2024 TRANSFER TRACKER

#3,603
#3,603
House|RockyTop said:
High School awards/accolades are watered down.

How many AAs were on Iowa’s roster? NC State? Utah?

Aneesah Morrow LSU’s best or 2nd best player this past season out of HS was not an AA.

Arguably the best newcomer
Alyssa Latham alongside Georgia Amoore in the SEC this season was not an AA.

All this talk about HS AAs, talent, super teams, etc tells me folks are quick to forget what happened with LSU last off-season.

The best thing that happened for SC this past season was they stayed healthy. Several teams including Tennessee did not. Tennessee on the court proved SC was very much beatable with their AA roster.



Click to expand...

I would not argue that HS accolades are sometimes over warranted, which is what I think you meant in spite of saying “watered down”. I do note that you refer to these accolades often when discussing players relevant to your own fav team, no worries there however. it is true that the sum of the parts is often greater than the whole and we all know that in team sports there is way more involved than just rankings etc.

But be careful when making statements such as having or acquiring McDonald AA type players is not something which indicates or at least suggests good things as far as team performance. If UT were to land Chavez for instance, I suspect you would be front and center with thoughts on the great things this would portend for the LV’s, as it probably would of course.

My point was simply that a team with ten HS AA’s full of experience and having come off of a NC season with a staff that is also pedigreed probably deserves top billing in the preseason, but as I have mentioned many times already I believe there are 6-7 teams that are going to be NC contenders in 2024-25 and I have no qualms where anyone places these teams in the pecking order, it always sorts itself out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo, krichunaka, 1reVOLver and 2 others
#3,605
#3,605
DarkPhoenix said:
They won last year and I gave my reasons why I think they won. Last year has nothing to do with this year, Was Kiki on USC last year? Was Rori Harmon healthy and playing for Texas, was Layla Phelia on Texas, Was Janiah Barker on UCLA. I didn’t list everyone but u get what I’m saying, last year has nothing to do with this year.
Click to expand...
Oh I get it.....sour grapes....but carry on.
 
#3,607
#3,607
Rooster1 said:
I would not argue that HS accolades are sometimes over warranted, which is what I think you meant in spite of saying “watered down”. I do note that you refer to these accolades often when discussing players relevant to your own fav team, no worries there however. it is true that the sum of the parts is often greater than the whole and we all know that in team sports there is way more involved than just rankings etc.

But be careful when making statements such as having or acquiring McDonald AA type players is not something which indicates or at least suggests good things as far as team performance. If UT were to land Chavez for instance, I suspect you would be front and center with thoughts on the great things this would portend for the LV’s, as it probably would of course.

My point was simply that a team with ten HS AA’s full of experience and having come off of a NC season with a staff that is also pedigreed probably deserves top billing in the preseason, but as I have mentioned many times already I believe there are 6-7 teams that are going to be NC contenders in 2024-25 and I have no qualms where anyone places these teams in the pecking order, it always sorts itself out.
Click to expand...

I meant what I said, “ watered down.” Tennessee just landed another McDD AA in Ruby Whitehorn.
My point remains.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoullessGinger32_
#3,609
#3,609
superfly said:
Oh I get it.....sour grapes....but carry on.
Click to expand...
Not sour grapes at all, like I said when both teams have a good roster I go with the team that has the best player, and every team I picked ahead of them would have the best player on the court, but we all know a sprained ankle can change the course of history, like it did last year, let’s hope everyone stays healthy.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: volfan__18, chuckiepoo, Rooster1 and 3 others
#3,610
#3,610
Rooster1 said:
Kiki Rice is one of the best PG’s in the country. They also got that great SG from OSU out of the portal. They are stacked going into next season.
Click to expand...
They will definitely be interesting, adding Gardiner from OSU and Leger-Walker from WSU. They have so much size, but their 3-point shooting, especially from their guards, has to improve to be serious contenders IMO -- along with their guards' decision-making in tight games. Jones shot 37% from 3, but Rice was 31% and Jaquez 26% (not to mention Charlisse shot 24% at WSU last year). Gardiner was excellent at nearly 40% but is not a guard.

As others have said, Close seems like a great person and has proven to be an incredible recruiter, but I don't know that she can get a team to a Final Four.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo, DarkPhoenix, krichunaka and 2 others
#3,611
#3,611
travis929 said:
They will definitely be interesting, adding Gardiner from OSU and Leger-Walker from WSU. They have so much size, but their 3-point shooting, especially from their guards, has to improve to be serious contenders IMO -- along with their guards' decision-making in tight games. Jones shot 37% from 3, but Rice was 31% and Jaquez 26% (not to mention Charlisse shot 24% at WSU last year). Gardiner was excellent at nearly 40% but is not a guard.

As others have said, Close seems like a great person and has proven to be an incredible recruiter, but I don't know that she can get a team to a Final Four.
Click to expand...
Yes! WSU not OSU, my bad….thx Trav
 
  • Like
Reactions: th2421, chuckiepoo and krichunaka
#3,615
#3,615
Caldwell is not going to give scholarships just to give scholarships. I am sure that if she comes across a player who, she thinks, can give her meaningful minutes in her style of play, then she will use her scholarships. However, if she is happy with her roster of players as they are now, and I truly thinks she is, then she will focus her attention on getting the most out of them because she is one coach who truly LOVES her players because she knows making them better is the better way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dtnvol, SoullessGinger32_, HerdLVol and 6 others
#3,616
#3,616
greenwolfe@gmail.com Ran said:
Caldwell is not going to give scholarships just to give scholarships. I am sure that if she comes across a player who, she thinks, can give her meaningful minutes in her style of play, then she will use her scholarships. However, if she is happy with her roster of players as they are now, and I truly thinks she is, then she will focus her attention on getting the most out of them because she is one coach who truly LOVES her players because she knows making them better is the better way.
Click to expand...
Maybe, but you are depriving 2 kids (who may be very good students) out of a scholarship for a year at a very good school.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deebowbear, volfan__18, Lucy and 2 others
#3,620
#3,620
Tennessee has put together arguably the best portal class in the SEC. Some posters on VN have never seen a player they didn’t want to see in a UT uniform no matter the fit.

I understand discussing the last two scholarships, but I don’t think anyone on here has an idea of Coach Caldwell’s plan to use them.

I would say it’s highly likely that she’s continuing to use the recruiting strategy that landed her four commits in one month.

She does have an extensive track record of success that seems to have carried over to Rocky Top.

GBO🍊.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo and knoxvol52
#3,622
#3,622
volbeast33 said:
if you can get players to help your team win…
Click to expand...
Otherwise, it seems, you could be just creating situations where you have people who will asap be recruited or portalled over. Which perhaps is fine. But the odds are high the same people unhappy now would be the people very upset with the result: pulled scholarships, redistributed to better players next year. Else, the roster could be diminished for years. I trust CKC to work this out. She is dealing with particulars, not abstractions like this conversation.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: VOLSanon, chuckiepoo and 1reVOLver
#3,623
#3,623
The thing I respect is Coach Caldwell not only solidified the roster with four P5 commits with starter experience but formed a bond with the returnees in a short timeframe.

Tennessee already had talent.

Not only Coach Caldwell but every single coach based on the interactions between players and coaches on social media are forming a strong bond.

The new players and their parents that are on the way to Knoxville have even posted positive info about Tennessee before the first official practice.

If you are not part of the solution then you’re part of the problem.

Truth is, Tennessee has never needed the roster overhaul that a few on VN have stated and needed to recruit every single player in the portal.

Tennessee has gotten more talent via the portal than any other SEC school after finishing 5th in the conference this past season. More importantly, not just talent but players that can compliment the returning core. Players with a high basketball IQ.

The 2024 class had two players redshirted in guards Kaniya Boyd and Talaysia Cooper with three and four years of eligibility remaining along with Alyssa Latham that is as good as any incoming freshman class in the SEC.

Note that after one season there is a 50/50 chance that players will enter the portal. Recruiting is year to year.

The new staff I am sure is still looking into players available in the portal. Could be exploring recruiting International prospects. There’s a focus on High School recruiting as we speak. We’ll see.

This a new era. Exciting times on Rocky Top. GBO🍊.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: LakesiteVol, chuckiepoo, knoxvol52 and 1 other person
#3,624
#3,624
Orange. said:
Otherwise, it seems, you could be just creating situations where you have people who will asap be recruited or portalled over. Which perhaps is fine. But the odds are high the same people unhappy now would be the people very upset with the result: pulled scholarships, redistributed to better players next year. Else, the roster could be diminished for years. I trust CKC to work this out. She is dealing with particulars, not abstractions like this conversation.
Click to expand...
Also remember the whole roster gets salary now. Don’t want to waste that players who won’t play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
#3,625
#3,625
knoxvol52 said:
Maybe find some developmental high school players to give last scholarships to.

Maybe a couple of 3* kids who have a upside.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea.
I’m certain there is a plan in the works.
This portal class is exceptional. The roster management from Day 1 and maintaining the current players has been a tremendous success.
I could see multiple options being on the table and the decision will come down to finding the best fit(s) for the new system.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo and knoxvol52
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top