KNOXVILLE - The Tennessee men's basketball team got a commitment Friday from 7-foot-1 Uros Plavsic, a transfer from Arizona State.
Plavsic, who prepped at Hamilton Heights in Chattanooga, may have to sit out the 2019-20 season, per NCAA rules, but it is expected that Tennessee will apply for a waiver that would make him immediately eligible.
He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
"I realized that my future belongs to Tennessee," Plavsic tweeted Friday evening. "I am so grateful for the opportunity that Coach (Rick) Barnes and Coach (Michael) Schwartz gave me.
"Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank God for keeping me healthy and strong throughout the whole journey. Go Vols."
The newest Vol played only one season of high school basketball, averaging 9.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for the Hawks. He had 15 points and nine rebounds against national power Oak Hill Academy.
He initially committed to play at Cleveland State University, where former UT-Chattanooga forward Drazen Zlovaric - who also spent time as a graduate assistant for Barnes in Knoxville - was an assistant. Plavsic didn't sign during the winter period and decommitted after Zlovaric left Cleveland State in late March 2018.
Both ultimately wound up at Arizona State, where Plavsic redshirted in his lone season. He entered the transfer portal after Zlovaric lost his job as a Sun Devils assistant.
Reported to have a solid touch around the basket and from 3-point range, Plavsic will help the Vols with some size, as Kyle Alexander and Admiral Schofield fulfilled their eligibility, Grant Williams has announced for the NBA draft and rising junior forward Derrick Walker has transferred to Nebraska.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.