The Tennessee basketball program has added a promising frontcourt prospect to its roster, as forward D.J. Burns has signed and submitted an institutional aid agreement to the university.

A 6-8, 250-pound forward from Rock Hill, South Carolina, Burns will enroll at UT this week, and he will be a freshman for the Volunteers during the upcoming 2018-19 season.

“We targeted D.J. three years ago because he fits our culture on and off the court,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “His mom and dad have prepared him well, and we believe he’s got a really bright future. D.J. allows us to play through the high or low post. He’s a good passer, he can make perimeter shots and he’s got excellent footwork. With his attitude and approach, he’ll grow quickly and tremendously within our player development program. We’re excited about D.J. He’s a great addition for us.”

Burns—who totaled more than 1,000 points and more than 1,000 rebounds during his prep career—was coached at York Preparatory Academy in Rock Hill by Frank Hamrick. Burns played his AAU ball in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League with the Georgia Stars, coached by Chris Richards.

Burns was originally a member of the Class of 2019 but announced in early May that he was reclassifying to the Class of 2018. He graduated early on May 25.

Still included on ESPN’s Class of 2019 national prospect rankings, Burns lands at No. 52 on the most recent listing. And according to the 247Sports.com industry composite for the Class of 2018, Burns is rated as a four-star recruit, the third-ranked prospect in the state of South Carolina, the nation’s 12th-ranked center and is rated 103rd among all prospects nationally.

Burns’ ESPN.com recruiting profile states that, “in many ways, Burns has an old-school post game with great mobility that should make for a winning combination in Knoxville.”

Burns received team MVP honors during a standout junior season this past winter. He averaged a double-double (14.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg), was named MVP of both the C. Dan Joyner Poinsettia Classic in Greenville and the USA National Prep Championships in North Myrtle Beach. He also was one of 24 players selected to compete in the South Carolina Junior Showcase in Columbia. He received an invitation to participate in the upcoming NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia June 12-17.

As a sophomore in 2016-17, Burns averaged 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field. He scored in double figures 15 times and logged three 20-point games.

Burns, who will wear jersey No. 32 at UT, joins former Tennessee basketball team captains Garland “Mule” O’Shields (Spartanburg, 1944-46) and Major Wingate (Florence, 2003-06) as just the third South Carolina native ever to sign with the Vols.

-UT Athletics

As the 2018 WNBA season enters its third week of competition, several former Lady Vols are seeing significant action for their respective teams. Candace Parker posted the top performance by an LVFL last week, logging a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Minnesota on June 3. Diamond DeShields also had a solid outing on June 3, posting a team-high 25 points in the Sky’s 95-90 win over Las Vegas.

Other former Lady Vols currently on WNBA rosters are Isabelle Harrison (San Antonio), Glory Johnson (Dallas), Jaime Nared (Las Vegas), Mercedes Russell (Seattle), and Shekinna Stricklen (Connecticut).

In upcoming WNBA action, Parker will face off against fellow LVFL Russell as the Sparks host Seattle on Thursday, June 7, at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Stricklen and the Connecticut Sun will also be in action Thursday, coming off a three-game road swing to host the Liberty at 7 p.m. ET (League Pass, MSG+, NBCSB).

On Friday, Nared and the Las Vegas Aces will host the Atlanta Dream at 3 p.m. ET(League Pass), Johnson will be in action as the Wings play at Indiana at 7 p.m. ET(League Pass), and DeShields will take to the court at 10 p.m. ET at Phoenix (League Pass, The U Too).

Stricklen will be back in action for her third game of the week on Saturday in the lone WNBA game of the day, playing Minnesota at 2 p.m. ET (NBA TV, NBCSB).

Diamond DeShields

Chicago Sky | G | 1st Season

DeShields has made an immediate impact for Chicago, starting all six games in her rookie season and averaging 15.3 ppg. She logged a career-high 25 points on June 3 while leading the Sky to a win over Las Vegas, 95-90.

Isabelle Harrison

Las Vegas Aces | F/C | 3rd Season

Harrison remains on the Aces’ roster but is taking a personal leave of absence due to medical reasons, per an April 28 report from the franchise.

Glory Johnson

Dallas Wings | F | 6th Season

Johnson scored 12 points and snagged eight rebounds before suffering a hamstring injury in the Wings’ season-opening loss to Phoenix. Per a May 20 report from the franchise, she is expected to be out for approximately four weeks.

Jaime Nared

Las Vegas Aces | G/F | 1st Season

Nared has seen action in five games for the Aces, averaging 3.8 ppg while playing 12.4 minutes per contest.

Candace Parker

Los Angeles Sparks | F/C | 11th Season

After missing three games due to injury, Parker returned to action on Sunday, May 27, coming off the bench to score 10 points in the Sparks’ 80-72 home win over Phoenix. Parker followed that up with a double-double against Minnesota, tallying 19 points and 10 rebounds while logging her first start of the 2018 season.

Mercedes Russell

Seattle Storm | C | 1st Season

Originally drafted 22nd overall by the New York, Russell saw action in two games for the Liberty before signing with Seattle. Through a total of four WNBA appearances she is averaging 13.0 mpg, 2.8 rpg and 1.8 ppg.

Shekinna Stricklen

Connecticut Sun | G/F | 7th Season

Stricklen has started all six games for the Sun, averaging 17.9 mpg and 6.0 ppg. In her most recent outing, Connecticut suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Atlanta, 82-77. She played 22 minutes in the game, accounting for six points and two rebounds.

-UT Athletics

Birmingham, AL – The Southeastern Conference has announced each school’s conference opponents for the 2019 season.

Five SEC schools are ranked in ESPN.com’s Way Too Early Top 25 (Kentucky 3rd, Tennessee 5^th, Auburn 11^th, LSU 21^st and Mississippi State 22^nd) while 20 of the ESPN.com Top 100 recruits have signed with SEC schools.

In all, the SEC boasts six of ESPN.com’s Top 25 in-coming recruiting classes.

The SEC is coming off a season in which a record eight teams participated in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Times, dates and television information will be announced at a later date.

2019 CONFERENCE OPPONENTS

-SEC