Five-star guard Jaden Springer commits to Tennessee

The long awaited and rumored day has come. Five-star guard Jaden Springer committed to Tennessee today, choosing the Volunteers over Michigan and Memphis. Springer had been trending in Tennessee’s direction for the duration of the summer months.

Today, he made things official.

Springer is the 16th ranked player in the 2020 class — the fourth ranked shooting guard in the country. The 6-5, 195 pound prospect comes from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

He joins what has become an absolute loaded class for 2020. Springer is the second five-star guard to commit to Tennessee, joining Keon Johnson out of Bell Buckle. Four-star wing Corey Walker is also committed to the Volunteers, giving Tennessee the closest thing to an elite recruiting class that they’ve had in a decade. Bruce Pearl landed two sixth-place classes in the mid-2000s — this one could give it a run for its money.

Tennessee’s 2020 Recruiting Class (Per 247Sports)

• Five-star guard Jaden Springer: 16th overall
• Five-star guard Keon Johnson: 23rd overall
• Four-star wing Corey Walker: 36th overall

Springer, Johnson and Walker will help Rick Barnes replace the production that Tennessee will lose when Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden exit the program after this year. Those two senior guards will lead the charge this season, bridging the gap to a special class coming next year.

Oregon transfer Victor Bailey Jr. will be eligible for Tennessee in 2020-21 as well, offering an answer at the point guard position. If Josiah James returns for a second year in Knoxville, next year’s team has a chance to be really special.

Barnes has proven that if you come to Knoxville, you’re going to develop if you buy in. He and his staff turned three three-star prospects into NBA Draft picks this year. That hasn’t gone unnoticed. Now Tennessee is recruiting at an elite level, landing its third five-star prospect in the last 13 months.