When Nate Ament finally declared for the 2026 NBA Draft on April 23, it solidified the one-and-done expectation Tennessee basketball had since it brought in the five-star recruit last season.
The Vols hope to replace some of the potential lottery pick's production with another heralded forward from the 2025 high school class.
Tennessee's fifth transfer portal addition, Notre Dame freshman forward Jalen Haralson, was a four-star prospect in the same class as Ament.
Coach Rick Barnes is ready to see Haralson's talent shine on both ends of the floor.
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"We are delighted to have Jalen joining the Tennessee basketball family and feel he is a superb fit here," Barnes said in a school release. "Jalen has tremendous positional versatility on both sides of the floor, which is a valuable asset. He is an aggressive, downhill driver who does an excellent job of drawing fouls and getting to the line. Jalen can grab a rebound and get the break going, as he possesses a good handle, stellar passing ability and a high basketball IQ.
"He is well-suited for the pick-and-roll game and is also great at cutting to the rim. Jalen is looking forward to being part of our program and helping us win."
Haralson was the No. 18 high school player in the country in the 247Sports Composite. He was the No. 2 player in Indiana behind UConn guard Braylon Mullins, and the loaded 2025 group featured other standout freshman such as BYU's AJ Dybansta, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Duke's Cameron Boozer, North Carolina's Caleb Wilson and more.
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward averaged 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists in his first season at Notre Dame. He shot 51.5% from the floor, though he strayed away from the 3-point line and only took 25 3's.
Haralson will have three seasons of eligibility. He's the youngest portal acquisition for the Vols in a group that includes Belmont graduate transfer guard Tyler Lundblade, junior Cal guard Dai Dai Ames, junior Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin, and sophomore VCU guard Terrence Hill.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Rick Barnes excited to add Jalen Haralson's 'versatility' to Tennessee basketball