Tobe Awaka signs with Tennessee basketball, will join Vols for 2022-23 season
Tobe Awaka has signed with Tennessee basketball and will join the Vols for the 2022-23 season, UT announced Friday.
Awaka, the New York Gatorade Player of the Year, committed to the Vols in May as a 2023 prospect.
"Tobe gives us another big, strong presence in the post who plays a very physical brand of basketball," Vols coach Rick Barnes said in a school release. "Tobe is an excellent student and had offers from multiple Ivy League programs. He's very comfortable playing down on the block, he can score with either hand and he has a nice shooting touch. He rebounds and moves well, and we love his toughness and grit."
The 6-foot-8 forward also held scholarship offers from Maryland, Pittsburgh, St. John’s and others. He is unranked by 247Sports.
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Awaka averaged 19.2 points and 13.9 rebounds per game at Cardinal Hayes High. He played in the same AAU program as UT point guard Zakai Zeigler.
"Just like Zakai, Tobe continues the New York-to-Tennessee pipeline, which has produced many fan favorites over the years," Barnes said.
Awaka is the fourth 2022 recruit. Five-star Julian Phillips, the No. 12 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite, highlighted the class. Guard B.J. Edwards and forward D.J. Jefferson round out the class. Edwards, a Knoxville Catholic product, was the first commitment. Jefferson joined the class in May.
UT also added Indiana State transfer Tyreke Key this offseason.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tobe Awaka signs with Tennessee basketball, will join Vols for 2022
