What I don't understand is why the coaching staff hasn't contracted with posters like Amb3096 and Darth_Vol to provide scouting reports and evaluations of potential recruits. Their ability to discern a player's SEC potential, without having to even see the player in action or talk with her coaches to determine her attitude/coachability and her knowledge of the game, must be unparalleled. The failure to take advantage of such a resource, if, in fact, they haven't already done so, just goes to show that Phil Fulmer made a drastic error in judgment in turning the reins of the program over to Coach Harper!
Jim
P. S. Do I need to put this post in blue font?
It’s true that most of us well-meaning fans who post on these boards too often base opinions on “gut feelings” or on knowledge of past experiences. But the fact is, coaching staffs are privy to far more specific information about prospects than most of us will ever know.
Sure, most of us here can watch players play and discern between good athletes and potentially great ones. We can watch film and determine whether someone hustles, or is quick, can leap, or whether her body language shows confidence. And some here are even connected/informed in more direct ways.
But few of us have a personal knowledge of the actual level of attention to academics any of these kids are showing. We don’t know how any of these kids treat others in school. We don’t know if the kids are a bit too immature, or too controlled by parents... or even (yes) too distracted by postpubescent personal issues to be able to commit to the level of focus and dedication that being a Tennessee Lady Vol requires.
Our coaching staff gets information about prospects that we as fans do not, and SHOULD NOT, get. We can rest assured that our staff is getting up-close-and-personal intel on which young women are the most likely to check ALL of the important boxes beside their checklist of qualities required to wear a jersey with a Tennessee Lady Vol logo on it.
I trust our staff to consider not only the best athletes, but ALSO the best students, the best potential teammates, the best potential university representatives and best postential community-conscious citizens that they can find.
MY unprofessional “gut feeling” is that Tess Darby checks enough boxes to make her someone I really, reaaaallly hope chooses the Lady Vols in November.