There’s no relationship building that needs to be done between Tennessee Basketball coach Rick Barnes and 2026 four-star prospect Bo Ogden. As the son of Chris Ogden, who starred for Barnes at Texas and later coached under him, he has known Barnes is entire life.

“Coach Barnes is like my grandfather,” Bo Ogden told On3’s Jamie Shaw. “My dad played for him, so I’ve known him my whole life. So it has been good.

“Now that I’m a recruit, our relationship is definitely different, but it’s kind of the same. We’ll say I love you and all that. We’ve been so close for so long. So really, a little has changed, but it’s hard to change that.”

Bo Ogden took Purdue official visit, has Virginia visit scheduled

Chris Ogden was a senior team captain on the 2003 Texas Final Four team and started his coaching career as a student assistant for Barnes the next season. He followed Barnes to Tennessee in 2015-16, before stops at Texas Tech and Texas Arlington, before returning to Texas in 2021.

Bo Ogden, out of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, is listed as a small forward at 6-foot-5, 180 pounds. His offer list already includes Tennessee, Purdue, Virginia, Kansas, Providence, Virginia Tech, Stanford and Texas, where his dad is the general manager.  

“I think I’m a really good shooter,” Ogden told Shaw, “but this summer I’ve really developed the ability to be on the ball and create on the ball for myself and for others,” Ogden told On3. “So, I’d say I’m a shooting creator. I watch a lot of Ty Jerome, and Luka (Doncic) for ball screen stuff.”

Ogden took an official visit to Purdue in February and has a Virginia official visit scheduled for September 25. He told Shaw he’s setting up an official visit with Texas and is planning Tennessee and Kansas visits after the trip to Virginia. 

“At the moment,” Ogden said, “those are the ones I talk to the most.”

Bo Ogden planning fall visits, signing in November

Ogden added that he wants to take his visits in the fall and sign during the early signing period in November. 

“I want somewhere where I have a really good fit, somewhere I can play early,” Ogden told Shaw. “I want to get that development. And somewhere I have a really good connection with the coaching staff. 

“I would say that fit and play style is definitely like my number one of what matters.”

Tennessee is offering both as his recruitment continues. 

“They’ve had guys Dalton Knecht most recently,” Ogden said, “that have played a lot like me. I really like Coach P (Gregg Polinsky) over there, it’s been really good getting to know him.”