tigers950

Lipscomb Univ.
Samford
Central Mich.
Lafayette
Cornell
Penn
Evansville
Jacksonville
Bethune Cookman
UAPB
Barton College &
Newberry have reached out about 2023 All-Region, @PrepHoopsTN TOP 15, BCAT Top 100 & WINNER pic.x.com/tKb3AFV2Jc

— Cleveland Basketball (@CBR_Basketball) July 7, 2021