Tennessee offers five-star 2020 center N’Faly Dante — Could he reclassify?

We’ve seen Tennessee pursue Jalen Cone — a 2020 prospect will reclassify to the 2019 class. They may be trying to do the same with N’Faly Dante. Dante is a five-star center, checking in 10th overall in the 2020 class rankings.

Dante picked up an offer from Tennessee over the weekend.

The 6-11, 230 pound center is out of Wichita, Kansas and is a potential future lottery pick. Tennessee may be attempting to sell Dante on a year playing alongside of Grant Williams, if the reigning SEC player of the year choses to return. Of course, if Williams opts to stay in the NBA Draft, Dante could become a featured piece of the offense immediately. Either way, Kyle Alexander has moved on, leaving a hole in Tennessee’s starting five for now.

Kentucky, LSU, Oregon and Kansas have been the major players in Dante’s recruitment to this point. Dante took an official visit to LSU last fall. Talk has since heated up around his potential reclassification to the 2019 class.

Michigan State offered Dante last week, potentially with the option of committing as a member of the 2019 class. Kentucky has also been involved in the reclassification rumors.

Tennessee likely has at least one spot available now with reserve big man Derrick Walker entering the transfer portal. Rick Barnes and his staff are waiting on NBA decisions from Grant Williams and Jordan Bone, which could open up two more spots on the roster to fill.

The Vols currently have John Fulkerson, D.J. Burns and Zach Kent remaining in the frontcourt as things currently stand. Tennessee absolutely has an immediate need in the post and Dante would be a grand slam addition.

We’ll see if Barnes and his staff can make any progress here in the coming weeks.