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Daniel West has yet to play a minute for the Tennessee men's basketball team, but he's already come through for the Vols.

West, a senior point guard at Saginaw (Mich.) High School, delivered on the pledge he made Sunday to make a verbal commitment Tuesday to sign with UT and play next season.

"I just like everything about Tennessee, its style of play, its coaches and its players,'' said West, a 6-foot-1 standout on the No. 4-ranked (USA Today) high school team in the country. "That's like my family now. Tennessee took me right in when I got down there.''

West attended the Vols' win over Kentucky on Sunday in Thompson-Boling Arena, spending time with UT players J.P. Prince, Cameron Tatum, Tyler Smith and Brian Williams.

West returned to Michigan and led Saginaw to a win over Flint Carmon Ainsworth Monday night in the Class A (Michigan's largest classification) state playoffs.

West, who's being touted as a leading candidate for Michigan's Mr. Basketball Award, had 27 points, 14 assists and six steals.

"Coach (Bruce) Pearl's style of play is a lot like ours,'' West said. "I've been watching Tennessee for a while because of that. (Saginaw) Coach (Lou) Dawkins told me from the jump Tennessee would be a perfect fit for me, even before they recruited me.''

The first day West can sign with UT is April 9. Phillip Jurick, a 6-10 post from East Ridge, and Renaldo Woolridge, a 6-8 wing from North Hollywood, Calif., signed with the Vols in November.

UT has one more scholarship to offer in the Class of 2008. The Vols have targeted Scotty Hopson, a 6-6 shooting guard from Hopkinsville, Ky., for the final spot.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.