Why Tennessee basketball made the top six for 2024 four-star SF Chase McCarty
Chase McCarty, the 2024 four-star small forward and Tennessee basketball target, is down to six schools, with the Vols making the list of finalists alongside Georgia Tech, Houston, Kansas, Missouri and Texas Tech.
McCary visited Tennessee in August and visits Texas Tech next weekend. He told Volquest after his visit that his plan was to cut down his list after his visits and wants to sign in November.
“I really like their coaching staff,” McCarty told On3’s Joe Tipton after narrowing down his recruitment to six schools. “Their style of play is also a big factor in it. I have some connections up there with JP Estrella and Cade Phillips. I played them a couple of times in high school and AAU ball.
“I really enjoyed my visit up there as well. The vision they have for me and the way the want me to come in and play immediately means a lot to me.”
Chase McCarty: No. 73 overall, No. 26 SF, No. 13 FL
McCarty, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound prospect and Huntsville, Ala., native, attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He’s ranked No. 73 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 26 small forward in the 2024 class and is the No. 13 overall prospect in the state of Florida.
He’s taken official visits to Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Kansas, Houston and Oklahoma, along with Tennessee.
“Really the thing that stood out the most,” McCarty told Volquest after the Tennessee visit, “was just spending time with the coaches and seeing a different side of the program than I was able to see when I was there for unofficials.
“I got sot spend a lot of time with just me and Coach (Rick) Barnes and he’s just so down to earth. It was kind of surprising, but I was able to see his personality and what a crazy sense of humor he has.”
‘They talked a lot about how they could help me get (to the NBA)’
Tennessee currently does not have any commitments in the 2024 class. The Vols recently hosted four-star point guard Bishop Boswell, who recently set a commitment date for September 29, choosing between the Vols, Wake Forest, Georgia, Missouri and Xavier.
Tennessee is selling McCarty on the role he could play on the wing for the Vols in the future.
“I had a chance to sit down with Coach Barnes and watch film,” McCarty said, “where they had taken some of my tape and cut it up with their tape of Tennessee games. The staff talked to me about their plans for me if I ended up there.”
Where he’s ultimately trying to end up, like any other basketball player, is the NBA. Another selling point Tennessee made on his visit.
“They talked a lot about how they could help me get there,” McCarty said. “I enjoyed learning about their strength and conditioning program and seeing the changes that guys have made to their bodies over the course of their careers there.”
