Transfer Portal 21-22

[J-Dog 1313]

Checking out the centers since this list was made and just from video Taylor Jones looks like the best of the bunch of the ones listed as centers. She is a true five really gets in there and scraps for rebounds and very defensive presence like Key blocks and disrupts a lot of shots. Other players I like on the list are Esmery Martinez really not a center a stretch four that can shoot the three and really plays with a lot of energy. Ladazhia Williams is solid player plays effective minutes. Jordyn Jenkins is a forward and a terrific one at that at 6'2" has the all around game can score from the perimeter and inside. Hollingshead has some talent far from reaching her potential still needs work but she has the body type to be a terrific player inside. To me these are the best of the players in the portal that could help inside the most right now. I think Taylor Jones would be perfect for our team and culture. I think she would really like Kellie as a coach and would be the model player. I hope she is looking at us a player that I really like. Taylor Jones and Esmery Martinez would give us a very effective inside game would love to see those two be Lady Vols. If neither one of those would rank Hollingshead third because of the years she has to play and her potential as a player. I love Jenkins but doubt she has any interest in coming south think she is looking to stay west would take her in a second. Williams would be helpful, but she doesn't help our post situation for the future 2023 and beyond.

taylor-jones

My top five: Taylor Jones, C; Esmery Martinez, F/C; Kennedy Brown, C; Mimi Collins, F/C; and LaDazhia Williams, C. I hope the LVs snags one of them.

 

[Volfan2012]

My top five: Taylor Jones, C; Esmery Martinez, F/C; Kennedy Brown, C; Mimi Collins, F/C; and LaDazhia Williams, C. I hope the LVs snags one of them.

I think we got about the fourth or fifth best roster now. If we could get Jones and Martinez I think that moves us up to second or third.

 

[LV renaissance]

Checking out the centers since this list was made and just from video Taylor Jones looks like the best of the bunch of the ones listed as centers. She is a true five really gets in there and scraps for rebounds and very defensive presence like Key blocks and disrupts a lot of shots. Other players I like on the list are Esmery Martinez really not a center a stretch four that can shoot the three and really plays with a lot of energy. Ladazhia Williams is solid player plays effective minutes. Jordyn Jenkins is a forward and a terrific one at that at 6'2" has the all around game can score from the perimeter and inside. Hollingshead has some talent far from reaching her potential still needs work but she has the body type to be a terrific player inside. To me these are the best of the players in the portal that could help inside the most right now. I think Taylor Jones would be perfect for our team and culture. I think she would really like Kellie as a coach and would be the model player. I hope she is looking at us a player that I really like. Taylor Jones and Esmery Martinez would give us a very effective inside game would love to see those two be Lady Vols. If neither one of those would rank Hollingshead third because of the years she has to play and her potential as a player. I love Jenkins but doubt she has any interest in coming south think she is looking to stay west would take her in a second. Williams would be helpful, but she doesn't help our post situation for the future 2023 and beyond.

taylor-jones

 

[LV renaissance]

Checking out the centers since this list was made and just from video Taylor Jones looks like the best of the bunch of the ones listed as centers. She is a true five really gets in there and scraps for rebounds and very defensive presence like Key blocks and disrupts a lot of shots. Other players I like on the list are Esmery Martinez really not a center a stretch four that can shoot the three and really plays with a lot of energy. Ladazhia Williams is solid player plays effective minutes. Jordyn Jenkins is a forward and a terrific one at that at 6'2" has the all around game can score from the perimeter and inside. Hollingshead has some talent far from reaching her potential still needs work but she has the body type to be a terrific player inside. To me these are the best of the players in the portal that could help inside the most right now. I think Taylor Jones would be perfect for our team and culture. I think she would really like Kellie as a coach and would be the model player. I hope she is looking at us a player that I really like. Taylor Jones and Esmery Martinez would give us a very effective inside game would love to see those two be Lady Vols. If neither one of those would rank Hollingshead third because of the years she has to play and her potential as a player. I love Jenkins but doubt she has any interest in coming south think she is looking to stay west would take her in a second. Williams would be helpful, but she doesn't help our post situation for the future 2023 and beyond.

I have been trying to get more information about Martinez given that I think that this is the player that Coach Sam liked their portal tweet and seems to fit the bill. Someone here has posted that she has a history of knee issues, so I was wondering if anyone had more details about this (surgeries, missed games, etc.)? She was born in Dominican Republic but it looks like she played high school ball in Chattanooga. If her family is still there, this seems like it could be a major plus for the LVs. She also was preseason all Big 12 first teamer this year and finished as a second teamer, which is not bad. Her stats were impressive as a Junior but down from the double double she averaged as a Sophomore!!!! (e.g., 13.6 PPG and 11.6 RPG). However, her 3 point shooting was up to 40%! Given all this, I imagine perhaps one of our biggest sales job is to convince her to come without promising her she could start here next season. If she does come here, I imagine she will get the minutes of a starter even if she doesn't start.

 

[LadyOrange]

Who are our 2023 center recruits? Who we take from the portal could depend on it.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

I think we got about the fourth or fifth best roster now. If we could get Jones and Martinez I think that moves us up to second or third.

in the SEC or the country ?

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

My top five: Taylor Jones, C; Esmery Martinez, F/C; Kennedy Brown, C; Mimi Collins, F/C; and LaDazhia Williams, C. I hope the LVs snags one of them.

The young lady who is transferring from Purdue seems legit as well. 6'6 and averaged 11 pts and 6 rebounds before an injury it looks like also shot 75% from the FT line

 

[Volfan2012]

Who are our 2023 center recruits? Who we take from the portal could depend on it.

Del Rosario is our number one target and also SC's number one target. Cody Essence committed to Alabama. Collier committed to NC State. The only other one I know about is Doumbouya and what I saw on video wasn't to impressed with her. So if we don't get Del Rosario I don't think we have another great prospect that I know about. I think what the coaches may be thinking is bring in two post players with at least two years eligibility left to move that position on to 2024. There may be a post I don't know about for 2023 right now I'd say it looks really bleak for that position in the 2023 class. I'm hoping we can get two solid posts out of the portal with eligibility beyond next season. Other players for 2023 if we could get Booker and Samuels that would relieve somewhat the losses of Horston and Jackson for 2023.

 

[Volfan2012]

in the SEC or the country ?

The country and second in the SEC. Right now the country Sc, UConn, Stanford, Tennessee and Texas. SEC SC and Tennessee.

 

[Volfan2012]

The young lady who is transferring from Purdue seems legit as well. 6'6 and averaged 11 pts and 6 rebounds before an injury it looks like also shot 75% from the FT line

Yes she had an injury don't know the prognosis of that sure if she was interested in Tennessee that would need to be investigated before anything moved further.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Yes she had an injury don't know the prognosis of that sure if she was interested in Tennessee that would need to be investigated before anything moved further.

i'm certain the coaches will investigate all the possibilities they seem to be trying to find the right fit and i think are having the chance to be selective because of the interest TN has generated.

As far as the young lady from purdue she would have 2-3 years left. So she could back up TK this year and then help the freshman post of 23' along while she holds down the fort. Sort of the perfect scenario as long as she fits the culture.

Regardless this coaching staff has generated a buzz and players want to play for TN again.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Del Rosario is our number one target and also SC's number one target. Cody Essence committed to Alabama. Collier committed to NC State. The only other one I know about is Doumbouya and what I saw on video wasn't to impressed with her. So if we don't get Del Rosario I don't think we have another great prospect that I know about. I think what the coaches may be thinking is bring in two post players with at least two years eligibility left to move that position on to 2024. There may be a post I don't know about for 2023 right now I'd say it looks really bleak for that position in the 2023 class. I'm hoping we can get two solid posts out of the portal with eligibility beyond next season. Other players for 2023 if we could get Booker and Samuels that would relieve somewhat the losses of Horston and Jackson for 2023.

There are some forwards who are high on TN right now as well... Samuels is a baller for sure. There's another one i want in this area and day 1 she would get playing time

 

[Cb153181]

I wouldn’t mind having another scoring guard (Sonya Morris) and a post to help this team next year.

We keep preaching size but we lost to teams that had better guard play. Tamari was outsized by 6’3 and 6’2 players all the time.

In todays game you really need the best athletes to compete. Size doesn’t matter if their athletic.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

I wouldn’t mind having another scoring guard (Sonya Morris) and a post to help this team next year.

We keep preaching size but we lost to teams that had better guard play. Tamari was outsized by 6’3 and 6’2 players all the time.

In todays game you really need the best athletes to compete. Size doesn’t matter if their athletic.

I think that's what got Holly in trouble. She had better athletes but the coaching and basketball IQ were lacking.

 

[Volfan2012]

There are some forwards who are high on TN right now as well... Samuels is a baller for sure. There's another one i want in this area and day 1 she would get playing time

I think were in good shape with forwards and perimeter players. I don't know of any 2023 center that were looking like the team right now. So any players we get for that position in the portal hopefully are not the one and done type as we certainly need players with at least two years eligibility even of we get a 2023.

 

[VolFanGBO]

I think were in good shape with forwards and perimeter players. I don't know of any 2023 center that were looking like the team right now. So any players we get for that position in the portal hopefully are not the one and done type as we certainly need players with at least two years eligibility even of we get a 2023.

del rasario

 

[Volfan2012]

del rasario

She is far from a given to come to Tennessee. Most I hear say she is leaning SC. So two posts in hand portal now with two years eligibility left are better to have than a possible 2023. Plus even if she decides Tennessee the incoming posts with two years could tide her over to get some needed experience in SEC play before she became the main focus.

 

[stlvolsfan]

The young lady who is transferring from Purdue seems legit as well. 6'6 and averaged 11 pts and 6 rebounds before an injury it looks like also shot 75% from the FT line

Yep…she’s who I want.

 

[VolBall09]

Yep…she’s who I want.

Martinez. Jones, Hollingshed, Kyle. That’s my wish list in that order.

Hollingshed has a ton of upside and 3 years of eligibility which is enticing. I do think if she was going to follow Joni that would already have happened. I know we were one of her final schools and I think it ultimately came down to us or UGA but don’t know for certain.

Jones has PAC-12 experience and 3 years as well though. She’s got two +COVID year…

If we were to land two of any of those players I would be confident saying there is little difference between our roster and South Carolina’s.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

The young lady who is transferring from Purdue seems legit as well. 6'6 and averaged 11 pts and 6 rebounds before an injury it looks like also shot 75% from the FT line

And the Purdue transfer--Ra'Shaya Kyle--has three years of eligibility left.

 

[stllvf]

Musing on the list of Centers interested in new vistas.

the question is would a player transfer knowing she would be a bench player, not a starter? Assess work ethic and basketball IQ, And of course the ability to rapidly run the floor is essential. and Chemistry . (and to those who always include the player left because her significant other left don't know??)

Taylor Jones is a 1st team conference and primarily forward would be surprised if she considered the LVs

Ra'Shaya Kyle- playing on a bad team recovering from injury a first choice

Rita Igbokwe: C Pittsburgh 22 min 7=+RB 68 blks 6 pts

on the list is JeAnna Cunningham didn't play utah an example of assessing future potential, academics and chemistry

What didn't seem to be on the list were mid-major players with size.

 

[LV renaissance]

And the Purdue transfer--Ra'Shaya Kyle--has three years of eligibility left.

She was the #36 player out of her class, so main concern is her injury.

 

[Hooper22]

Kyle is very much on our radar.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Musing on the list of Centers interested in new vistas.

the question is would a player transfer knowing she would be a bench player, not a starter? Assess work ethic and basketball IQ, And of course the ability to rapidly run the floor is essential. and Chemistry . (and to those who always include the player left because her significant other left don't know??)

Taylor Jones is a 1st team conference and primarily forward would be surprised if she considered the LVs

Ra'Shaya Kyle- playing on a bad team recovering from injury a first choice

Rita Igbokwe: C Pittsburgh 22 min 7=+RB 68 blks 6 pts

on the list is JeAnna Cunningham didn't play utah an example of assessing future potential, academics and chemistry

What didn't seem to be on the list were mid-major players with size.

And a second consideration for any possible post player, with two or more years of eligibility, contemplating transferring to TN is that she likely will be the starter after Tamari leaves for the WNBA, so any backup role would be for only one season. Take the long-term view.

 

[VolBall09]

Kyle is very much on our radar.

Most interesting thing about her to me is how similar she is to TK. Would be double trouble in the paint. The continuity of our offense and defense would be much stronger if they were to play interchangeably. No doubt they could both average near a double double on 20-25 minutes.


If we do get a really quality center, no matter who, it makes fouls trouble pretty much a non-issue. We already know Striplin and Puckett are willing to guard in there. If we have a great co-center for Key they can really go hard and contest/post up.

Tamari had to be less aggressive both offensively and defensively toward the end of the season. We just could afford to have her off the floor after Green’s injury. Hopefully next season will be different.