2026 recruiting

If players are allowed extra years right away.. What would you do? Would you convince Spencer, Spear, T. Darby, and Jillian Hollingshed to stay.. Ask Strickland to be a walk on? and not get two transfer portal kids
 
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If players are allowed extra years right away.. What would you do? Would you convince Spencer, Spear, T. Darby, and Jillian Hollingshed to stay.. Ask Strickland to be a walk on? and not get two transfer portal kids
And, would that affect the incoming freshmen at all? I'm sure they recruited thinking they were losing several players. What would our roster be with those 5 freshmen plus those seniors who might return?
 
What if this was our roster for next season if the 5 yr rule is allowed in time and we got these transfers? Do you think we have a shot at a National Championship?

1. S. Spencer
2. J. Spear
3. T. Darby/ or J. Hollingshed
4. T. Latson/or M. Fulwiley
5. R. Whitehorn
6. K. Wynn
7. L. Spearman
8. T. Cooper
9. A. Latham
10. A. Watkins
11. K. Boyd
12. M. Pauldo
13. M. Pauldo
14. J. Civil
15. D. Prawl

L. Hurst

Walk ons: Avery Strickland (ask her) and E. Darby

It looks like we would have to say no to Darby or J. Hollingshed
 
What if this was our roster for next season if the 5 yr rule is allowed in time and we got these transfers? Do you think we have a shot at a National Championship?

1. S. Spencer
2. J. Spear
3. T. Darby/ or J. Hollingshed
4. T. Latson/or M. Fulwiley
5. R. Whitehorn
6. K. Wynn
7. L. Spearman
8. T. Cooper
9. A. Latham
10. A. Watkins
11. K. Boyd
12. M. Pauldo
13. M. Pauldo
14. J. Civil
15. D. Prawl

L. Hurst

Walk ons: Avery Strickland (ask her) and E. Darby

It looks like we would have to say no to Darby or J. Hollingshed
And Puckett?
 
And, would that affect the incoming freshmen at all? I'm sure they recruited thinking they were losing several players. What would our roster be with those 5 freshmen plus those seniors who might return?

I doubt it.
I don’t know what some of these other posters are throwing out but Jewel Spear and Tess Darby are in their 5th seasons now. Jewel played three at Wake and this is her 2nd in Tennessee.
If this is the case then either one of Sara Puckett and Jillian Hollingshead would return. I don’t see both coming back but it wouldn’t impact the freshman class at all.
Samara Spencer would certainly be the top player on the staffs list to return and they aren’t bringing in ball dominant guards via the transfer portal no matter what that’s a fantasy with the #1 recruiting class according to 247Sports and #2 recruiting class in high school according to ESPN.
 
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I doubt it.
I don’t know what some of these other posters are throwing out but Jewel Spear and Tess Darby are in their 5th seasons now. Jewel played three at Wake and this is her 2nd in Tennessee.
If this is the case then either one of Sara Puckett and Jillian Hollingshead would return. I don’t see both coming back but it wouldn’t impact the freshman class at all.
Samara Spencer would certainly be the top player on the staffs list to return and they aren’t bringing in ball dominant guards via the transfer portal no matter what that’s a fantasy with the #1 recruiting class according to 247Sports and #2 recruiting class in high school according to ESPN.
You sound like Pauldo twins dad lol
 
A program always needs experienced upperclassmen who can teach and coach the new players 24/7 when the coaches aren't around. They're a coaching multiplier.

I'm thinking system experience will be at a premium in the 2nd and 3rd year of this rebuilding of our program--especially being a system that requires "un-learning" several ingrained basketball habits.

But once we have that experience baked in to the classes, I think with this system CKC will be less about the portal than, say, the men's program is. Unless there's just a really special shooter or defender begging to come, with two or more years of eligibility.
 
I understand agree with Bruised Orange, next year will also be a building process with the new arrivals and only Coop, Ruby and Zee, one year experience and learning leadership.

were I to speculate on the portal additions - the priority would be athletic size similar to Zee with stats on rebounding, particularly offensive.
 
A program always needs experienced upperclassmen who can teach and coach the new players 24/7 when the coaches aren't around. They're a coaching multiplier.

I'm thinking system experience will be at a premium in the 2nd and 3rd year of this rebuilding of our program--especially being a system that requires "un-learning" several ingrained basketball habits.

But once we have that experience baked in to the classes, I think with this system CKC will be less about the portal than, say, the men's program is. Unless there's just a really special shooter or defender begging to come, with two or more years of eligibility.
Facts....also note going forward i can see alot of portal players wanting to join this program because of style of play BUT we will be at what mickie demoss said will be able to pick who we want because everyone wont be a fit for the system
 
A program always needs experienced upperclassmen who can teach and coach the new players 24/7 when the coaches aren't around. They're a coaching multiplier.

I'm thinking system experience will be at a premium in the 2nd and 3rd year of this rebuilding of our program--especially being a system that requires "un-learning" several ingrained basketball habits.

But once we have that experience baked in to the classes, I think with this system CKC will be less about the portal than, say, the men's program is. Unless there's just a really special shooter or defender begging to come, with two or more years of eligibility.
Portal is the new recruiting. Get used to it
 
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I understand agree with Bruised Orange, next year will also be a building process with the new arrivals and only Coop, Ruby and Zee, one year experience and learning leadership.

were I to speculate on the portal additions - the priority would be athletic size similar to Zee with stats on rebounding, particularly offensive.
And a shooter
 
I understand agree with Bruised Orange, next year will also be a building process with the new arrivals and only Coop, Ruby and Zee, one year experience and learning leadership.

were I to speculate on the portal additions - the priority would be athletic size similar to Zee with stats on rebounding, particularly offensive.
Latham!!!!
 
Facts....also note going forward i can see alot of portal players wanting to join this program because of style of play BUT we will be at what mickie demoss said will be able to pick who we want because everyone wont be a fit for the system

I agree.
I expect 2 - 3 players to be signed from the transfer portal in particular post players.
I believe this elite recruiting staff is also scouting international players so it could change the numbers to 1-2 via the portal and an international player.
Depending on the recent news of a 5th year of eligibility if it goes into effect by spring 2025 that’s the game changer. The portal additions will drop if the staff seeks to keep some current players that will get another year of eligibility.
This staff only has a few spots remaining to fill per Coach Caldwell.
The first option if a 5th year was granted would be to offer Samara Spencer.
In her 2nd year at UT, Spencer could become one of the few players to win SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Player of the Year!
 
I agree.
I expect 2 - 3 players to be signed from the transfer portal in particular post players.
I believe this elite recruiting staff is also scouting international players so it could change the numbers to 1-2 via the portal and an international player.
Depending on the recent news of a 5th year of eligibility if it goes into effect by spring 2025 that’s the game changer. The portal additions will drop if the staff seeks to keep some current players that will get another year of eligibility.
This staff only has a few spots remaining to fill per Coach Caldwell.
The first option if a 5th year was granted would be to offer Samara Spencer.
In her 2nd year at UT, Spencer could become one of the few players to win SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Player of the Year!
Yes Spencer would be obvious. And they are actively recruiting this 2025 international

 
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The more unusual your basketball system/style is, I'm thinking the greater the difficulty in assimilating quick help from the portal.

There are other teams playing under the same system as us. But how often will any of their players be (1) portal interested, and (2) commensurate in skills with those brought in by successive Top 5 recruiting classes?

Injuries (or transferring closer to home due to family circumstances) may occasionally create needs. But even those needs are relatively diminished by the fact that we're playing two platoons.

Sure, every situation is unique, as are the opportunities. But for the above reasons, I think with each year of development and HS recruiting, the portal will become less and less profitable for this program.

*The one exception might be after 3-4 years, when we have a full team of players who are totally schooled in the system, and able on their own to bring a special portal transfer up-to-speed during the summer months.

But that player would still probably have to be a near C.Clark type 3-point shooter or a +6'6" lane defender who can shoot 3s and run like the wind. And how often do those players come along without it already being fully apparent in HS?

Well, that's my argument, anyway. Who knows what time will tell?
(But making it gave me a break from breathing Diatomaceous earth dust from housecleaning. Ah-choo!)
 
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