Rick Barnes Lands First Recruit As Tennessee Basketball Head Coach

Former Texas Longhorns head coach Rick Barnes, who was fired this year after his 17th season coaching the team, is set to take over the Tennessee Volunteers in 2015.

On Tuesday, Barnes locked down his first recruit as the Vols’ leading man.

That player was three-star point guard Lamonte’ Turner.

Turner made the announcement on social media Tuesday afternoon.

Thank God for this opportunity and also my parents and coaches for believing in me. I AM OFFICIALLY COMMITTING TO THE U of TENNESSEE! #VFL

— Lamonte’ Turner (@2Turner_) April 28, 2015

Turner also had offers from the Florida Gators and Louisville Cardinals, so it is a big addition for Rick Barnes’ squad. The Vols will now have a legit point guard.

The 6-foot-2 guard, who plays his high school basketball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, was initially set to become a part of the 2016 recruiting class. However, he has reclassified and will enroll at Tennessee this fall where he joins Shembari Phillips and Admiral Schofield in the 2015 class.

Phillips and Schofield committed to Tennessee before the Rick Barnes hiring, but have decided to honor their commitments.

Before joining Tennessee, Barnes earned a 402-180 record during his lengthy tenure in Texas.