Vanderbilt men’s basketball coach Mark Byington has officially signed his son, Ensworth senior guard Chase Byington, to the Commodores’ 2026 recruiting class, according to The Tennessean’s Tyler Palmateer.
It is a move rooted as much in family timing as roster strategy. Byington offered the scholarship over the dinner table last year, ultimately adding Chase as a scout‑team player expected to contribute heavily to on‑campus recruiting efforts.
The decision follows a model used by coaches such as Tom Izzo and Kelvin Sampson, whom Byington consulted before extending the offer. Izzo encouraged him to “do it… then do it all over again if you can,” calling the experience invaluable.
Chase, a 6-foot-3 reserve averaging 3.7 points for Ensworth, is projected as Vanderbilt’s 15th man, a spot Mark says benefits from loyalty and trust amid modern roster turnover.
“You need people you can trust,” he said, noting Chase has provided 18 years of that already.
