WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsJarnell Stokes' cleared to practice at Tennessee

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WRCB) -- Jarnell Stokes finally got to join his new team Wednesday night.

Soon he'll even be able to play with them.

Tennessee's newest signee was on the team bench at the FedEx Forum for the Vols' 69-51 loss to the host Tigers. UT coach Cuonzo Martin confirmed after the game that Stokes has been cleared to begin practicing with the Vols this week.

UT officials confirmed to the Knoxville News-Sentinel the NCAA eligibility center accepted Stokes' high school transcripts and said he is now enrolled in classes.

However, the SEC still has to give him clearance to play in games.

"Jarnell has been cleared by the NCAA, but he's not eligible (to play games) because he has to be cleared by the SEC as well," Martin said. "He wanted to be a part of (the game) and be on our bench with us, so we loved to have him. He's a part of the family.

"He can come back to Knoxville and start practicing with us, that will be tomorrow."

The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward from Southwind High School decided to graduate early and play in college this year after the TSSAA declared him ineligible under its transfer rules. He chose Tennessee two days before Christmas over Kentucky, Memphis and Florida and quickly signed a letter of intent.

Even if cleared by the SEC, the 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward can't play until spring semester classes start next Monday. That rules out Saturday's SEC-opener against Florida.

Even if he's cleared to play next week, Martin won't put a timetable on when Stokes will make his Tennessee debut.

"The biggest key once he's cleared is when we feel he's healthy enough, and when I say 'healthy,' I mean from the standpoint of conditioning, to be ready to play," Martin said. "Even though he has done a lot working out, he hasn't played an actual game since the end of July -- a 5-of-5 competitive game.

"As it's really a matter of us, when we feel he's physically ready to go and go out there and compete on a high level."

Once Stokes gets to that level, though, Martin expects he'll see plenty of playing time. As a top-20 player in most recruiting rankings, he expects to make an immediate impact for the 7-7 Vols.

"I think he will get the minutes, because he is a hungry basketball player," Martin said. "He's a guy that will give you production on the blocks. He's a physical presence. He can post hard. He demands the ball. He's a guy that goes and rebounds the ball. So, I think he will demand minutes, but it's just a matter of him being physically ready to go."