2023 Recruiting

[turbovol]

Coaches are unfairly disparaging our program and have been for years. Whether people want to believe it or not. And I'll leave it at that, anything I say on here I stand behind and don't seek validation from anyone. I'm just glad Kellie refuses to stoop to the level many of these programs are because integrity goes a very long way.

At the end of the day, I want who wants to be a Lady Vol and I trust Kellie and her staff to develop her players and coach the team to get it done like they are showing they can.

Tennessee isn't for everybody.

First, how do you know that other coaches are "disparaging" our program? Any real evidence? Second, and more important, who cares? Recruiting is, in fact, a tough business; some if not many recruiters will slip in little digs about other programs, if the opportunity arises--or at the least point out (subtly or overtly) that another program might not be the best fit for a player they're recruiting, for whatever reasons. It's the way the game is played. It's dog eat dog when it comes to top prospect. Third, this just sounds like excuse-making. We simply need to recruit better. The fact that we are winning games and in the top 5 nationally, or wherever we are ranked, should certainly help. The best recruiting tool is winning.

 

[Rickster]

From someone that can't answer questions and can only call people names and post memes.

Typical lie from you. What coherent questions have you asked? NONE. You've just wanted to whine and cry about a statement from a Lady Vol fan that had nothing to do with you or UConn at all. This is you reaching out to troll this fan base. This is why you are not respected and why many see you as a troll.

 

[Bballnut1952]

Typical lie from you. What coherent questions have you asked? NONE. You've just wanted to whine and cry about a statement from a Lady Vol fan that had nothing to do with you or UConn at all. This is you reaching out to troll this fan base. This is why you are not respected and why many see you as a troll.

"I'd love to hear how they are in a downward trajectory?"

Care to answer that coherent question?

That's two coherent questions in one post.

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

Coaches are unfairly disparaging our program and have been for years. Whether people want to believe it or not. And I'll leave it at that, anything I say on here I stand behind and don't seek validation from anyone. I'm just glad Kellie refuses to stoop to the level many of these programs are because integrity goes a very long way.

At the end of the day, I want who wants to be a Lady Vol and I trust Kellie and her staff to develop her players and coach the team to get it done like they are showing they can.

Tennessee isn't for everybody.

M...excellent post...gave you a like. When I read your words, I thought about something color analyst Sorenson said on Sunday. Sorenson quoted Shea Ralph... who apparently said, "Culture, is stragety for life." What is culture at Tennessee? Our coaching staff has created an environment of transparency, trust, accountability, loyalty and family.
Culture as a stragety for life is so much larger than culture that is basketball centered. Shea Ralph's culture quote sounds like something Coach Summitt would have said. But the idea of creating a culture as a stragety for life is definitely what Coach Summit believed in an is her legacy.
Never apologize for demanding excellence and holding young ladies to a higher standard.

 

[Memvol44]

First, how do you know that other coaches are "disparaging" our program? Any real evidence? Second, and more important, who cares? Recruiting is, in fact, a tough business; some if not many recruiters will slip in little digs about other programs, if the opportunity arises--or at the least point out (subtly or overtly) that another program might not be the best fit for a player they're recruiting, for whatever reasons. It's the way the game is played. It's dog eat dog when it comes to top prospect. Third, this just sounds like excuse-making. We simply need to recruit better. The fact that we are winning games and in the top 5 nationally, or wherever we are ranked, should certainly help. The best recruiting tool is winning.

Well certainly the Ole Miss coach does! It's been reported several different times...

 

[Amb3096]

Horston, Burrell, and Key were recruited by Holly. They are the heart and soul of this winning team, and Horston and Key will be back next year to keep the winning going. Please don't wish for the day these players no longer play college basketball.

Recruited by Holly, but not coached by her.

 

[mlindsay]

First, how do you know that other coaches are "disparaging" our program? Any real evidence? Second, and more important, who cares? Recruiting is, in fact, a tough business; some if not many recruiters will slip in little digs about other programs, if the opportunity arises--or at the least point out (subtly or overtly) that another program might not be the best fit for a player they're recruiting, for whatever reasons. It's the way the game is played. It's dog eat dog when it comes to top prospect. Third, this just sounds like excuse-making. We simply need to recruit better. The fact that we are winning games and in the top 5 nationally, or wherever we are ranked, should certainly help. The best recruiting tool is winning.

I would say our recruiting is going very well! 15-1 and our only lost is to the #2 team in the country so far. Our Freshman (although not in the top 40) are looking a lot better than a lot of Top 25 to 30 in the country. The evidence is there, many of you can see the evidence in your face and call it excuse making. Then I look at when you all joined the board or how often you comment and realize your probably another one trying to fan the flames.

 

[Amb3096]

"I'd love to hear how they are in a downward trajectory?"

Care to answer that coherent question?

That's two coherent questions in one post.

I'll answer if you just drop the charade and admit that you're a UConn fan and not a RU fan.

 

[Memvol44]

I would say our recruiting is going very well! 15-1 and our only lost is to the #2 team in the country so far. Our Freshman (although not in the top 40) are looking a lot better than a lot of Top 25 to 30 in the country. The evidence is there, many of you can see the evidence in your face and call it excuse making. Then I look at when you all joined the board or how often you comment and realize your probably another one trying to fan the flames.

Like your enthusiasm!!! But really ..one recruit in two years isn't "going very well"

 

[mlindsay]

Horston, Burrell, and Key were recruited by Holly. They are the heart and soul of this winning team, and Horston and Key will be back next year to keep the winning going. Please don't wish for the day these players no longer play college basketball.

Key word "coached" not recruited. Horston and Key never played for Holly, Kellie had to re-recruit the two of them as well as convince Rae that she should stay (Rae only played 1 season for Holly)

 

[Volfan2012]

Where we only got one high school player in the last high school class recruiting can still be very effective before next season due to the portal. The addition of Dye has been huge she is starting to play like an all SEC player in the last three games. I don't think it is going to be a problem to get in the portal and get a couple of players equal or even better. I like looking in the mid-major ranks as a lot of those teams have a player with Power five talent. The addition of Pissott and couple from the portal we are again a huge challenger for the SEC title and deep advancement in the NCAA next season. Still to be determined how we do in 2023 recruiting so were fine for a while. I see a lot of the highly recruited players in the last class relegated to bench warmers this season. Some will be fine with it and some will not. Long way to go before any judgment can be made as to where we are two seasons from now. Were in great shape this season and next.

 

[Bballnut1952]

I'll answer if you just drop the charade and admit that you're a UConn fan and not a RU fan.

Too embarrased to admit I'm an RU fan. Did you see them play against Michigan? What a terrible team.

 

[And1]

I'd love to hear how they are in a downward trajectory?

Well, if you need it spelled out, when was the last time Uconn had already lost 3 games only 10 games into the season falling out of the top 10 after how long, and deservedly so? And please do not blame it on injuries, as every team has dealt with those, Tenn included. That alone would be enough, but it can be further added Geno's strange compulsion to blame his players for his own shortcomings; but yet desperately playing his starting five for nearly 40 minutes a game leading to injuries; the head-scratching lack of development of Nelson-Ododa, Williams and others after 4 years in the program; he is on the defensive every time someone speaks the truth about UConn biases at ESPN; let me know if you'd like me to further explain.

 

[mlindsay]

Like your enthusiasm!!! But really ..one recruit in two years isn't "going very well"

Is walker not a recuit? Is Keyen not a recruit? is Alexus not a recruit? All playing key roles on a Top 5 team.

We had Evina (#2), Rennia (#12), Annie (#7), and KK (#57)in 2017, Zaay (#10), Jazz (#25), Rae (#43), and MiMi Collins (#49) in 2018

That's (according to ESPN which many swear by) 7, 5star recruits in 2 recruiting seasons and what do we have to show for it?

I'd rather one recruit in two years that is brought in and wants to be a lady vol, rather than 8 recruits in 2 years and only 3 finish as LVFL. And have one go to your rival who played a key role in the environment being what her new coach deemed as "toxic".

 

[mlindsay]

Too embarrased to admit I'm an RU fan. Did you see them play against Michigan? What a terrible team.

What a terrible fan, smdh

 

[Terrells Bay88]

I'd love to hear how they are in a downward trajectory?

Two top five recruits in 2022 and a committment from No. 8 in 2023 with a good chance at the No. 3 and No. 5.

Now, Tennessee is in an upward trajectory for sure. A nice run in the NCAA's will do wonders for their recruiting.

At worst UConn has been good enough to make it to the FF. Player development has been sort been hit or miss lately. This is first time I can remember a good portion of the UConn fan base that openly wants some players (the senior class) to not return (they don't want them to use their extra Covid year of eligibility). No. 3 Ciera Toomey at the moment looks like a UConn lean and No.5 Ashlynn Shade's unofficial visit to Storrs went well.

With the open scholarships that Tenn has for the 2023 class, the law of averages should kick for them to at least get a couple of top 25 recruits.

 

[Memvol44]

At worst UConn has been good enough to make it to the FF. Player development has been sort been hit or miss lately. This is first time I can remember a good portion of the UConn fan base that openly wants some players (the senior class) to not return (they don't want them to use their extra Covid year of eligibility). No. 3 Ciera Toomey at the moment looks like a UConn lean and No.5 Ashlynn Shade's unofficial visit to Storrs went well.

With the open scholarships that Tenn has for the 2023 class, the law of averages should kick for them to at least get a couple of top 25 recruits.

Let's hope!!!!!

 

[lvocd]

Is walker not a recuit? Is Keyen not a recruit? is Alexus not a recruit? All playing key roles on a Top 5 team.

We had Evina (#2), Rennia (#12), Annie (#7), and KK (#57)in 2017, Zaay (#10), Jazz (#25), Rae (#43), and MiMi Collins (#49) in 2018

That's (according to ESPN which many swear by) 7, 5star recruits in 2 recruiting seasons and what do we have to show for it?

I'd rather one recruit in two years that is brought in and wants to be a lady vol, rather than 8 recruits in 2 years and only 3 finish as LVFL. And have one go to your rival who played a key role in the environment being what her new coach deemed as "toxic".

EXACTLY!!!!!! If people can't appreciate that Walker, Green, Dye, Miles, Puckett, Wynn and Striplin are excellent recruits to the program, then there's nothing left to say.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Recruited by Holly, but not coached by her.

Rae was coached by her for one year.

 

[larjoranj]

Coaches are unfairly disparaging our program and have been for years.

I've seen this posted before. I'm not saying you are wrong - I just never see any specifics. What kinds of things are they telling recruits about us?

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

I used the word accountabilty in an earlier post to describe part of Tennessee's culture.

In my opinion, accountabilty means never answering a reporters question, "With I don't know." Answering with a smile that says I appreciate your work and am grateful for the opportunity to represent the University of Tenneessee... is class. That's Coach Harper being accountable

 

[Bakers1]

"I'd love to hear how they are in a downward trajectory?"

Care to answer that coherent question?

That's two coherent questions in one post.

I wouldn't call it a downward trajectory but you have to admit over the last 5 years UConn has underperformed. Each year with the exception of maybe last year Uconn is the most talented team on paper. Yet lost to teams like AZ and Mississippi State. Twice to ND who's roster wasn't as talented on paper. In 2018 Uconn had 3 players who were #1 in their class plus Collier and Odada. In 2019 Uconn had 4 players who were #1 in their class (Westbrook transfer I do think this was the year she sat) plus Griffin and Odada. In 2020 you not only had 3 #1s but Uconn had the College POY Bueckers plus Griffin, Edwards Mclean Muhl and Makurat. In 2021 (still TBD) Uconn has 4 #1s ,the College POY from last year plus the #1 recruit and generational talent the #5 recruit plus Odada Edwards Muhl etc...

In 2021 Uconn had the #2 recruiting class including the #1 player someone most consider a generational talent in AZZI, In 2020 Uconn had the #2 recruiting class including the #1 player someone most consider a generational talent. In 2019 you had your worse class with only one player Griffin but got Westbrook. In 2018 Uconn had the #2 class and the #1 recruit again. In 2017 you had the #2 class with the #1 recruit.

Uconn is expected to win their conference it's weak no team in their conference can even compare talent wise. So Sure they rack up the wins. Seeing they haven't won a title since 2016 and with the talent mentioned above lose to way less talented teams in the tourney. I'd say they certainly are NOT on an upward trajectory since their last championship...... Even without Paige the team is better than 99% of the team on paper.. I wouldn't be shocked if Bueckers doesn't get a championship. I don't see them winning this year but I wouldn't bet against it. Next year SC junior's will be Seniors and last years recruiting class with Johnson & Rivers and Cardosa transfer etc may end up being better than Uconns.

 

[Rickster]

"I'd love to hear how they are in a downward trajectory?"

Care to answer that coherent question?

That's two coherent questions in one post.

why don’t you ask the fan who made the statement? I’m just calling you out on your argumentative disposition. Having a reasonable conversation is not a strength of yours.

 

[creekdipper]

I believe Ralph's actual quote was "Culture eats strategy for breakfast (believe that was the meal mentioned). Which I took to mean that culture trumps and dominates strategy. Then again, she might have been trying to say that culture relies upon strategy for nourishment.

That's the problem...you never can tell what these ex-Conns mean.

 

[PRG]

why don’t you ask the fan who made the statement? I’m just calling you out on your argumentative disposition. Having a reasonable conversation is not a strength of yours.

Rick ….. don’t bother ! This is a Darth deciple or Ivy has reincarnated herself without her Harvard degrees ! Let it argue with themselves so they don’t have anyone posting a reply to them ! As Rambo would say : “ Let it go .”