Lady Vols Basketball Future

[Spook1]

Each SEC womens basketball team has 13 players. Today at the UT LV game, they honored 6 graduating players. With those gone that will leave us with only 7 players from the current team. Out of the last 2 HoopsGurlz national lists, the Lady Vols only had one commitment player and she presently sits on the bench and rarely plays more than 2 or 3 minutes or so. With that said, where are the Lady Vols going to get the players to replace them? Three of those 6 graduating players are really the heart of our team. When Pat Summit was the coach, she reached a situation where she needed some immediate help. She went to the Junior College ranks and selected two players and ended up winning two national championships with them. What are your feelings for the future Lady Vols?

 

[VolBall09]

Each SEC womens basketball team has 13 players. Today at the UT LV game, they honored 6 graduating players. With those gone that will leave us with only 7 players from the current team. Out of the last 2 HoopsGurlz national lists, the Lady Vols only had one commitment player and she presently sits on the bench and rarely plays more than 2 or 3 minutes or so. With that said, where are the Lady Vols going to get the players to replace them? Three of those 6 graduating players are really the heart of our team. When Pat Summit was the coach, she reached a situation where she needed some immediate help. She went to the Junior College ranks and selected two players and ended up winning two national championships with them. What are your feelings for the future Lady Vols?

I think some of those honored today may return. Powell and Key in particular.

I wouldn’t mind seeing us go the juco route for a player that can score. Have a feeling the transfer portal will be our friend again. We have been a good home for transfers the last few seasons.

 

[Lucy]

I think we, as fans, need to realize that a recruiting “class” is no longer just hs seniors. It needs to be recognized that a class includes, hs seniors, transfers and jucos. Transfer rule changes have really impacted how a successful team can be built.
I would say that based on impact, Kellie brought in a top 5 class last year.
It certainly is more nerve wracking for fan bases as you don’t know who will be on a squad until much later. There is also the years of eligibility question. Would you rather have RK for one year or Jillian for three? Talk about a King Solomon dilemma!! Both!!!

 

[Volfan2012]

You can determine exactly where a team stands after all the recruiting is over. A player is a player no matter where you get them. We need guards that can shoot and defend and a big post player. I think the plan had to be to try and put Justine into one of those wings positions if Jackson and Horston leave. We can't determine what the future looks like until we see the final team.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

I think we, as fans, need to realize that a recruiting “class” is no longer just hs seniors. It needs to be recognized that a class includes, hs seniors, transfers and jucos. Transfer rule changes have really impacted how a successful team can be built.
I would say that based on impact, Kellie brought in a top 5 class last year.
It certainly is more nerve wracking for fan bases as you don’t know who will be on a squad until much later. There is also the years of eligibility question. Would you rather have RK for one year or Jillian for three? Talk about a King Solomon dilemma!! Both!!!

We did get both, and I would have loved to have RJ her whole college career. The nice thing about the portal is that you already have a good idea how a player is going to play in college, which is usually tougher competition than they had in high school.
Plus, there are international players.

 

[glv98]

I know there are strict rules regarding contacting potential transfers, but I wonder if recruiting coordinators start picking up rumors this time of year. I bet Sam Williams has an ear to the ground already. She's a great recruiter but it will be hard for her to ever top last year's portal win. She's welcome to try!

 

[Memvol44]

I know there are strict rules regarding contacting potential transfers, but I wonder if recruiting coordinators start picking up rumors this time of year. I bet Sam Williams has an ear to the ground already. She's a great recruiter but it will be hard for her to ever top last year's portal win. She's welcome to try!

What do you base "great recruiter " on???

 

[Hoya Saxa]

Each SEC womens basketball team has 13 players.

Perhaps posters could check the facts before spouting this nonsense. "Each SEC" team does not have 13 players. Division I WCBB teams are allowed 15 scholarships, but there is no limit to the number of players on the roster. Tennessee currently has a roster of 16 (15 on scholarship and one walk-on). Many teams have fewer (not "less") players. Vanderbilt currently has a roster of 10.

 

[glv98]

What do you base "great recruiter " on???

Her history at Louisville and her groundbreaking portal haul last year. Heck just bringing RJ here makes her great to me.

I know they've whiffed on 23 and that's alarming, but I'm pretty sure across WBB Sam has been considered a top recruiter. Which is why she was brought here.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Is the portal a way to rebuild a dynasty? How many will need to be picked up out of portal this year that is starting caliber, 1, 2 or 3?

I wonder how many of this year‘s final 4 teams will be built from 1/3 or more of the team from the portal.

I bet not many. I think it would be safe to say that dynasty teams will continue to be built based on year after year recruiting from HS. That’s the way you instill style of play and culture.

 

[glv98]

aliber, 1, 2 or 3?

I wonder how many of this year‘s final 4 teams will be built from 1/3 or more of the team from the portal.

Just in the SEC, So Car and LSU come to mind. Cardoso, IMO, is the difference for SC, and someone named Angel came out of the portal to be pretty dang important for LSU. IMO the portal is already and will continue to be pretty dang important across the board.

Not to confuse us w final four, but where would we be wo Rickea?

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Just in the SEC, So Car and LSU come to mind. Cardoso, IMO, is the difference for SC, and someone named Angel came out of the portal to be pretty dang important for LSU. IMO the portal is already and will continue to be pretty dang important across the board.

Not to confuse us w final four, but where would we be wo Rickea?

Did not say portal wasn‘t extremely important now days. I was making the point that final four teams will not be made up of it’s starters being mostly portal players.

Probably only RJ, JH and maybe Key would start on the teams we see in this years final four teams. If all of those three are gone, how many does this team need from portal in one year to be final four material? 3?

 

[glv98]

Probably only RJ, JH and maybe Key would start on the teams we see in this years final four teams. If all of those three are gone, how many does this team need from portal in one year to be final four material? 3?

If the one year is next year, about 35.

 

[Will83]

Her history at Louisville and her groundbreaking portal haul last year. Heck just bringing RJ here makes her great to me.

I know they've whiffed on 23 and that's alarming, but I'm pretty sure across WBB Sam has been considered a top recruiter. Which is why she was brought here.

Coach Sam was also a head coach at Eastern Kentucky for a few seasons prior to joining LV program. She wasn’t recruiting elite players there so probably needs a few seasons to get back in the saddle. She’s getting elite players to visit and already has a few commits from later classes - guess we’ll see what happens with the 24 class.

 

[madtownvol]

I think we, as fans, need to realize that a recruiting “class” is no longer just hs seniors. It needs to be recognized that a class includes, hs seniors, transfers and jucos. Transfer rule changes have really impacted how a successful team can be built.
I would say that based on impact, Kellie brought in a top 5 class last year.
It certainly is more nerve wracking for fan bases as you don’t know who will be on a squad until much later. There is also the years of eligibility question. Would you rather have RK for one year or Jillian for three? Talk about a King Solomon dilemma!! Both!!!

Flashback last year. Oh what will we do. Who will replace Rae Burrell? You are exactly correct and though i understand the general concern expressed in this thread, it would be nice to finish this season, with this team before hand wringing about next year.

I am surprised that there is such a negative vibe after a win on senior day. Its weird. This weekend was great for the LVs. Ole Miss pushing SC into over time makes that loss look much better.

 

[Majors]

Just in the SEC, So Car and LSU come to mind. Cardoso, IMO, is the difference for SC, and someone named Angel came out of the portal to be pretty dang important for LSU. IMO the portal is already and will continue to be pretty dang important across the board.

Not to confuse us w final four, but where would we be wo Rickea?

SC and LSU managed to sign Top 10 classes…those portal players they get are fill in the gaps and not roster overhauls which is where we are headed.

 

[RAVOL]

I know there are strict rules regarding contacting potential transfers, but I wonder if recruiting coordinators start picking up rumors this time of year. I bet Sam Williams has an ear to the ground already. She's a great recruiter but it will be hard for her to ever top last year's portal win. She's welcome to try!

Yes by this time quietly those entering portal are out there and after season you will know them. There will be some outstanding college players available who know the Tennessee Roster next year. I do believe Key will be back as she wants a chance to play in the league so she needs another year of College and Powell is coming back. I hope we can find a guard who is quick but is a scorer from all parts of the court. Great discussion. In CHRIST Alone

 

[Coach Jumper]

Her history at Louisville and her groundbreaking portal haul last year. Heck just bringing RJ here makes her great to me.

I know they've whiffed on 23 and that's alarming, but I'm pretty sure across WBB Sam has been considered a top recruiter. Which is why she was brought here.

She got plenty of them here,,,whomever is supposed to close the deal, fell short

 

[savannahfan]

This program is once again at a crossroads. To my sorrow our present staff just seems to lack the ability to secure a well rounded group of players. With the many new players need I hope this staff can turn the corner. One or two only fair seasons more and there will be wholesale staff changes or the program will be back to being "just another has been".

 

[turbovol]

Sam Williams is a great recruiter? You could have fooled me. She's not even a good recruiter. Sure, Harper deserves blame for not closing
on some of our recruits--but prospects also make decisions based on the relationships with their chief recruiters, and clearly that's been
lacking for us as well. As someone well noted above, the portal is for filling holes--not for finding your entire team

 

[Ladyvol777]

I believe our future looks bright. We may still have JH, RJ, and TK for another year. I love all the lady Vol’s. I believe we will have a great run in the SEC tournament and the big dance also. As always go Lady Vol’s.

 

[volnationnj]

The problem with not signing highly rated high school classes is that the portal becomes a do or die necessity. A top ranked team can miss out on, for argument sake, 1 out of 4 years of high school recruits and still stay at the top. If a team doesn't recruit well for 2 or 3 years in a row, they have no choice but to depend heavily on the portal.
As has been pointed out, there have been program changing players recently in the portal
(e.g. Jackson, Cardoso and Reese). But they are few and far between. Let's say there will be 3 All American level players available in this year's portal, and 20 (My estimate) other players who could start on a top 20 ranked team. The team that hasn't recruited high school players will need to sign 1 of the All Americans and 2 from the group of 20. While possible, the odds aren't good and failure in the portal would be disastrous for the program.

 

[Raebo]

I would think with it’s tradition and fan support, UT (or the collectives) have the funds to attract some very good players in the portal. If we do, the question then becomes what happens to the players that thought they would be getting a lot more playing time next year but won’t because of the new players.
The off season will be interesting.

 

[Volinnooga]

Each SEC womens basketball team has 13 players. Today at the UT LV game, they honored 6 graduating players. With those gone that will leave us with only 7 players from the current team. Out of the last 2 HoopsGurlz national lists, the Lady Vols only had one commitment player and she presently sits on the bench and rarely plays more than 2 or 3 minutes or so. With that said, where are the Lady Vols going to get the players to replace them? Three of those 6 graduating players are really the heart of our team. When Pat Summit was the coach, she reached a situation where she needed some immediate help. She went to the Junior College ranks and selected two players and ended up winning two national championships with them. What are your feelings for the future Lady Vols?

The sky is falling

 

[Lucy]

The problem with not signing highly rated high school classes is that the portal becomes a do or die necessity. A top ranked team can miss out on, for argument sake, 1 out of 4 years of high school recruits and still stay at the top. If a team doesn't recruit well for 2 or 3 years in a row, they have no choice but to depend heavily on the portal.
As has been pointed out, there have been program changing players recently in the portal
(e.g. Jackson, Cardoso and Reese). But they are few and far between. Let's say there will be 3 All American level players available in this year's portal, and 20 (My estimate) other players who could start on a top 20 ranked team. The team that hasn't recruited high school players will need to sign 1 of the All Americans and 2 from the group of 20. While possible, the odds aren't good and failure in the portal would be disastrous for the program.

A mix would be great for sure.