2021 Lady Vol Recruiting Thread

[Amb3096]

I do actually think/hope both Striplin and Puckett can be decent players for us. I'm not sure they'll be dominating from the get go though. Slightly less hopeful about Miles. We need a shooter at either the one or two position!

Incoming freshmen will provide bench depth. I don't think they will be deciding games; that will be in the hands of Horston, Burrell and Key primarily. I don't know if one of the freshmen (Striplin or Puckett?) moves into the starting lineup, or if Kellie puts Walker at PG and Green or Suarez at PF as the other two starters...but the team will sink or swim depending on those 5. I think Destiny Salary's performance this year is a reasonable benchmark for them, given their comparative scouting/recruiting rankings coming in. Played ok in some games and struggled in most of them. Salary will probably be more of an impact player than any of them after a year with the program under her belt.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Honestly have not had a chance to look closely enough at her video. Not super enthusiastic from what I've read about her, but any help at guard would be great.

She is a baller and is a state track and field champion... two different sports she is athletic and hard worker.

I am looking forward to arriving on campus and enhancing our depth at guard. She can be an all freshman SEC team member...

I’m excited to see what she can do hopefully when you see some video you will probably get a little more excited.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Incoming freshmen will provide bench depth. I don't think they will be deciding games; that will be in the hands of Horston, Burrell and Key primarily. I don't know if one of the freshmen (Striplin or Puckett?) moves into the starting lineup, or if Kellie puts Walker at PG and Green or Suarez at PF as the other two starters...but the team will sink or swim depending on those 5. I think Destiny Salary's performance this year is a reasonable benchmark for them, given their comparative scouting/recruiting rankings coming in. Played ok in some games and struggled in most of them. Salary will probably be more of an impact player than any of them after a year with the program under her belt.

I think some of the freshman will have an impact or they will have an overall a collective impact...

 

[Amb3096]

I think some of the freshman will have an impact or they will have an overall a collective impact...

Maybe. But I'm going to be a realist and say they won't individually or collectively make up what the team loses with Rennia and KK's graduation. Rennia made big shots/plays when Tennessee needed it. She's one of the best individual players to ever play at Tennessee. She's not getting replaced by an unheralded freshman, or even a group of them. Also, I know a lot of posters like to sh/t on KK, but I don't think the freshmen will be able to bring her level of physicality to the court. Perhaps as upperclassmen, but not coming in year 1.

The '21 recruits will allow for a better bench than Tennessee had this season (sorry, Tess and Jessie), but I don't think they'll be striking fear in the hearts of their SEC opponents. That will be the job of the starters. They just have to be able to not hurt the team when they sub-in...not deliver "ShowTime" plays.

One thing I'm pretty certain of is that Miles is not going to be on the court much next season. Strikes me as a project. Last year's Gatorade Kentucky POY (also a PG) barely made it on the court for UK, so I suspect that Miles will take some time to develop into a P5 rotation player.

 

[Darth_Vol]

Kellie Harper cant recruit

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Maybe. But I'm going to be a realist and say they won't individually or collectively make up what the team loses with Rennia and KK's graduation. Rennia made big shots/plays when Tennessee needed it. She's one of the best individual players to ever play at Tennessee. She's not getting replaced by an unheralded freshman, or even a group of them. Also, I know a lot of posters like to sh/t on KK, but I don't think the freshmen will be able to bring her level of physicality to the court. Perhaps as upperclassmen, but not coming in year 1.

The '21 recruits will allow for a better bench than Tennessee had this season (sorry, Tess and Jessie), but I don't think they'll be striking fear in the hearts of their SEC opponents. That will be the job of the starters. They just have to be able to not hurt the team when they sub-in...not deliver "ShowTime" plays.

One thing I'm pretty certain of is that Miles is not going to be on the court much next season. Strikes me as a project. Last year's Gatorade Kentucky POY (also a PG) barely made it on the court for UK, so I suspect that Miles will take some time to develop into a P5 rotation player.

I am a realist too and these young ladies can come in and contribute. what i’m saying is collectives they could possibly contribute 15-20 off the bench and 10 rebounds. that’s what i mean by collective impact.

I get it we all want the number 1 class or Azzi Fudd or someone else’s players but i believe these players collectively can contribute and i realistically can separate that they don’t have to replace Rennia for them to contribute

 

[Rickster]

Barring injury, I believe Wynn and Puckett get a lot of minutes on the wing spelling Rae and Jordan H. Striplin and Marta will get a lot of minutes in the high post and will bring an outside shooting element that we have not had with KK. It will remain to be seen if they can replicate the physicality. Miles will get some minutes at the point, how much will depend not on shooting but decision making and passing. I agree that the starting five will be Horston, Walker, Burrell, Key and Suarez.

I can't see Rennia coming back. She needs to do what is best for Rennia....

 

[Lucy]

If Wynn had stayed at Ensworth this year would she have been top HS player in TN?

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

If Wynn had stayed at Ensworth this year would she have been top HS player in TN?

She would have been up there and probably in the running for TN gatorade player of the year. She came back from the John Lucas camp she was invited too and had a whole different mentality.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Maybe. But I'm going to be a realist and say they won't individually or collectively make up what the team loses with Rennia and KK's graduation. Rennia made big shots/plays when Tennessee needed it. She's one of the best individual players to ever play at Tennessee. She's not getting replaced by an unheralded freshman, or even a group of them. Also, I know a lot of posters like to sh/t on KK, but I don't think the freshmen will be able to bring her level of physicality to the court. Perhaps as upperclassmen, but not coming in year 1.

The '21 recruits will allow for a better bench than Tennessee had this season (sorry, Tess and Jessie), but I don't think they'll be striking fear in the hearts of their SEC opponents. That will be the job of the starters. They just have to be able to not hurt the team when they sub-in...not deliver "ShowTime" plays.

One thing I'm pretty certain of is that Miles is not going to be on the court much next season. Strikes me as a project. Last year's Gatorade Kentucky POY (also a PG) barely made it on the court for UK, so I suspect that Miles will take some time to develop into a P5 rotation player.

I like KK and appreciate this year's growth, but I would trade her for Striplin...Striplin's game is more versatile, she can play for power, but she can also stretch the defense to the elbow bc her shot is fast and accurate.

Wynn for Rennia is asking way too much,,,Ren is considered a top 5 pick in the draft, to ask any freshman in the country, minus one or two (say, an Azzi or Paige level) is to ask way too much,,,but Kaiya's otential to ultimately take that role is there and I predict she will. She is a beast of a driver and can hit the outside shot and keep her defender honest.

Puckett is the hidden gem of this whole 21 class for us...She had a limited AAU season and played on a weak HS team,,,Yet her heart and her desire to make those around her better stayed...And I still believe Miles could be the answer to our limited supply of mighty-mite guards. Also, I know her AAU coach described her a a "dog" in the very highest sense of the word for a defender.

 

[Amb3096]

I like KK and appreciate this year's growth, but I would trade her for Striplin...Striplin's game is more versatile, she can play for power, but she can also stretch the defense to the elbow bc her shot is fast and accurate.

Wynn for Rennia is asking way too much,,,Ren is considered a top 5 pick in the draft, to ask any freshman in the country, minus one or two (say, an Azzi or Paige level) is to ask way too much,,,but Kaiya's otential to ultimately take that role is there and I predict she will. She is a beast of a driver and can hit the outside shot and keep her defender honest.

Puckett is the hidden gem of this whole 21 class for us...She had a limited AAU season and played on a weak HS team,,,Yet her heart and her desire to make those around her better stayed...And I still believe Miles could be the answer to our limited supply of mighty-mite guards. Also, I know her AAU coach described her a a "dog" in the very highest sense of the word for a defender.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I think with proper player development, this class can turn into a productive bunch as upperclassmen. But to expect them to come in as freshmen (or even sophomores) and produce at a level that can compensate for the loss of Rennia, KK and then Rae, is not realistic. With very few exceptions...namely the elite players like a Bueckers or Clark...it take time for freshmen to acclimate to the higher level of competition in college ball, and it's unlikely that these players will be an exception to that rule.

 

[Volfan2012]

I like KK and appreciate this year's growth, but I would trade her for Striplin...Striplin's game is more versatile, she can play for power, but she can also stretch the defense to the elbow bc her shot is fast and accurate.

Wynn for Rennia is asking way too much,,,Ren is considered a top 5 pick in the draft, to ask any freshman in the country, minus one or two (say, an Azzi or Paige level) is to ask way too much,,,but Kaiya's otential to ultimately take that role is there and I predict she will. She is a beast of a driver and can hit the outside shot and keep her defender honest.

Puckett is the hidden gem of this whole 21 class for us...She had a limited AAU season and played on a weak HS team,,,Yet her heart and her desire to make those around her better stayed...And I still believe Miles could be the answer to our limited supply of mighty-mite guards. Also, I know her AAU coach described her a a "dog" in the very highest sense of the word for a defender.

Like I've said before Striplin can replace KK offensively don't know about defensively. I think Wynn and Puckett will be productive bench players that team can rely on to give double digit minutes per game without causing to much loss of efficiency. What I have seen of Miles she needs to learn to shoot the ball better nothing wrong with her ability to handle the ball and defend. We've got about 75 percent of our offense returning so we'll see what they can give us.

 

[Rooster1]

CKH has not had a fair evaluation yet as a recruiter, period. You cannot grade her on her very first class, no coach can be graded that way. Her second class comes amid covid and no in home visits, that’s a mulligan. Judge her on 2022 and beyond classes, that seems more fair. I’ll say this, her team has gotten better, much better, in year two of her taking control. I see her old Missouri State team is 19-2 this season, she built them well. If she gets to a place where she starts landing some AA types she is capable of competing against anyone, she is a very good coach, not hard to look at either.

 

[Coach Jumper]

CKH has not had a fair evaluation yet as a recruiter, period. You cannot grade her on her very first class, no coach can be graded that way. Her second class comes amid covid and no in home visits, that’s a mulligan. Judge her on 2022 and beyond classes, that seems more fair. I’ll say this, her team has gotten better, much better, in year two of her taking control. I see her old Missouri State team is 19-2 this season, she built them well. If she gets to a place where she starts landing some AA types she is capable of competing against anyone, she is a very good coach, not hard to look at either.

On this I thoroughly agree,,,IMO we need two recruits in 2022, one in the "Karly Weathers" category and one being a top 5 post presence.

Though this could change dramatically given the easy to vacate and relocate rule changes of the transfer portals

 

[Coach Jumper]

Karoline Striplin and Sara Puckett dominating in the ALA-NISS allstar game
AHSAA Schools vs MS Schools - Girls Varsity Basketball 03/12/2021 | Live & On Demand

 

[Coach Jumper]

Striplin said in a pre-gameinterview..."She patterns her game after Kevin McHale and Larry Bird"
watching her, she goes up for the rebound and DOES NOT pull it down,, instead pivots into an outlet FB
they're using Striplin in the middle of the bringdowns to stop the MS press,,,it works
Striplin a GoGo Gadget arms and tremendously soft hands

Puckett comes in and rebounds, makes a great pass, has a putback and leads a fast break,,,wow

Ala is dismantling Ms...95-64 with 3 min to go

gameover, 102-70 Karoline MVP...I am getting her stats sent to me...

 

[Peas29]

I like KK and appreciate this year's growth, but I would trade her for Striplin...Striplin's game is more versatile, she can play for power, but she can also stretch the defense to the elbow bc her shot is fast and accurate.

Wynn for Rennia is asking way too much,,,Ren is considered a top 5 pick in the draft, to ask any freshman in the country, minus one or two (say, an Azzi or Paige level) is to ask way too much,,,but Kaiya's otential to ultimately take that role is there and I predict she will. She is a beast of a driver and can hit the outside shot and keep her defender honest.

Puckett is the hidden gem of this whole 21 class for us...She had a limited AAU season and played on a weak HS team,,,Yet her heart and her desire to make those around her better stayed...And I still believe Miles could be the answer to our limited supply of mighty-mite guards. Also, I know her AAU coach described her a a "dog" in the very highest sense of the word for a defender.

Don’t see Miles being the answer but we will see

 

[Coach Jumper]

Don’t see Miles being the answer but we will see

Not the answer, but an answer (right now).
It will be up to Coach K to bring the full brunt out of her, but know this,,,Miles is relentless in attacking the basket and a good one on one defender with quickness

 

[dtnvol]

Striplin said in a pre-gameinterview..."She patterns her game after Kevin McHale and Larry Bird"
watching her, she goes up for the rebound and DOES NOT pull it down,, instead pivots into an outlet FB
they're using Striplin in the middle of the bringdowns to stop the MS press,,,it works
Striplin a GoGo Gadget arms and tremendously soft hands

Puckett comes in and rebounds, makes a great pass, has a putback and leads a fast break,,,wow

Ala is dismantling Ms...95-64 with 3 min to go

gameover, 102-70 Karoline MVP...I am getting her stats sent to me...

Karoline MVP ...WONDERFUL

 

[Coach Jumper]

a little about Kaiya Wynn's season and influence...

Prior to Wynn playing for Foster, they went 23-13 last year. And finished with a league record of 10-6.
With Kaiya, they went 23-3. And 15-0 in the district.
It was the first time in school history to have a perfect district record.
2 of their 3 losses were to Cy Creek who is ranked 15 nationally and had two players named to the McDonalds All-American team.

The first game Cy Creek won by twelve and was tied going into the fourth.
Kaiya led all scorers in both games.
In the second game, they were tied going into the fourth. Kaiya was dominating and CY went to a box-and-one on her.
Foster played Cy Creek twice for the competition. Cy Creek is a 6A and Foster is a 5A.
Cy Creek was undefeated until losing the 6A championship last night to DeSoto.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

congrats to Karoline!!

 

[Coach Jumper]

31st Alabama-Mississippi Classic
Alabama Girls 102, Mississippi Girls 70
MONTGOMERY – Alabama’s girls’ all-stars left little doubt Friday in the first half of the 31st Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex. The talented Alabama squad led 27-23 early in the second quarter but by halftime had a 54-37 lead – outscoring the visitors 27-14 in the final seven minutes before intermission.
The second half was more of the same as Alabama rolled to a 102-70 win in the 31st contest in the series dating back to 1991. Alabama’s girls have now three in a row and hold a 17-14 edge in the series.
Tennessee-bound Karoline Striplin was one of four strong post players on the Alabama roster. The 6-foot-3 Geneva County senior earned MVP honors with 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Coaches Mike Chase of Spain Park and Allisa Flowers of Madison Academy rolled in a variety of combinations in the contest with the one constant two strong posts on the floor and a bevy of outstanding guards.
Indiana signee Kaitlin Peterson of Eufaula had 15 points, two assists and was 4-for-4 at the foul line from her wing position. Mae Jemison’s Saniah Parker contributed 11 points and six rebounds, Hewitt-Trussville’s Amiya Payne and Muscle Shoals’ Sara Puckett had 10 points, six rebounds

 

[GameTime]

And some posters worry about KK graduating...KK has a very limited offensive game...

Karoline Striplin will be taking a lot of names next season...The girl is a player! She will score from wherever she wants, and then score again.....

 

[VolBall09]

31st Alabama-Mississippi Classic
Alabama Girls 102, Mississippi Girls 70
MONTGOMERY – Alabama’s girls’ all-stars left little doubt Friday in the first half of the 31st Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex. The talented Alabama squad led 27-23 early in the second quarter but by halftime had a 54-37 lead – outscoring the visitors 27-14 in the final seven minutes before intermission.
The second half was more of the same as Alabama rolled to a 102-70 win in the 31st contest in the series dating back to 1991. Alabama’s girls have now three in a row and hold a 17-14 edge in the series.
Tennessee-bound Karoline Striplin was one of four strong post players on the Alabama roster. The 6-foot-3 Geneva County senior earned MVP honors with 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Coaches Mike Chase of Spain Park and Allisa Flowers of Madison Academy rolled in a variety of combinations in the contest with the one constant two strong posts on the floor and a bevy of outstanding guards.
Indiana signee Kaitlin Peterson of Eufaula had 15 points, two assists and was 4-for-4 at the foul line from her wing position. Mae Jemison’s Saniah Parker contributed 11 points and six rebounds, Hewitt-Trussville’s Amiya Payne and Muscle Shoals’ Sara Puckett had 10 points, six rebounds

Sounds like a pretty competitive event. Some of the past MVPs from both sides have gone on to be greats. These numbers are much more realistic than what they have been posting. If they could come even close to that as Freshmen they will contribute massively right away.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]