Julian Phillips, final uncommitted five-star recruit in 2022 class, chooses to play at Tennessee

Five-star senior Julian Phillips, the last remaining available five-star prospect in the 2022 class, announced his commitment to Tennessee on Thursday.

Phillips chose the Volunteers over Auburn, although the G League Ignite team had emerged as an option late in the process. He had originally committed to LSU in October but was released from his letter of intent in March after coach Will Wade was fired following an NCAA notice of allegations accusing the program of five Level I violations.

A 6-foot-7 small forward from South Carolina who attended Link Year Prep (Missouri), Phillips is ranked No. 13 in the ESPN 100 for 2022 and is Tennessee's sixth five-star recruit in the past four classes. He slots in as the No. 6 small forward in the class.

Phillips averaged 19.6 points per game for Upward Stars on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit last summer then helped lead Link Year Prep to the championship game of the Geico Nationals tournament last month. He averaged 15.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in three Geico Nationals games, including 20 points and six rebounds in a quarterfinal win over Oak Hill Academy (Virginia).

«Phillips is a long and skilled wing with the one-and-done talent that the NBA covets,» said Paul Biancardi, ESPN's national recruiting director. «However, he will have to raise his talent and work habits to maximize his enormous upside. He plays both inside and out effectively. Phillips has been loaded with potential at a young age. His versatility at both ends and physical measurables make him a desirable recruit.»

Phillips immediately upgrades Tennessee's frontcourt and is likely to play a starring role immediately. Coach Rick Barnes and the Volunteers are expected to return Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi on the