Tennessee freshman Josh Tabb might as well be known as "that other guy" in the Vols’ otherwise much-hyped basketball recruiting class.

Part of that has to do with the fact that as a prep school product, Tabb didn’t get nearly the attention of outgoing high school seniors.

Another part has to do with Tabb’s health. A wrist fracture has kept him sidelined since he arrived at UT for the second term of summer school.

And then there’s Tabb himself. Though the 6-foot-4 Tabb lacks the flashy play-making ability of the other guards, he’s one of the first on the floor for a loose ball and one of the most determined competitors on the team.

In other words, he’s the kind of guy that UT coach Bruce Pearl said it takes to win championships.

"When we signed the first four freshmen, it was before we had played a game, and one of the things I wanted to accomplish was becoming a more physical team,’’ Pearl said. "That was what attracted me to Josh.

"Most of the time, we want to recruit high-major guys that can quickly move us to the top of the league. Josh is a mid-major type of guy from a skill standpoint, but because of his personality and his will to win, that elevates him into that elite group.’’

Tabb completed a successful high school career in Carbondale, Ill., before committing to Southern Illinois, but when his ACT score fell short, he wound up at Harmony Prep School in Cincinnati.

"I picked up a lot of life skills there and became more of a man,’’ Tabb said. "I didn’t have a father or father figure growing up, so that was big for me.’’

Tabb has made it a point to get a jump on his academics at UT, earning 3.0 grades in both of his summer classes.

As for his game, Tabb said it is what it is.

"Basketball skills have a lot to do with your success, and I have plenty to improve on,’’ Tabb said. "But when it comes right down to it, you’ve got to do whatever it takes to win, all the little things.’’

Tabb models himself after Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade, who went through the same AAU program as Tabb, playing for the Illinois Warriors out of Chicago.

"He didn’t get a lot of publicity at first, either,’’ Tabb said. "I’m just watching everybody’s game right now until I can get back on the court.’’

Tabb’s fracture wasn’t discovered until he reported to UT in July, and doctors say it’s 85 percent right now.

Tabb went through some open gym workouts this summer with his teammates despite wearing a cast, and he does all the conditioning drills.

"Josh is a hit with all his teammates because they see his work ethic and his desire to compete even with that wrist,’’ UT associate head coach Tony Jones said. "That bodes well for an incoming freshman to get that kind of respect.’’

Walkon Steven Pearl, Tabb’s suitemate, said Tabb is the kind of player his father loves coaching.

"He’s a hard-nosed player; definitely the kind of guy my dad looked to recruit at (Wisconsin-) Milwaukee,’’ Steven Pearl said. "He hustles and does whatever it takes to get the job done. He’ll get in your grill and play defense, and he takes everything seriously.’’

Even his tattoos, which cover most of his arms.

There’s "Baby Tabb’’ on one shoulder. The cartoon was his first, done for fun when he was 18. Then there’s his mother’s first and last name. "Regina’’ is on the front of one biceps, "Tabb’’ on the other.

"I got that when I knew I’d be gone a lot and my mom has been with me through thick and thin,’’ Tabb said. "When I get down on myself, I look at my arms and think of her.’’

Psalms 56 is on one bicep, a motivational scripture Tabb views to keep his faith strong, and the final tattoo is on his forearm and reads "God Given Talent’’ with fire-blazing basketball falling from the heaven.

Regina Tabb just laughs about her son’s tattoos.

"He said the most recent one is the last one, and I told him he doesn’t need any more,’’ said Regina, a teacher’s aide at Century High School in Illinois. "I don’t really mind them.’’

Regina Tabb has as much respect as anyone for her son, having seen the tough road he has had to travel to make it into an up-and-coming program like Tennessee.

"I still remember when he was at fourth grade, we’d be looking for him at the park,’’ she said. "And there he’d be, playing basketball with his cousin and his cousin’s friends, and they were juniors in high school.

"He has just always had that drive.’’

Tabb isn’t interested in projecting how many minutes he’ll play or points he’ll score. He couldn’t even tell you what he averaged as a starting point guard last season.

"I’m not the type of guy who even wants to see his stats after a game,’’ Tabb said. "Everything I do, I do to win.

"We’re all just teammates here. In coach Pearl’s system, we’re all going to play some. You just have to make the most of it.’’