Thoughts On Next Years Roster

[Pat4life]

McGraw keeps her players in more than a minute to see if they can redeem themselves from any mistakes they've made on the defensive and offensive end she doesn't just pull them at the sign of the first mistake so Dunbar will be allowed to get a feel for the game. She would also have a post player in Turner who blocks shots consistently unlike Russell so should she get beat she has that defensive stopper to help out on defense. No matter how much you work on your game in practice if you aren't given real life chances how can you improve. Looking back at the last 6 games (most teams played Zone against us) she played less than 50 minutes in those games combined (the Miss. St. game she didn't play at all). You tell me, would you stay on a team where you're getting less than 8 minutes a game when you know your team needs a scorer and you can light it up from behind the arc?

And I never assumed worst nor did I say Nared isn't a team player I said she wants to be the star. There are plenty of players who have played this game that wants to be the star that doesn't mean they don't like their teammates. I will not get into the how I know she is happy or not but where she is being asked to play is not where she intended to play coming here and it's hurting her ability to showcase the type of offensive player she is, which is why you have saw her taking more 3PT shots and trying to go coast to coast. She is a 3 and has spent most of the season (due to injury of Jones) playing the 4 spot (either backing up Graves or Playing beside her when Russell is on the bench, she started at the 3 in place of Diamond but would later be benched when Holly realized she has to start Diamond) she is a slasher and with the lack of recruits in the 2016 class and the loss of Jones, Graves, and Moore she will spend most of her time next season at the starting 4 spot. Especially if Holly uses this starting 5 next season;

PG-Reynolds
SG-Carter
SF-Diamond
PF-Nared
C-Russell

Also do you really you think they (Nared or Jamie) will be able to guard A'Ja Wilson (or any of the other top 4's we will face) in the Post next season (which is where they would play/defend because you know Diamond is going to guard Kaela Davis)

Nared better embrace her role, anybody scenario with Reynolds and Carter are the starting guards sounds ....like wuteva to me? Wuteva?

Yes, I think Nared will be able to guard Aja, next year. And you.

None of those players you mentioned on your list is better than Nared. Nared maybe realizing she has to work a lil bit harder than expected, and that usually happen to some young players, the hard work it takes to win consistently at this level. I

If Nared leaves, the Lady Vols will hurt, there is no replacement.

 

[Pat4life]

1. You remember all the articles about McGraw feverishly recruiting Dunbar? I don't either because she didn't bother with an 89th ranked prospect (who probably was overrated at that). This is a moot issue. McGraw would not give Dunbar more time to get the feel of the game because she is not good enough play for ND. Let me also say that I think Dunbar has a reasonably promising upside and could become a solid contributor by her senior season (if she keeps working). But, K.D, is and remains a project player.

2. Per Nared, hmm, you post that Nared may transfer because "she wants to be the star" but you never said she is not a team player. Fine, does the term "logical implication" mean anything to you? That is some Clintonesque word parsing you are using to save face. Keep digging deeper my friend (and remember I never said you were in a hole!)

And please, please don't divulge your "inside information" Such matters must be treated with the utmost confidentiality, while you simultaneously give away the actual information that should be held in confidence; I can't reveal how I know that Nared is unhappy but SHE IS REALLY UNHAPPY!!!

When posters make such unsubstantiated statements, they are usually just BS artists who then buttress their fabrication with mysterious claims to credibility (trust me, I know but I can't tell you how or else I would have to kill you!)

But if you do have actual inside information, then double shame on you for violating confidence.

Nared is figuring out how to play at this level, and figuring what are her strengths, you can see her sometimes thinking too much, she wants to help this team but right now her skills are limited. Get in the gym.

Dunbar wuteva? She wouldn't start for any other school in the SEC!

 

[Vols4life]

Nared is figuring out how to play at this level, and figuring what are her strengths, you can see her sometimes thinking too much, she wants to help this team but right now her skills are limited. Get in the gym.

Dunbar wuteva? She wouldn't start for any other school in the SEC!

That's funny there are plenty of SEC coaches who would know how to use her and watch her shine...I'm telling yall watch the players transfer out and then shine at their new school....This staff just cannot develop players....Players have to come in as STARS and win.....Even then it doesn't work that freshman class led by Strick should have had at least 1 final four!!!!!!!! But no we didn't get not one :realmad::realmad::realmad::realmad:

 

[VOL720]

I must say I'm kind of worried we may loose some players to transfer. Most of these players come from strong High School and AAU programs with strong coaching. They have to be frustrated playing in this terrible so call system. I wouldn't be surprised to see a player or two transfer. If this season has been draining and disappointing for the fans, I would bet the players are exhausted. Maybe some fans will finally snap into reality when everything hits rock bottom.

 

[tonybologna]

OP:

The possible recruits you have listed would be nice but not a single one is guaranteed to sign to play in Knoxville. Right now, we have 0 recruits signed. We do have the one transfer that you mentioned but it's just hard to believe that at this point after the 15-16 season we don't have one single recruit locked in for Knoxville.

I know you're going on possibilities with the recruits you listed. I personally wouldn't be surprised if not a single one of them stay away from UT. That's not good at all but definitely a possibility & could become a reality. I've personally watched Emily Schubert play locally.

I would normally say that a school like UT would be over her head as far as playing basketball. However, as a 3 star recruit considering we have nothing I say we should go after her pretty hard. You're right, she would make a decent backup to Mercedes Russell. This girl is smart on & off the court. She has a great attitude & would be a hard worker for Holly. She has a 4.0 GPA to boot.

I do not think Schubert will ever be a star player at UT because she's so limited athletically. She has size & uses her body pretty well to rebound but she is not very skilled offensively. She's pretty decent defensively though. She would block a few shots & hold whoever she's guarding to limited points & rebounds.

I too am with you on your thoughts about Dunbar possibly transferring. I mean I would if I was her. Playing 3-4 minutes a game & hit 1-2 3's every game she was in & not see the floor more than she did? I think it's a real possibility that Dunbar does transfer elsewhere.

I don't think Nared will transfer though. I know you mentioned the situation about her sister but she has a guaranteed starting spot at UT next season. She could even become behind Diamond our 2nd best scorer. Nared has a lot of ability. It just seems to me like she's in slow motion half the time. She doesn't put enough hustle/aggression into her game. If she did she could become a dominant force on offense.

 

[Ladyvolfan4ever]

Saw today where SC signed a 3star player out of FL for 2016

 

[teacherdean]

From the way things are looking (Title IX Lawsuit and Teams play in SEC Tournament) Holly will return next season (although I think we need to go in another direction if we want to return to the Lady Vols that we are use to). Based on her return I wanted to look at the roster and share my thoughts of how the team will look next season.

Leaving
Graves (Graduation/WNBA)
Moore (Graduation/Overseas)
Jones (Graduation/Track and Field)
Dunbar(Transfers due to lack of playing time)
Nared (Transfers to be close to home and wants to be "the star")

Incoming
Transfers
Taya Reimer 6’4” P Graduate Transfer from Notre Dame (2013 Hoop Gurlz #4th ranked player which is the same recruiting class as Diamond and Mercedes she would have 2 years left to play and could play immediately next year. Part of her issue is that she has been played mostly at the 5 spot backing up Achonwa (When she was there) and starting at the 5 while turner played the 4. Her entire basketball career she played the 3 or 4 spot and had been playing out of shape due to the position she’d been asked to play by Muffet. If we land her it would give us 3 of the top 4 recruits from the 2013 class and another McDonalds All American that Holly could throw in people face that she has the liberty to coach. With the graduations of Moore, Graves, and Jones (career ending injury/graduation) she would start at the position she wants to play and has played her best at.

2016 Recruits
Tyasha Harris PG 5’10” Hoop Gurlz Rank #27 (8th ranked PG) has the size that Tennessee prefers at the guard spot and was looking at Ohio State heavy until they got Calhorne (Transfer from Duke) along with Linnae Harper (Transfer from Kentucky) and Kiara Lewis (6th ranked PG). She is looking at other SEC Schools (Kentucky and SC) and it would be nice for us to steal her away from them. With next season being Reynolds and Carter’s last year. She is a great ball handler and looked to distribute the ball but while also score if she has too (something we seem to lack from Reynolds and Carter) I could see SC as the only competition to getting her because she can go there and be an instant starter at the PG spot with them losing Sessions and I don’t think Staley trust Cuevaus (check the spelling) enough to run the point for the team she will have next season

Arella Guirantes W 5’11” Hoop Gurlz Rank #99 (17th ranked Wing) She is a flat out scorer and would give us much needed help on the wing should we lose a few players due to transfer (Dunbar may be gone for sure at least I would since I can’t grace the floor on a team that needs points and I am a sharp shooter behind the arc. I also think Nared transfers to Washington to be closer to home and to play on the team that her sister is the Director of Player Development). We don’t have many players who want to score and look to score this would be a huge asset next season.

Felicia Aiyeotan P 6’9” Hoop Gurlz Unranked (15th Ranked Post) She is 6’9” (some places have listed her at 6’10”/6’11”) enough said! With Nancy Mulkey heading to Oklahoma and McCowen (6’7” at Missippi State) and Brown (6’7”at Baylor) I would love nothing more than to have a 6’9”/6’10” Post to back up our 6’6” Post. She runs the floor and blocks a lot of shots which is what you need and your perimeter players won’t have to truly follow their players into the paint (as seen with Brittany Griner when she was at Baylor) because the player they are guarding would be afraid to attack which would be a game changer for us. She also can dunk which is another plus). Not to mention she was one time a Top 100 recruit and has only played the game for a few years).

Emily Schubert P 6’4” Hoop Gurlz Unranked (49th Ranked Post) her stock is rising and she would provide us help at the 5 spot backing up Russell. Russell would have to see a lot of minutes and would have some one who is a little strong on the block to spell her. She’s also a local kid which hopefully works in our favor and because we were one of the first Major D1 schools showing interest right around the time her stock started rising I hope it means something to her.

Kamera Harris P 6’3” Hoop Gurlz Unranked (Broke Brittany Griner’s record for most block in a game with 28)
She came to see us play in the SEC tournament and she was at the A&M game (a game we won) she was able to see how many blocks Russell and Nia got combined (3) and how many they left unblocked and realizes she could clean up when Diamond (or any of the other players allow a person to beat them off the dribble) One thing about her that unlike Mercedes she is going to contend/challenge every shot that comes her way and she rarely fouls doing so. She would be able to back up Reimer as well as spend sometime backing up Russell also.

With these moves our 2016 Roster would look like this;

Name Height Position Class
Aiyeotan 6’9” C FR
Carter 5’9” G RS SR
Cooper 5’8” G SO
DeShields 6’1” G RS JR
Guirantes 5’11” G/F FR
K.Harris 6’3” F FR
T.Harris 5’10 G FR
Jackson 5’11” G/F SO
Middleton 5’9” G SO
Reimer 6’4” F GS (Grad Student)
Reynolds 5’11” G SR
Russell 6’6” C RS JR
Schubert 6’4” F/C FR

With this roster we lose Dunbar and Nared but we add much needed Post help and it keeps us in the running for top prospects in the 2017 class because essentially if Holly stays Diamond, Reimer, and Russell could all declare for next years draft and you would also lose Carter and Reynolds (graduation) which would free up 5 roster spaces to still try to land Dorie Harrison, Maya Dodson, KK and the others who have shown interest in UT.

Feel Free to share your thoughts below!

I love what you have prepared and if this happens the LV's will be viable, on paper. The issue is, if this coaching staff have coached an inconsistent team of 7 5 stars, what would make one think they will coach any better with a variation of the list of players you have listed above? There have been some player issues but we do not appear to have a coaching staff that has the ability to bring out player potential and improve player skill level. Recruiting is a big issue but so is this coaching staff.

 

[sport3500]

Could there be any new assistant coaches on the Lady Vols staff next season?

 

[Pat4life]

Let them leave, they are prolly the so called cancers anyways. We don't want anyone who don't want to be a Lady Vol.

My guess is like always you all are in the cloud of doom mood, and don't understand, we have a young team, putting in a new offense, and learning how to play together and consistently at a high level, and most of them have never done it before.

wuteva?

HMMM, if Holly chalk this as the learning curve year for installing a new offense, No assistant coach change. Cos next year it will be better, this group is installing the new offense to teach others.

She learned this year, she don't have the guards or wings for this offense yet, our guards are altrocious (our guards in last year two years offense better), but if she was let Jolette go (or one more year) and bring an Alumni, all star guard back that has fire, maybe a Kelly Jolly, I'll be ok with that too.

 

[teacherdean]

Saw today where SC signed a 3star player out of FL for 2016

Some of our LV's fans seem to think it is foreign to sign 3 stars but it happens more than you think in top programs. The key secret is seeing the 3 stars potential and how that potential fits into your program. The next consideration is can you coach up that potential. MSU, Missouri, and Georgia did a fine job this year with 3 and 4 stars. Few players, even most 5 stars, come to D1 ready to roll without the help of good coaching.

 

[Vols4life]

Let them leave, they are prolly the so called cancers anyways. We don't want anyone who don't want to be a Lady Vol.

My guess is like always you all are in the cloud of doom mood, and don't understand, we have a young team, putting in a new offense, and learning how to play together and consistently at a high level, and most of them have never done it before.

wuteva?

HMMM, if Holly chalk this as the learning curve year for installing a new offense, No assistant coach change. Cos next year it will be better, this group is installing the new offense to teach others.

She learned this year, she don't have the guards or wings for this offense yet, our guards are altrocious (our guards in last year two years offense better), but if she was let Jolette go (or one more year) and bring an Alumni, all star guard back that has fire, maybe a Kelly Jolly, I'll be ok with that too.

Why would Jolly leave her head coaching job and come be an assistant at Tennessee???

 

[Vols4life]

Some of our LV's fans seem to think it is foreign to sign 3 stars but it happens more than you think in top programs. The key secret is seeing the 3 stars potential and how that potential fits into your program. The next consideration is can you coach up that potential. MSU, Missouri, and Georgia did a fine job this year with 3 and 4 stars. Few players, even most 5 stars, come to D1 ready to roll without the help of good coaching.

Yep that's the thing you can bring in 3 star players but if you cannot develop them then what good does that do??? Nia has not improved at all in 4 years

 

[Volfan2012]

I would say forget the stars and have someone on staff that knows how to evaluate players. Who can really say that Russell, Reynolds, Carter, Nared, and several others are five star players. They haven't played anywhere close to five star ability. So either their evaluations were wrong or this staff has killed their games. It has to be one or the other.

 

[NoBackBoard]

A lot of dreaming going on with that speculation...

Since we have no offensive identity, other than get the ball inside and no quick shots, why would anyone want to come to this mess?

So true. Even UNC's run and gun offense looks much better than the archaic way we play. It's embarrassing.

 

[Amb3096]

Some of our LV's fans seem to think it is foreign to sign 3 stars but it happens more than you think in top programs. The key secret is seeing the 3 stars potential and how that potential fits into your program. The next consideration is can you coach up that potential. MSU, Missouri, and Georgia did a fine job this year with 3 and 4 stars. Few players, even most 5 stars, come to D1 ready to roll without the help of good coaching.

Miss State's Morgan Williams and Dominique Dillingham were both 3-star guards, and they made Carter, Reynolds, Cooper and Middleton look like 1-star guards.

If the coaching needs a player ready-made for the WNBA as a freshman in college, then they are just being lazy.

 

[mlindsay]

Miss State's Morgan Williams and Dominique Dillingham were both 3-star guards, and they made Carter, Reynolds, Cooper and Middleton look like 1-star guards.

If the coaching needs a player ready-made for the WNBA as a freshman in college, then they are just being lazy.

My point exactly. People say they (3 stars) can't compete against the players at the Top Programs but that is untrue. It is all about the players desire and the coaches ability to coach up that player to the best of their abilities. Steph Curry wasn't a Top 100 recruit and look what he has done in the NBA (arguably the best player in the league right now) I'm going to leave this link for this article;

Revisiting Stephen Curry's recruitment

Great coaches find the talent they need to play within the system they are going to run. It doesn't matter about what level of talent they are it is about what can you do for my team to make it better.

 

[teacherdean]

Yep that's the thing you can bring in 3 star players but if you cannot develop them then what good does that do??? Nia has not improved at all in 4 years

Nia seems to be playing better this year and this year she is not afraid to put her slim body into the fray. I feel the way you do about this staff.

I see no evidence that Holly has learned one single lesson, especially on offense. You win three games playing an offense suited to your personnel and what does she do in game four, go back to none productive Holly ball. All of the supporters who think Holly will learn from this year and all of a sudden become a good coach is wishing. It is for certain she is not going any where and the staff will stay put. There is absolutely no evidence that things will be any better than it is now. It is nice to dream, but let's be real.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Let them leave, they are prolly the so called cancers anyways. We don't want anyone who don't want to be a Lady Vol.

My guess is like always you all are in the cloud of doom mood, and don't understand, we have a young team, putting in a new offense, and learning how to play together and consistently at a high level, and most of them have never done it before.

wuteva?

HMMM, if Holly chalk this as the learning curve year for installing a new offense, No assistant coach change. Cos next year it will be better, this group is installing the new offense to teach others.

She learned this year, she don't have the guards or wings for this offense yet, our guards are altrocious (our guards in last year two years offense better), but if she was let Jolette go (or one more year) and bring an Alumni, all star guard back that has fire, maybe a Kelly Jolly, I'll be ok with that too.

+++++++++++


Come on man, "young team just learning offense sets"... Duhh... Which way do they go, Ralph, which way did they go"... an ex-player doesn't mean anything and you should know this... Howard Cosell never played a sport but in his time was considered one of the best sports analysts of his era. Football, boxing, baseball and BB... And he's not an anomaly... There are many like this.

Nope, P4L, This is a bad coaching job and that is the final answer... You are the weakest link... goodbye.

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Let them leave, they are prolly the so called cancers anyways. We don't want anyone who don't want to be a Lady Vol.

My guess is like always you all are in the cloud of doom mood, and don't understand, we have a young team, putting in a new offense, and learning how to play together and consistently at a high level, and most of them have never done it before.

wuteva?

HMMM, if Holly chalk this as the learning curve year for installing a new offense, No assistant coach change. Cos next year it will be better, this group is installing the new offense to teach others.

She learned this year, she don't have the guards or wings for this offense yet, our guards are altrocious (our guards in last year two years offense better), but if she was let Jolette go (or one more year) and bring an Alumni, all star guard back that has fire, maybe a Kelly Jolly, I'll be ok with that too.

 

[armchair]

It is all about talent evaluation. There are a lot of good high school players, and sometimes it is easy to get locked on players with high ratings they started getting when they were 16. Some are legit, others are overrated and the system misses the late bloomers. The bottom line is to find the talent--not focus so much on ratings, which of course are fallible.

 

[SCGamecock]

Saw today where SC signed a 3star player out of FL for 2016

Yep. Victoria Patrick from Orlando. She's a great scorer and can stretch the defense beyond the arc. SC has the inside game, they just need guards that can space the floor and shoot the three. Patrick is being brought in to score.

 

[madtownvol]

It is all about talent evaluation. There are a lot of good high school players, and sometimes it is easy to get locked on players with high ratings they started getting when they were 16. Some are legit, others are overrated and the system misses the late bloomers. The bottom line is to find the talent--not focus so much on ratings, which of course are fallible.

Very on point. Some players can't get to showcase events so they off the radar screen; and as you note, some get high rankings because they mature fast and are starts at 15 or 16 but maybe are more or less average when they hit college.

Then you have someone like the LVs own Sade Wiley-Gatewood, who had been a prodigy but her knees were basically shot by the time she got to college (versus finding an off the radar player like Sidney Spencer who developed into a very good college player and even made it to the WNBA).

 

[Vols4life]

Very on point. Some players can't get to showcase events so they off the radar screen; and as you note, some get high rankings because they mature fast and are starts at 15 or 16 but maybe are more or less average when they hit college.

Then you have someone like the LVs own Sade Wiley-Gatewood, who had been a prodigy but her knees were basically shot by the time she got to college (versus finding an off the radar player like Sidney Spencer who developed into a very good college player and even made it to the WNBA).

Spencer was not off the radar....she could flat out play...hard to believe her junior year was the last year she played volleyball she was a beast in volleyball but Pat asked her to stop playing....but she was recruited by several big time programs

 

[teacherdean]

What is real sad about this post is we fans are now hoping we can sign 3 stars, and transfers, because we blew our 2016 recruiting season. What top level program should ever be left with hoping they can convince leftovers into playing at their school because the HC blew recruitment and perhaps, unless we make a miracle run in the NCAAs, blew the season?

Did anyone ever think that this once storied and respected program would ever reach this level? As a fan this hurts really bad. This season has been like a bad dream, sometimes even becoming a bad nightmare. I am hoping that the power that be, get off their butts and take whatever action is necessary to right this sinking ship.

 

[Pat4life]

Why would Jolly leave her head coaching job and come be an assistant at Tennessee???

She's the head coach at .... tho!

Sorry, assistant coach for the Lady Vols helping to restore the luster is looks way better than head coach at most schools. ijs