Lamonte’ Turner, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound point guard from Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, will reclassify to 2015 from 2016 and head to Tennessee next season.
“I will be committing to the University of Tennessee,” the Alabama native told SNY.tv by phone on Tuesday.
He also considered Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Wichita State, Alabama and Auburn.
Turner, who averaged 12 points and 6 assists this past season at IMG, has visited Tennessee twice already and plans to be on campus for summer school. Assistant coach Desmond Oliver recruited Turner to Tennessee.
“I’ve always been a fan of the SEC since I was a kid,” Turner said. “And Coach Rick Barnes, I really admire what he’s done as a coach, and all the players he’s put in the NBA and that’s my ultimate goal.”
Turner expects to compete for the starting point guard position right away.
“Coach told me they’re going to put the ball in my hands and just let me play my game,” Turner said. “I’m a scoring point guard and I also get others involved, so I do both of those.”
Turner joins Shembari Phillips, a 6-foot-4, three-star guard from Marietta (GA) Wheeler, and Admiral Schofield, a 6-6, three-star combo forward from Zion-Benton (IL) Township High School, in Tennessee’s recruiting class.
IMG coach John Mahoney said Tennessee is getting a prolific scorer and distributor in Turner.
“Oh man, he’s instant offense,” Mahoney said. “He can shoot it. He can take it to the rack and he can also see the floor. He gets his players involved.
“We’re confident he will excel at the next level with Tennessee.”
SNY.tv first reported the news of his reclassification last week.
