Martin lands 2013 guard

Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin has spent the winter looking for help at the guard position. After Murfreesboro combo guard Darius Thompson decommitted from Vanderbilt, Martin and the Vols went into full guard press mode to try and land the 6-4, 180 pound three-star prospect.

Thompson and his family were in Knoxville for an unofficial visit for Tennessee's regular season home finale against Missouri and Saturday night after playing in a mid-state all-star game, Thompson announced he would be signing with the Vols in the coming days.

"It was a great trip, it really couldn't have gone any better," Thompson said of his unofficial visit to Knoxville. "I guess the only thing is I wish we could have spent more time there, it was a little rushed, but it was a great atmosphere. I've not been to a college game with the crowd like that, it was impressive.

"I like coach Martin a lot, he's just a guy that you feel a lot of respect for right away. Watching how he interacts with his players, they all respect him and play hard for him. He's somebody that's going to work you hard and get the most out of you."

Thompson held several mid-major offers coming out of his work last summer, but the Blackman High School product elected not to sign in November holding out for a high major offer. And the SEC did come calling with Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee.

And in the end, Tennessee was too much for Thompson and his family to pass on.