Elite 5-Star Recruit Names Top School After Official Visit
Elite 5-Star Recruit Names Top School After Official Visit originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
As the college football offseason continues to roll on, many of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class are making big decisions, including offensive tackle Darius Gray out of Richmond, Virginia.
Advertisement
He's one player that many of the top programs are pursuing, and on Saturday, he had an official visit with the Tennessee Volunteers, marking the third time the program hosted him.
Now, in an article by On3's Steve Wiltfong, it's clear the Volunteers have made a very strong impression, as Gray revealed where the SEC powerhouse sits in the recruiting process.
'They stand at the top of my board,' Gray said. 'What makes it special is the people in that building!'
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel.Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Of course, this is great news for Tennessee and head coach Josh Heupel, as On3 Industry Rankings list Gray as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 interior offensive lineman, the No. 2 player in Virginia and the No. 23 player in the nation.
Advertisement
However, that was also far from his first official visit, as he's already been hosted by Virginia Tech (April 11), Virginia (April 25), Georgia (May 17) and Clemson (May 30).
To make things even more competitive, he also has more visits scheduled with Auburn (June 10), Ohio State (June 11), LSU (June 14), Penn State (June 17) and South Carolina (June 20), so Gray certainly has many options.
There's no doubt Tennessee would love to come out on top, though, as Gray could be a huge addition to its 2026 recruiting class, which holds eight commitments, ranking No. 4 in the SEC and No. 11 in the nation, per On3.
Related: Nation's No. 1 QB Sends Clear Message After Texas Visit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ben Simmons Update Announced After Clippers Issue Big Demand
Ben Simmons Update Announced After Clippers Issue Big Demand originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Wednesday, reports surfaced that the Los Angeles Clippers have placed significant conditions on the potential return of Ben Simmons, following a season in which the franchise underwhelmed despite high expectations. Advertisement League sources told HoopsHype's Michael Scotto that, beyond their plans for the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE), Los Angeles is eyeing a backup point guard and rim-protecting center to bolster depth. Under that scenario, current backup center Drew Eubanks, who carries a $4.75 million non-guaranteed deal for 2024-25, "is not expected to return," as he could be used "as a salary filler in a trade or waived by the Clippers." Meanwhile, the statuses of Amir Coffey and Simmons remain "not certain," depending on their respective free-agent markets and roster fit. Los Angeles Clippers forward Ben Simmons (25).Dale Zanine-Imagn Images A native of Melbourne, Australia, Simmons immediately made an impact in Philadelphia, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 after averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds in his first season with the 76ers. Advertisement He then earned three consecutive All-Star nods (2019-2021), made the All-NBA Third Team in 2020 and secured two NBA All-Defensive First Team honors (2020, 2021), leading the league in steals per game (2.1) in 2020. In February, shortly after being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets and clearing waivers, Simmons inked a one-year, $1.08 million deal with the Clippers. In his debut on February 13, he posted 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in a 120-116 overtime win over the Utah Jazz. The 2024-25 season began with optimism for Los Angeles, led by stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, yet the Clippers once again fell well short of expectations, losing to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Advertisement Related: Shaquille O'Neal Makes Strong Statement Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors Related: Damian Lillard Sends Strong Message to Bucks Teammate Amid Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pacers Struggle to Compete as Thunder Tie the Series
Pacers Struggle to Compete as Thunder Tie the Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Game 2 of the NBA saw the Oklahoma City Thunder jump out on the Indiana Pacers early and never look back. The Thunder tied up the series, taking a critical win in Game 2 by a score of 123-107. The Thunder were led in scoring by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 34 points, while the Pacers were topped by Tyrese Haliburton with 17 points. Advertisement The first quarter started off with the Thunder being very aggressive and attacking the rim. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed determined to not let a repeat of Game 1 take place. Their sheer defensive pressure caused Indiana to play very sloppily for the first few minutes. Andrew Nembhard turned up the intensity on both sides of the ball. He played defense on Shai very physically, causing the league's MVP to work a bit harder for his buckets. On the offensive end, Nembhard would continue to look for his shot, either from three or getting to his mid-range game. The Thunder were bolstered in the first quarter by their star big man Chet Holmgren. In Game 1, Holmgren only had 6 points for the entire game. In the first quarter of this game, Holmgren came out blazing, dropping nine points. He was aggressive and shooting with confidence, and it could be felt. The Thunder led by six points at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Thunder go on a 19-2 run and extend their lead out to over 20 points. The Pacers would ride the shoulders of Pascal Siakam to try and bring them back by attacking mismatches, but ultimately, the Thunder would carry an 18-point lead into halftime. Advertisement The story of the Pacers' comeback in Game 1 was the unlikely production from their bench, specifically Obi Toppin, who contributed 17 points to help the effort. The same held true in the first half for the Thunder. Aaron Wiggins came in off the bench and hit some big threes. He would drop eight points in the first half, while veteran big Kenrich Williams would also push the pace for the Thunder. His effort for the team cannot be seen on the stat sheet, but was undeniable. The Pacers started the third quarter with a focused effort to get Myles Turner involved. The Thunder went back to their two-big lineup with Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and it caused some problems for the Pacers. This approach with Turner was definitely an attempt to counter that lineup. The Pacers would cut the lead down to 14 at the halfway point of the quarter. However, the lead remained at 19 at the end of the third quarter. Advertisement The Pacers struggled all game to adjust to the defensive pressure being applied by the Thunder. Tyrese Haliburton really struggled to get going offensively and had several turnovers. If the Pacers are going to have a chance in this series, he is going to have to get going offensively earlier. They cannot continue to play from behind against the top team in the Western Conference every game. Again, the Thunder take Game 2 by a score of 123-107. Game 3 will be played on Wednesday, June 11, back in Indianapolis. Related: Tyrese Haliburton Describes Pacers Team in One Word After Game 1 Win Related: Pacers' Rick Carlisle Reveals Honest Thoughts on Colleague Being Fired This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals 'Hard' Lesson Indiana Pacers Taught Him
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals 'Hard' Lesson Indiana Pacers Taught Him originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Even though Andrew Nembhard put him on skates before hitting a clutch 3-pointer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked poised for the entirety of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 111-110 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Advertisement SGA missed a midrange shot in the final seconds that would have put the Thunder up by three points, and he finished with 38 points on 46.7 percent shooting to go with three steals. However, it wasn't quite enough, as the Pacers roared back, winning their fifth game of the postseason thanks to a last-second Tyrese Haliburton shot. Indiana only led for 0.3 seconds of the game, but it was enough to earn a shocking win on the road and take a lead in the Finals, where many expected them to get swept. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander offered an honest assessment. "We had control of the game for the most part of it," said Gilgeous-Alexander to the media. "Now, it is a 48-minute game, and they teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league, the hard way." Advertisement The Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and now the Thunder have all learned that lesson thanks to the Pacers. It doesn't matter how big of a lead you have, Indiana will fight until the final buzzer, and it's truly not over until it's over. Game 2 will keep the series in Oklahoma City, tipping off on Sunday night. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Indiana Pacers Break Remarkable 26-Year-Old Record in Finals Related: Pacers Pull Off Dramatic Comeback to Steal NBA Finals Game 1 at OKC This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
