4-star small forward Ralph Scott commits to Tennessee Basketball over Houston, Purdue

Tennessee Basketball has its first commitment in the 2026 class, with four-star small forward Ralph Scott picking the Vols over Houston, Purdue and Texas A&M Tuesday afternoon. He’s the No. 57 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking.

The 6-foot-8 Scott, a Bermuda native who attends IMG Academy in Florida, is the No. 22 small forward and in the class and the No. 7 prospect in the state of Florida.

Scott took an official visit to Tennessee the weekend of September 13 and also took official visits to his other three finalists. He also canceled a visit scheduled for Syracuse in October. 

“They were saying they would use me like Kevin Durant or Dalton Knecht,” Scott told Volquest after his visit, “where I can get open shots, get into the midrange.

“The same type of stuff that Nate Ament is going to be doing. Getting open shots, getting to the rim and playing defense one through five, being a pest.”

1000% committed pic.twitter.com/tgsJswd21T

— Ralph Scott (@Ralph_Scott13) September 30, 2025

Ralph Scott wanted to play ‘for a defensive-minded coach’

Scott describes himself as “a lengthy wing who can shoot the three,” on top of his defensive focus. 

“I get to my spots,” Scott told Rivals over the summer, “can guard the one through five, and I protect the rim. My energy and my motor are what have improved the most for me over the past few months. I am attacking more, getting to the rim, and I’m more comfortable getting to my shots.”

Scott also said during the recruitment process that he was looking for a “developmental school” that would grow his game on both ends.

“(That) will push me to be as good as I can be,” Scott said. “I’ll look at the academics. They have to have my major … I want to major in engineering. I’d like to play for a defensive-minded coach who is competitive and a program that is going to chase a title.”

Vols signed the No. 14 class in 2025

He found that match in Rick Barnes.

“Obviously the legacy of coaching great players like KD (Kevin Durant), TJ Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge, all those great players,” Scott said. “But in person he’s a really down to earth guy. I like his belief too. His faith is really nice.”

Tennessee’s 2025 signing class was ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC with a class score of 92.29. The Vols signed five-star small forward Nate Ament (No. 2 overall), four-star guard Amari Evans (No. 68), four-star center Dewayne Brown (No. 96), three-star point guard Troy Henderson (No. 261) and three-star guard Clarence Massamba(No. 262).