Elite Forward Stokes Signs with Vols

[UTVolCountry]

I know this is a couple days old but oh well...

University of Tennessee Athletics: Men's Basketball

Memphis native is national top 20 prospect

Dec. 23, 2011

Tennessee basketball coach Cuonzo Martin announced Thursday that Jarnell Stokes, a five-star power forward from Memphis, has signed an institutional offer of financial aid and will enroll at the University of Tennessee for the start of the spring semester (which begins Jan. 11).

Stokes graduated from Southwind High School this month and will be eligible to play for the Volunteers after the all of the following three procedures are completed: he is officially admitted to the university; he is added to UT's institutional squad list; and he is approved by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

At 6-8, 250 pounds, the 17-year-old Stokes is rated as a consensus national top-20 prospect by PrepStar.com (No. 11) Rivals.com (No. 11), Scout.com (No. 11), CBSsports.com (No. 16) and ESPNU (No. 18). Rivals.com, and PrepStar.com have Stokes ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Tennessee.

Stokes chose Tennessee over Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky and Memphis.

[UTVolCountry]

It's good to know that the basketball team can still sign top talent, even though they have been horrible this year. Maybe Martin can reel a few more in.

[WestEndVol]

Hopefully he can play this season. Even if it ain't much, we could still use him.