University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Sign Kingsport Native John Fulkerson
November 13, 2015 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee landed its third men’s basketball signee of the NCAA’s 2015 Early Signing Period Friday, as John Fulkerson submitted his National Letter of Intent to UT.
A multi-dimensional 6-8 forward originally from Kingsport, Tennessee, Fulkerson plans to enroll at UT in the summer, and he will be a freshman for the Vols next season.
“One of the things we really look for in frontline players is a motor, and that’s what stands out about John,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “He plays with passion. He’s a guy who makes the plays you associate with winning—he blocks shots, rebounds and runs floor with a high level of energy. And he complements that with a high level of skill. He’s a great finisher around the basket, and he can step out and shoot if from three.”
Fulkerson is currently a senior at The Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, where he was the team’s 2014-15 MVP and is coached by Scott Willard.
As a junior last season, Fulkerson led his team in scoring (10.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg) while also setting a school record with 93 blocked shots. He earned All-Carolinas Athletic Association honors and was a second-team selection on the Asheville Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina team. “I’m excited because I grew up in Tennessee and now I actually have the opportunity to be a Vol,” Fulkerson said. “To be able to learn from and play for a man like Coach Barnes… it’s exciting because he’s proven that he’s capable of developing great players and great teams.”
Fulkerson attended Dobyns-Bennett High School in his hometown of Kingsport as a freshman and sophomore, and he played AAU basketball with the Tennessee Bobcats program, coached by Kevin Feltner.
Fulkerson joins a 2016-17 Tennessee freshman class that includes guard Lamonté Turner (currently enrolled and redshirting), guard Jordan Bone and forward Jalen Johnson.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee basketball program, visit UTsports.com/basketball and follow @Vol_Hoops on Twitter and Instagram.
