Kaan Onat, a 6‑5, 205‑pound freshman guard, has officially pledged to the University of Tennessee at Martin for the 2026‑27 campaign, a move that has generated buzz among college basketball circles.
His arrival follows a breakout showing at the 2024 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in Istanbul, where he helped Turkey secure third place and earned a spot on the tournament’s All‑Star Five.
During that event Onat posted averages of 18.9 points and 4.7 assists per game, ranking fifth in both categories, and delivered a 32‑point, five‑rebound, five‑assist, three‑steal performance against Argentina on July 2.
The guard’s professional résumé includes stints with Anadolu Efes and Anka Spor in the Turkish EBBL, where he logged 19.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.8 steals across 18 appearances for Efes before concluding the 2024‑25 season with Anka Spor.
International experience also spans the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, the NextGen EuroLeague U18 tournament and multiple age‑grade competitions, giving him a résumé that blends European club competition with national team duties.
A Signing Class With Depth
He will join a signing class that features prospects such as Reid Conley, Armandas Bancevicius, Gabrielius Bubnys, Nikola Janicic, Giorgi Sulaberidze, Davi Remagen, Nikas Stuknys and Sasha Savkov, a group that could reshape the Skyhawks’ outlook.
Coach Jeremy Shulman, now in his second year, oversaw a 22‑win season that set a school record and cracked the top‑10 in four NCAA statistical categories, setting the stage for Onat’s potential impact.
Looking Ahead
If Onat can translate his overseas production to the NCAA stage, the Skyhawks may well contend for their first outright conference title since joining the Ohio Valley Conference, a prospect that has the fan base eagerly anticipating the fall.