Commitment at a glance: DJ Jefferson lands at Tennessee
Former Tulsa signee DJ Jefferson, who was released form his letter of intent and returned to the market a couple months back, has now found a new home at Tennessee. The Rivals150 wing announced his intentions to become a Vol on Friday afternoon and will bring a well-rounded skill set to Knoxville.
Below, Rivals.com has a look at what the Vols are getting and what it means for Rick Barnes’ programs.
WHAT TENNESSEE IS GETTING
Jefferson is an impressive get this late in the cycle, as he provides high-upside value when it comes to long-term development. The 6-foot-5 wing brings a level of length and strength that can’t be coached while providing some serious defensive versatility because of it. He’s capable of guarding nearly any position on the floor due to his combination of size and quickness. The Vols won’t look to Jefferson to come in and dominate games right away, but his physical gifts and ability to get to the rim and finish with either hand could help him see minutes as a freshman. Jefferson creates shots off the bounce and is capable of knocking down open 3-pointers, even if he's not a dead-eye shooter. Simply put, his biggest strength is the well-rounded nature of his game. He may not blow you away with any one talent, but he does almost everything fairly well and can help a team in innumerable ways.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE VOLSThere aren’t many better prospects kicking around this late in the cycle, so Tennessee's ability to add a piece like Jefferson at this juncture is maybe an even bigger victory than it seems like on paper. Jefferson is the fifth member of a recruiting class led by five-star Julian Phillips and is capable of playing the 2 or the 3 for stretches in Knoxville. The Vols have done an incredible job of building this class late in the cycle, as three of its five signees have chosen UT in the last few weeks. The impressive close is a testament to Rick Barnes’ staff and the momentum it has built on the back of last year’s 27-win season as well as the development of freshman Kennedy Chandler into a surefire first-round pick.