Jarnell Stokes is headed to Tennessee and could help turn around the Volunteers sooner than many expected.

The 6-foot-8 Stokes is the Rivals No. 5 power forward in the Class of 2012. On Thursday he chose the Volunteers over Kentucky, Memphis, Florida and Arkansas. (more…)

Memphis coach Josh Pastner already made his pitch for Jarnell Stokes, showing up at his home at 12:01 a.m. Friday to show his interest.

This weekend it was new Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin’s turn.

During a trip to Memphis, Martin told the 6-foot-9, 245-pound Stokes that he could not only be the “face of the program,” but could also be the one to turn Tennessee around in the post-Bruce Pearl Era and “be that guy that players want to play with,” a source with knowledge of the meeting told SNY.tv.

“It was great,” Stokes said by text of the visit. (more…)

Former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl turned down an offer to coach the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA D-League affiliate and instead will join a marketing firm, ESPN.com reported.

Pearl was recently hit with a three-year, show-cause penalty by the NCAA committee on infractions and can’t coach in the college ranks for that period, anyway.

Pearl told ESPN.com part of the decision stemmed from having two children in high school in the KNoxville area and wanting to spend time with them.

“Donnie Nelson was unbelievably gracious and provided a terrific opportunity,” Pearl told ESPN.com Tuesday. “I really thought that was what I was going to do. But I couldn’t leave my children. (more…)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — One day after Tennessee freshman Tobias Harris announced he would remain in the NBA Draft,  junior shooting guard Scotty Hopson said he’s following suit.

“Just say I’m staying,” he told SNY.tv Saturday in an exclusive interview during an NBA combine at the PNY Center.

“It’s all good. Just say I’m staying.”

He is projected by DraftExpress.com to go No. 54 overall, No. 24 in the second round, to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hopson is expected to sign with New York-based agent Alberto Ebanks, who also reps Lance Stephenson of the Pacers.

(more…)

One year of college was all Tobias Harris needed.

The 6-foot-8, 226-pound freshman forward from Tennessee will remain in the NBA Draft and forgo his final three years of college eligibility.

“Want to thank all that supported me during my time at UT. Its truly been a blessing, the Lord has guided me in the greatest of ways,” Harris posted on Twitter Friday afternoon.

Harris, a Dix Hills, N.Y., native, is projected as the No. 16 pick in the June 23 draft by DraftExpress.com. (more…)

Cuonzo Martin is the new head coach at Tennessee.

The school announced Sunday the hiring of the Missouri State University head coach as the successor to Bruce Pearl, who was fired March 21. Martin will be introduced at a press conference Monday.

The 39-year-old Martin is a Purdue graduate who posted a 61-41 (.598) record in three seasons at Missouri State from 2008-11.

This season’s Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Martin’s team finished 26-9 and won the school’s first-ever Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship. The team’s 15-3 mark in MVC games set a school-record for conference wins in one season. (more…)

Torrel Harris is now in the unique position of having two sons whose coaches are out the door.

Tennessee fired head coach Bruce Pearl on Monday, five days after N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe resigned.

Tobias Harris just completed his freshman season at Tennessee and Tyler Harris has signed a National Letter of Intent to play at N.C. State next season.

“Two coaches get fired, you don’t want that to happen but what can you do,” Torrel, who lives with his family in Dix Hills, N.Y., said Monday by phone. “I always have a belief if you’re a person that walks with God, you’re at where God wants you to be. For Tyler and Tobias, God has them where he wants them to be. We’re all in this world for a purpose. My kids are God-fearing so we approach it as it comes.”

Torrel said Tobias, who averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, would definitely test the NBA waters. (more…)

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton met Monday with head coach Bruce Pearl and an announcement is expected to come later this afternoon regarding the coach’s future, according to a report earlier today on VolQuest.com, the Tennessee Rivals site.

The site Mrsec.com, siting “sources close to the Tennessee program,” said Pearl will likely be offered “a $2 million parting gift.”

The site added:

“If Pearl goes quietly, takes his money and accepts the NCAA’s accusations, UT might be able to get a summary disposition (a quick ruling) which would allow the school to chase a new coach and tell him what sanctions he’ll inherit.

“If Pearl decides to fight some of the NCAA’s charges — even if he’s fired by UT — the Vols won’t get a summary judgement.”

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Lekan Ajayi, a 6-foot-11 center from Quality Education (N.C.), has just returned from his official to Loyola Marymount and is still planning his final two visits.

“I went to California,” he said of the trip to LMU. “It was nice. They have a good business management course. The school is not a big population school, it’s a medium school, with 14-20 [students] per class.

“It’s good out there, very close to the Los Angeles Lakers arena. It’s nice. The L.A. weather is nice, like Nigerian weather. I like it out there, too.”

Ajayi also said he set a new Quality Education record with 24 rebounds when the Fighting Pharoahs beat LaPorte (IN) La Lumiere, 55-48, Saturday in the NCSAA Division 1 Championship Saturday in Erie, Pa. (more…)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Just as Bruce Pearl is about to head into the NCAA Tournament, his future is suddenly in flux.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton thrust Pearl into a new stage of uncertainty regarding his future for next season.

“The jury is out on what’s going to happen with that at this point,” Hamilton told radio station WNML in an interview that was taped on Tuesday and aired on Wednesday. “We don’t know the answer today.” (more…)