Tennessee basketball lands commitment from 6-8 forward Tobe Awaka

Tobe Awaka, a 6-foot-8 power forward from the Bronx, New York, has committed to Tennessee basketball.

Awaka, the New York Gatorade Player of the Year, chose the Vols offer scholarship offers from Maryland, Pittsburgh, St. John’s and others. He has not yet been rated by 247Sports.

"Happy to announce that as a member of the class of 2023, I will be committing to the University of Tennessee. Go Vols," Awaka posted on Instagram on Tuesday.

Awaka averaged 19.2 points and 13.9 rebounds per game at Cardinal Hayes High, and he played in the same AAU program has UT point guard Zakai Zeigler.

UT has three open scholarships in the 2022 class after the signing of five-star wing Julian Phillips and four-star Knox Catholic point guard B.J. Edwards.

Akawa could choose to reclassify to join them in the 2022 class. The Vols have done so previously with post players like Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, D.J. Burns and Handje Tamba.

Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.