Kabongo Narrows Choices to Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi State
The top-10 center from the Democratic Republic of Congo named three finalists and will decide on Sunday.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball
Center Yohane Kabongo announced a top three of Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi State on social media. He is expected to commit on Sunday after recent visits to all three schools.
Why it matters
Tennessee has no commitments in its 2027 basketball class, so Kabongo's decision would be its first. The outcome will shape how the Volunteers fill a recruiting class that ranked 22nd last cycle according to Rivals.
Kabongo is ranked the 10th-best center in the country, and Tennessee's most recent signing class ranked 22nd overall according to Rivals. His final decision remains pending until his expected Sunday announcement.
The players
Yohane Kabongo
A center ranked 10th nationally who previously played at NBA Academy Africa before joining DME Academy in Florida.
University of Tennessee
The SEC men's basketball program in Knoxville that is seeking its first commitment in the 2027 class.
The details
Kabongo, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to the United States to play for DME Academy in Florida after time at NBA Academy Africa. He visited Tennessee first, then Alabama, then Mississippi State in the past few weeks before naming his top three on social media.
Timeline
Past few weeks: Kabongo visited Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi State.
Last season: Tennessee signed four high school recruits.
Sunday: Kabongo is expected to announce his commitment.
Season Trajectory
Tennessee's 2027 class is starting from zero commitments while its prior class ranked 22nd overall according to Rivals. Kabongo's decision would be an early marker for how the program rebuilds its recruiting pipeline.
Kabongo's choice will determine whether Tennessee opens its 2027 class, affecting how the roster is built in future seasons. Fans tracking the recruiting board can expect a clear result after his Sunday announcement.
The takeaway
Kabongo's decision among Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi State will be a key indicator of how competitive these programs are for top centers. Track his Sunday announcement to see where the 2027 class takes shape.
What happens next
Yohane Kabongo is expected to announce his college commitment on Sunday.
Further reading
Explore more basketball recruiting coverage for other commitment updates in the 2027 class.
