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Tennessee’s main target in the 2018 recruiting cycle is now off the table. Anfernee Simons will declare for the 2018 NBA Draft, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Guard Anfernee Simons of IMG Academy is entering the NBA Draft, his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Bobby Petriella tell ESPN. Simons is No. 19 in ESPN's most recent mock draft.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 22, 2018
Simons is eligible for the NBA Draft because he’s one year removed from high school. The 19 year old guard spent last season at the IMG Academy. He was a top ten player in this recruiting class.
Rick Barnes and his staff spent a lot of time on Simons. With just one scholarship set to come open from the departing James Daniels, Barnes wants to make it count with a loaded roster returning. Tennessee hosted Simons on an unofficial visit during the Kentucky home game this season. It’s hard to fault them for trying here.
Both Memphis and Florida were also in the mix for Simons.