2026 Lady Vols Recruiting

#1,352
#1,352
I believe the best measure of recruiting success will come in the next two seasons to analyze Coach Caldwell vs the recent LV Head Coaches.
On the other hand, she is placing herself in a league of her own as a modern coach by signing or getting a verbal commit from 8 McDonald’s All-Americans & counting in just over 1 year.
I believe it’s remarkable that while legendary Coach Pat Summitt historic career continues to be the standard of WBB that CKC has built the foundation for a resurgence to prominence in Knoxville.
That hasn’t ever happened in WBB.
Her entire roster consists of highly rated 5-star & 4-star talent after just 1 full recruiting cycle via high school and transfer portal which is unheard of. Not only has she recruited at an elite level, she won multiple games in year 1 on the big stage and finished the year with a S16 appearance/Top 15 ranking.

THEONLYTENISEE said:
In terms of talent, how will Caldwell’s first 2 classes compare to previous staffs?
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KnoxLikeUs said:
I believe the best measure of recruiting success will come in the next two seasons to analyze Coach Caldwell vs the recent LV Head Coaches.
On the other hand, she is placing herself in a league of her own as a modern coach by signing or getting a verbal commit from 8 McDonald’s All-Americans & counting in just over 1 year.
I believe it’s remarkable that while legendary Coach Pat Summitt historic career continues to be the standard of WBB that CKC has built the foundation for a resurgence to prominence in Knoxville.
That hasn’t ever happened in WBB.
Her entire roster consists of highly rated 5-star & 4-star talent after just 1 full recruiting cycle via high school and transfer portal which is unheard of. Not only has she recruited at an elite level, she won multiple games in year 1 on the big stage and finished the year with a S16 appearance/Top 15 ranking.
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* It's also worth noting that CKC is recruiting to her desired capabilities, not necessarily the best rated players. Out of the (legitimately, deservedly) top 20 recruits (hypothetically) 8 of those might not be on her list at all. And for those same reasons, the (hypothetically) 30th ranked recruit might be the 3rd most desired player on CKC's list.

So being named a top-ranked recruiting class becomes even more impressive when we consider that CKC isn't even playing that particular numbers game.

(And worth also noting that in some years, we could have a lower ranked recruiting class when in fact, CKC had a perfect recruiting season and got all the top players on her list!)
 
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#1,354
#1,354
KnoxLikeUs said:
I believe the best measure of recruiting success will come in the next two seasons to analyze Coach Caldwell vs the recent LV Head Coaches.
On the other hand, she is placing herself in a league of her own as a modern coach by signing or getting a verbal commit from 8 McDonald’s All-Americans & counting in just over 1 year.
I believe it’s remarkable that while legendary Coach Pat Summitt historic career continues to be the standard of WBB that CKC has built the foundation for a resurgence to prominence in Knoxville.
That hasn’t ever happened in WBB.
Her entire roster consists of highly rated 5-star & 4-star talent after just 1 full recruiting cycle via high school and transfer portal which is unheard of. Not only has she recruited at an elite level, she won multiple games in year 1 on the big stage and finished the year with a S16 appearance/Top 15 ranking.
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In the modern era, I think Coach Caldwell, including the portal, has exceeded any coach in recruiting during her firs 18 m0mths. The good thing is, she is just getting started in her career at Tennessee. Happy days are here again.
 
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BruisedOrange said:
* It's also worth noting that CKC is recruiting to her desired capabilities, not necessarily the best rated players. Out of the (legitimately, deservedly) top 20 recruits (hypothetically) 8 of those might not be on her list at all. And for those same reasons, the (hypothetically) 30th ranked recruit might be the 3rd most desired player on CKC's list.

So being named a top-ranked recruiting class becomes even more impressive when we consider that CKC isn't even playing that particular numbers game.

(And worth also noting that in some years, we could have a lower ranked recruiting class when in fact, CKC had a perfect recruiting season and got all the top players on her list!)
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I get the point about fit. However, I do not buy the idea the consensus 30 player is actually the third best on her list unless there is a dire position need like having no post. The roster is too good for that now. Only difference makers improve the ceiling.
 
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VolBall09 said:
I’m so glad we got over the “can’t wear the uniform until you commit” thing. Made sense for Pat when she had 8 nattys to back it up. Kids wanna take pics for socials and show out these days though.

Recruiting pics look so much better since we started letting them wear jerseys.
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Yes back in Pat's day, we and then Uconn, was the best program going...the top players wanted to play for the LadyVols, so Pat's rules ruled and players had to earn the right to wear the uniform. Today's top recruits fill they have earned the right to wear anyone's uniform during visits...How times have changed and I'm glad we are changing with them...Go LVFL 🧡💙🏀💙🧡
 
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#1,357
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lfvol said:
I get the point about fit. However, I do not buy the idea the consensus 30 player is actually the third best on her list unless there is a dire position need like having no post. The roster is too good for that now. Only difference makers improve the ceiling.
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My thinking is that not every excellent player likes to play fast, and some who are physically gifted to play the low post may only be difference makers in a half court offense.
 
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BruisedOrange said:
My thinking is that not every excellent player likes to play fast, and some who are physically gifted to play the low post may only be difference makers in a half court offense.
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I see your point. See Karoline Striplin, not a good system fit.

There a so few bigs that are a perfect fit, that some years, #30 might be the best for us.
 
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#1,362
#1,362
37620VOL said:
I see your point. See Karoline Striplin, not a good system fit.

There a so few bigs that are a perfect fit, that some years, #30 might be the best for us.
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If you have the right "smalls" you can make the bigs of the other team a detriment...2026 BB is not about the slowdown game,,it has t o follow the WNBA direction and that is becoming/has become,,"skilled" female players,,,the players going into the pro's right now are looking like girls and playing like boys,,,,thing s I rarely saw just a few years ago,,,things like: planned reverse layups,,,no-looks...BH back dribbles,,no-look drive and dishes,,etc,,,are the norm, not the exception
 
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#1,367
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Coach Jumper said:
In a forum a post like that grows legs ... 1219
Here's the hoopgurlz latest:
View attachment 773845
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Which website are you pulling that from? Hoopgurlz, the site I have always followed seems to evolved or something like that. Would you be kind enough to pop the link you have in here. Thanks. Also, it would be awesome if what I saw wasn't a mistake.
 
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#1,368
#1,368
Dak1219 said:
Which website are you pulling that from? Hoopgurlz, the site I have always followed seems to evolved or something like that. Would you be kind enough to pop the link you have in here. Thanks. Also, it would be awesome if what I saw wasn't a mistake.
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absolutely...

2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
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#1,370
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BruisedOrange said:
My thinking is that not every excellent player likes to play fast, and some who are physically gifted to play the low post may only be difference makers in a half court offense.
Click to expand...
I can agree with that. I responded to the idea the third most desired might be consensus 30. There could easily be a few top ten that “aren’t desired” though.
 
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#1,372
#1,372
Coach Jumper said:
really ?
View attachment 773852
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@BruisedOrange started this ”soft discussion” using the broad term “fit”.

Fit:
Too slow
Not athletic enough
Academic liability
…there are plenty of other variables that may uncheck a box on Kim’s spreadsheet.

To think there may be a couple in the top ten that don’t “fit”, is not a stretch. A variable not mentioned above but probably most important is our NIL valuation vs On3 valuation vs player’s agent valuation.
 
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#1,374
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chuckiepoo said:
@BruisedOrange started this ”soft discussion” using the broad term “fit”.

Fit:
Too slow
Not athletic enough
Academic liability
…there are plenty of other variables that may uncheck a box on Kim’s spreadsheet.

To think there may be a couple in the top ten that don’t “fit”, is not a stretch. A variable not mentioned above but probably most important is our NIL valuation vs On3 valuation vs player’s agent valuation.
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Among other variables could be values/culture, and the quality of bonding with the current team members.

I doubt us ol' timers can imagine the amount of communication that takes place between top players all over the country. I'm confident our current players have gained impressions of potential teammates long before the official visit. And I'd be shocked if the coaches aren't asking the team for their input, from early on in the process.

We often hear Barnes talk about another category of "fit"--responsiveness to his coaching style. He knows his coaching style will not bring out the best in every player, and he recruits accordingly.

I don't know if CKC's coaching style requires that level of discrimination. Given how players like Zee have grown in confidence, and how CKC has spoken of her as someone who will alway need encouragement, I'm getting the impression that CKC comes to us with an array of developed coaching skills. Though, with success and the ability to sign top players, she too may settle into her most authentic, bone-deep, preferred style of coaching.

edit #2: sorry, c-poo. I added a long edit after you posted your Like. You may wish to reconsider...;)
 
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#1,375
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jsiggy said:
What's Bri waiting for!?
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She and her parents know she is in an advantageous situation now. Hopefully she becomes a Lady Vol but her NIL valuation just went up at other schools. You gotta believe the other coaches have told the AD and donors we got to up the ante on Bri to at least have a chance because if she goes to Tennessee and they have Edwards in the fold already they are going to have a juggernaut but it feels good knowing that we can’t be outbid with the new adidas deal.it would be a matter of how far are we willing to go
 
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