Vols Basketball Sign Three Players Including Ralph Scott From Bermuda
(utsports.com) University of Tennessee head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Tuesday the signing of three stellar high school recruits in the class of 2026: Marquis Clark, Manny Green and Ralph Scott.
Clark is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound guard out of Chicago, while Green is a 6-foot-7, 210-pound guard from Ellenwood, Ga., and Scott is a 6-foot-8, 195-pound wing out of Warwick, Bermuda.
A consensus three-star recruit who is considered a top-five prospect in the talent-rich state of Illinois, Clark is the No. 208 player in the country, including the No. 38 point guard, per the Rivals Industry rankings. In addition, 247Sports labels him the second-best player in Illinois and the nation’s No. 29 point guard.
“We are quite pleased to have Marquis and his family coming aboard here at Tennessee. Marquis is a well-built, cerebral point guard with elite creativity who can make plays for himself and for others,” Barnes said. “He is a gym rat who is crafty off the bounce and has always been able to score, but has worked hard on his jump-shot the last two years. Marquis is a hungry competitor with a chip on his shoulder who fits the mold of other players who have had success on Rocky Top. He has been well-coached on the AAU and high school levels while playing for historic programs, which has prepared him well for big moments and hostile environments.”
Clark attends Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, a powerhouse basketball program that has produced NBA players Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jahlil Okafor and Quentin Richardson. It also counts among its alumni college standouts like Xavier Castaneda, Dwayne Curtis, Anthony Harris, Marcus Jordan, L.J. Peak, Ahmad Starks, Sam Thompson, Paul White, Lucas Williamson and many others.
Entering his senior year at Whitney Young, Clark is an NY2LA Preseason First Team All-State choice and, according to the Chicago Sun Times, the premier player in the Chicago Public League. He averaged 18.6 points per game during his junior campaign, collecting Chicago Sun Times Third Team All-City status. On the AAU circuit, Clark suited up for the revered Meanstreets program, which has also sent multiple players to the NBA.
Before selecting the Volunteers, Clark held offers from programs such as Cal, DePaul, Illinois, Saint Louis and TCU, according to Rivals.
Tennessee has seven prior letter winners from the state of Illinois, including 1961-62 team captain John Martin. The only Prairie State native to letter for Barnes on Rocky Top is Admiral Schofield, who totaled 1,570 points from 2015-19 and was a two-time All-SEC designee.
Green, tabbed a four-star prospect by both 247Sports and ESPN, ranks No. 90 nationally on the former’s list and No. 97 according to the latter. Each site considers him the fourth-best player in the Peach State.
“We are happy to welcome Manny and his family to Tennessee basketball. Manny has an impressive mentality and a clear love for the game, to go along with a natural physicality to what he does on the floor,” Barnes remarked. “He is part of successful high school program that preaches toughness and togetherness, two things we really value, and he also comes from an athletic family. Manny has a great build that he will continue to develop and he has really blossomed offensively, but still has upside as both a shooter and a playmaker. We are pleased not only about who Manny is now as a player, but also about who he can become down the road.”
The Cedar Grove High School star was a GBCA 3A North All-State selection as both a sophomore and junior. Last year, he was The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) 3A Player of the Year after averaging a DeKalb County School District-best 19.0 points per game and helping his team finish as the state runner-up with a 28-4 record. Green initially burst on to the scene in 2022-23, posting 14.1 points per game, en route to Sandy’s Spiel GHSA 3A Freshman of the Year and AJC 3A Second Team All-State accolades.
In June 2025, Green was named MVP of the top-30 championship game at the esteemed Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas. The physical guard also competed on the Nike EYBL circuit with Florida-based Nightrydas Elite. During the prestigious 2025 Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., Green averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game.
Green committed to Tennessee over a final list that also featured Auburn, Cal, Georgia Tech and South Florida.
The Volunteers have a rich history with Georgians, boasting 22 prior letter winners from the state. The list includes another Ellenwood native and Cedar Grove phenom, Reggie Johnson, a three-time All-SEC honoree who ranks fifth on Tennessee’s all-time scoring list with 2,103 points. The program’s sixth-leading scorer, Dale Ellis, also hails from Georgia, as do three letter winners from Barnes’ first team on Rocky Top.
Scott, now a unanimous four-star recruit who was named Thursday to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year Watch List, is regarded as a top-40 player in the country by both 247Sports and Rivals. The former labels him No. 34 overall, while the latter slots him at No. 40 and fourth in the Sunshine State, as he attends IMG Academy in Brandon, Fla.
“We are thrilled to have Ralph and his family join us here on Rocky Top. Ralph burst on to the scene late and is still developing, but we are so excited about his immense potential, as he is a young man with so much in front of him,” Barnes shared. “He is a legit 6-foot-8 wing with long arms who possesses both a tremendous feel for the game and an impressive ability to shoot the ball with excellent form. Ralph plays at a big-time prep program where he performs on a national stage against top-level competition, which will only help further prepare him for the rigors of the SEC.”
IMG has produced numerous professional athletes, including NBA first-round draftees such as Zach Edey, Keyonte George, Josh Green, Jett Howard, Chris McCullough, Terrence Shannon Jr., Anfernee Simons, VFL Jaden Springer and Mark Williams, plus many other college stars. Scott is in his second year there after spending his sophomore campaign at Lakeland Christian School in Lakeland, Fla., following a move to the United States.
This past summer, Scott was one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country after breaking out across performances in multiple elite settings. He was the MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Americas camp, held May 30-June 2 in San Salvador, El Salvador, and then excelled at the NBA Academy Games from July 9-13 in Atlanta. Scott was the first Bermudian athlete ever to compete in the 14-year history of the former event and he helped his team reach the title game.
After reeling in scholarship offers from many high-level programs, Scott ultimately chose Tennessee over Houston, Purdue and Texas A&M.
It is believed Scott will be the first men’s basketball player from Bermuda to compete not at the Division I level. Tennessee, though, has rostered two individuals from IMG Academy, both of whom had strong careers under Barnes. Lamonte’ Turner, the 2017-18 SEC Sixth Man of the Year, scored 1,084 points from 2016-20, while the aforementioned Springer was a five-star, one-and-done competitor in 2020-21, who went No. 28 in the NBA Draft.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT CLARK
Paul Biancardi, ESPN Basketball Recruiting Director: “Marquis Clark is a shifty lead guard with exceptional control of tempo. He plays with great pace, as well as an understanding of when to accelerate and when to slow down to keep defenders off balance. His IQ and natural feel for the game allow him to effectively orchestrate the offense and keep his team organized. He is lethal from beyond the arc, shooting over 40 percent in the EYBL for Meanstreets. That forces defenders to stay honest and he complements his perimeter threat with advanced shot creation off the dribble. Clark is a true floor general with toughness whose game will translate to the next level.”
Eric Bossi, 247Sports National Basketball Director: “Rick Barnes has done a great job of finding under-the-radar talent and Chicago native Marquis Clark might be next. Clark is a sturdy point guard who is a crafty and efficient playmaker for others. He can knock down midrange jumpers off the dribble and has to be accounted for from behind the 3-point line.”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT GREEN
Paul Biancardi, ESPN Basketball Recruiting Director: “Manny Green is an SC Next Top 100 prospect. He will bring explosive athletic ability to Tennessee, contributing on both ends of the floor. His motor fits Rick Barnes‘ consistent, everyday effort type of player. Offensively, he thrives in transition, finalizing plays and in half-court settings by using a deceptive, quick first step and excellent body control to attack gaps and drive downhill. He excels at finishing through contact and in tight spaces. His ability to create and finish plays with his athleticism makes him a dynamic and reliable scorer. He is also a threat from beyond the arc.”
Eric Bossi, 247Sports National Basketball Director: “Manny Green is the kind of athletic, versatile and tough competitor whom Volunteer fans have come to expect landing under Rick Barnes direction. Green has skill as a slashing wing scorer who thrives in transition. He also possesses the ability to mix it up and be comfortable in a rough-and-tumble style contest.”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT SCOTT
Eric Bossi, 247Sports National Basketball Director: “Ralph Scott is a rapidly emerging talent and somebody Tennessee fans should get excited about. He’s a long and rangy wing who can shoot from deep, is quick to the rim and is a toolsy defender who provides versatility on both ends of the floor. What is most exciting about him is that he’s just learning the game at a high level and has a huge ceiling for growth.”
Jamie Shaw, Rivals Senior National Recruiting Analyst: “The upside with Ralph Scott is what is so intriguing. You immediately see the frame. He has great length with project-ability. Watching him play, there is interesting athletic fluidity, along with an ability to move and switch direction at pace. You like the defensive upside with his natural physical attributes. Scott has some ball skills and he has some touch. He is going to need reps and minutes, as well as to continue improving his strength and leverage, but there is no doubt the ceiling is very high for him. Scott checks a lot of boxes that they look for at the highest levels of basketball.”
