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Illinois native becomes Tennessee’s first 2015 commitment

Tennessee Tyndall Basketball

Donnie Tyndall, right, is introduced as Tennessee men’s basketball coach by athletic director Dave Hart during a news conference Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn. The former Southern Mississippi coach succeeds Cuonzo Martin, who resigned last week to take the coaching job at California. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Amy Smotherman Burgess)

AP

With leading returning scorer Josh Richardson (10.3 ppg in 2013-14) entering his senior season, new Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall had the need to add a forward to his roster for the 2015-16 season. That goal was accomplished Sunday afternoon, as 6-foot-5 forward Admiral Schofield verbally committed to the SEC program.

The news was first reported by Ben Frederickson of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, with Schofield sending out a tweet shortly thereafter.

Schofield’s on campus for an official visit this weekend, and his versatility at the forward position is something that should fit in well with Tyndall’s program. As a junior at Zion-Benton Twonship HS in Zion, Illinois, Schofield averaged 15.6 points and eight rebounds per contest on a team led by Saint Louis freshman Milik Yarbrough.

The Zee-Bees finished the 2013-14 season with a 26-4 record, and with Yarbrough now at the college level Schofield will have the opportunity to do even more as a senior. In a story written by Joe Henricksen of the Chicago Sun-Times, Schofield cited his comfort with Tyndall when asked what led to his decision to commit to Tennessee.

“It felt like home to me,” says Schofield. “Coach Tyndall and I hit it off. He’s a very straight-forward guy and he has a plan for me, and that’s to get me to reach the highest level and the best of my abilities. I believe in him. He says he wants to win championships, national championships. And that’s what I want and what I’m about, doing all I can to win.”

With the aforementioned Richardson entering his senior season and Derek Reese, who played just under 11 minutes per game as a sophomore, being a junior adding depth to the small forward position was important for Tennessee. Schofield has played both forward spots in high school but given his height one would think that he’ll project to the small forward role in college.

Tennessee added three freshman forwards to the program this offseason, with Jabari McGhee, Willie Carmichael and Tariq Owens being the additions. The Volunteers have also added Memphis transfer Dominic Woodson, although it has yet to be determined whether or not he’ll be eligible to play immediately.

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