2026 Lady Vols Recruiting

[KnoxLikeUs]

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Good thing you have something to talk about in recruting after a one player class in 2025.

Tennessee got the big fish Oliviyah Edwards. USC got the other. Tennessee got a bonafide athlete in Gabby Minus.
Get it in your mind, all you post about recruiting and who follows who on social media (which is odd way to follow recruiting with HS prospects) is pretty much irrelevant.
You post about it endlessly until it’s about the 2026 class movers above… then you are silent.
Good luck to Texas. Report the social media followers to have dialogue. Kudos.

That finalist list of Tennessee, LSU, UConn, and South Carolina was refuted as being inaccurate. I know Texas is recruiting her as Vic Schaefer just started following Okeke on Instagram (he rarely follows any recruits until they sign their LOIs), and vice versa.

 

[th2421]

I think you're right. Some recruits have aspirations of being All-Conference and All-Americans; you can't earn those awards if you aren't logging major minutes and scoring at least 15 points a game.

Cooper, Zee, and Barker all on the Wooden Watchlist this season. I think it would go a long way to have one or more of them continue showing up on these lists and/or make all-conference teams. Coop is currently scoring 18.3/game in 23 minutes. Last season she averaged 22 minutes in the non-conference and close to 25 in the SEC games, so her minutes should continue to go up a bit. 4 of the 5 main starters last year saw their minutes go up as the competition increased (except Ruby, whose minutes were basically the same in non-con and SEC).

For better or worse, if Latham continues to be out for some time, Barker and Spearman's minutes will likely have to increase anyway.

 

[LUVMESUMVOL]

Kim knows the value of foundation players and your foundation players are not 1-2 year portal acquisitions...

You don't build a house starting on the second floor...Danny failed to back his jockey "and that's the bottom line... cause stone jumper says so"...This takes nothing away from our present portal players! The elite coaches (Pat, Geno, Dawn, Kim) didn't build their programs with portal players, they built them on recruits and topped them off with precise talents for precise needs

I recall a few weeks ago saying Bri is taking all these visits because she checking these NIL evaluations but you told me I was wrong and Bri chose Texas in part because she got the most from them. Was I really wrong Mr Coach?

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Oliviyah Edwards and Saniyah Hall can play college basketball right now.

Those were the movers of the 2026 class.

Gabby Minus is going to be a steal.

You don’t have schools like Tennessee, Florida, and Baylor recruiting you if you aren’t an elite athlete.
I was reading about Gabby M posting a triple double in a game and that’s the kind of stuff that fans overlook while focusing on recruiting rankings.
This kid can flat out play basketball and has high level physicality for her height and size.
We haven’t seen the kind of physicality and athleticism mix that Minus and Edwards are bringing to Knoxville since Keyen Green and Alexus Dye.
Those were the last Tennessee teams that were physical in the post with Green, Dye, and Key anchoring us down low.
You put that with the athletes and skill of our returning players and Tennessee will be unstoppable with a healthy roster.

Nevertheless, I agree with Knox, we really did get the mover and shaker of the 2026 class in Edwards, she is going to be phenomenal and the type of high impact freshman we need so the sting isn't so bad.

 

[Cb153181]

Oliviyah Edwards and Saniyah Hall can play college basketball right now.

Those were the movers of the 2026 class.

Gabby Minus is going to be a steal.

You don’t have schools like Tennessee, Florida, and Baylor recruiting you if you aren’t an elite athlete.
I was reading about Gabby M posting a triple double in a game and that’s the kind of stuff that fans overlook while focusing on recruiting rankings.
This kid can flat out play basketball and has high level physicality for her height and size.
We haven’t seen the kind of physicality and athleticism mix that Minus and Edwards are bringing to Knoxville since Keyen Green and Alexus Dye.
Those were the last Tennessee teams that were physical in the post with Green, Dye, and Key anchoring us down low.
You put that with the athletes and skill of our returning players and Tennessee will be unstoppable with a healthy roster.

You said Nya was the steal of the portal and yeah I’m not trusting your judgement

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

You think it matters?

You said Nya was the steal of the portal and yeah I’m not trusting your judgement

 

[Scotty4lvs]

I don’t think that’s the main issue, I think it’s the substitution pattern. Some players just won’t want to play that way, they don’t mind pressing, but certain elite players want to stay on the floor, no amount of winning will change that.

I have zero percent hope that she will ever budge on this bc she apparently enjoyed it herself as a player, but I 100 percent agree. Makes me frustrated bc in so many ways I love her coaching but the subs is totally maddening to me.

 

[volnationnj]

You think it matters?

It mattered enough for you to respond.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Tennessee backed off from prospects. I don’t think it’s fair to put this on the Ruby situation. Gabby Minus committed to Tennessee around the same week.
She’s played some big time basketball both at her high school and AAU circuit with Team Curry.
Oliviyah Edwards has held firm and solidified her commitment and signing throughout that situation.
Both players have active families.. we’re in a good position. I think in the end all parties needed to move forward.
The LV brand is still well respected and upholds an incredibly high standard.

It’s really not shocking. When you have the #1 class in 2025 you’re going to miss on a couple in 2026.
Just not as much time to go around.

Texas didn’t have much in 2025 but will have a nice class for 26.

I also don’t think Ruby did our recruiting any favors. Parents don’t like seeing that. At all.

 

[southie]

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Good thing you have something to talk about in recruting after a one player class in 2025.

Tennessee got the big fish Oliviyah Edwards. USC got the other. Tennessee got a bonafide athlete in Gabby Minus.
Get it in your mind, all you post about recruiting and who follows who on social media (which is odd way to follow recruiting with HS prospects) is pretty much irrelevant.
You post about it endlessly until it’s about the 2026 class movers above… then you are silent.
Good luck to Texas. Report the social media followers to have dialogue. Kudos.

Was I wrong about my social media breadcrumbs about Bri Crittendon? At the moment, it sure seems like I was correct. The clues were there for those with an open mind who chose to pay attention. Why does that bother you so much?

All you post about is this recruiting "frenzy" going on about Tennessee in social media; can't say I've seen it.

 

[Volfan2012]

Oliviyah Edwards and Saniyah Hall can play college basketball right now.

Those were the movers of the 2026 class.

Gabby Minus is going to be a steal.

You don’t have schools like Tennessee, Florida, and Baylor recruiting you if you aren’t an elite athlete.
I was reading about Gabby M posting a triple double in a game and that’s the kind of stuff that fans overlook while focusing on recruiting rankings.
This kid can flat out play basketball and has high level physicality for her height and size.
We haven’t seen the kind of physicality and athleticism mix that Minus and Edwards are bringing to Knoxville since Keyen Green and Alexus Dye.
Those were the last Tennessee teams that were physical in the post with Green, Dye, and Key anchoring us down low.
You put that with the athletes and skill of our returning players and Tennessee will be unstoppable with a healthy roster.

Don't agree with KnoxLikeUs often but they are 100 percent right when they say Gabby Minus is an exceptional athlete in every part of the game. She has the mid-range, three point and speed to get to the basket. She can defend and rebound. Rated way to low watch her at Hudl and you will see she is really an awesome player. I think she plays a lot right in the rotation from day one. No way she is not playing a lot from the time she gets to Tennessee.

 

[southie]

Gabby Minus is going to be a steal.

You don’t have schools like Tennessee, Florida, and Baylor recruiting you if you aren’t an elite athlete.
I was reading about Gabby M posting a triple double in a game and that’s the kind of stuff that fans overlook while focusing on recruiting rankings.
This kid can flat out play basketball and has high level physicality for her height and size.
We haven’t seen the kind of physicality and athleticism mix that Minus and Edwards are bringing to Knoxville since Keyen Green and Alexus Dye.
Those were the last Tennessee teams that were physical in the post with Green, Dye, and Key anchoring us down low.
You put that with the athletes and skill of our returning players and Tennessee will be unstoppable with a healthy roster.

LMAO that you keep mentioning Baylor and Florida. Florida has never been a top program, and Baylor is not even close to the program they were under Mulkey.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Ironically, elite no.2 player Oliviyah Big Oh Edwards stated in a sound bite that one thing that attracted her to the system is the uptempo and substitution style.
Her comment was along the lines of she plays her best when she can go all out while in the game and come out to get a quick break before going back into the game. She said it would help her and allows her to avoid being tired or make mistakes playing extended minutes all at once.
Honestly, a lot of these players play similar styles in AAU.. I think it’s more popular with high school kids than some fans believe but with the transfer portal you don’t have to focus on just high school recruiting.
I think they are fine with 2-3 HS and adding 2-3 transfer portal players.
We may retain all our returning players. Freshmen are playing a lot compared to other schools and you have three other players that I believe at the very least two if not all three will stay in TN.

I somewhat agree, but the top players do get a bulk of the minutes. I think its the frequency in which she subs. Like every 60-90 second subbing, I could see being a problem for a top player and honestly you can tell it on certain player's faces sometimes. If she keeps them in maybe 2-3 or 3-5 minutes, I think it'll go over a little better with top recruits.....if it even is a problem to begin with.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Lmao.. Texas got a commit ranked #57. Who was recruiting that player?
Before you go running off about Minus know that the recruiting services missed big.
And the film shows just that guy.
I’m willing to bet you Baylor and Florida currently has just as many McDonald’s All-Americans on each roster as Texas.

LMAO that you keep mentioning Baylor and Florida. Florida has never been a top program, and Baylor is not even close to the program they were under Mulkey.

 

[volsagain]

It’s really not shocking. When you have the #1 class in 2025 you’re going to miss on a couple in 2026. Just not as much time to go around.

Texas didn’t have much in 2025 but will have a nice class for 26.

I also don’t think Ruby did our recruiting any favors. Parents don’t like seeing that. At all.

Ruby will very little effect on who joins the lady vols. MONEY is the biggest factor now days. It takes a lot of money to sign the number 1# class. To do it back to back years would be incredible. We got 5 players last year that added up to the 1# class none of the real high dollar players because we needed numbers. We need a couple mid major sharp shooters and one more big. Hopefully we'll have enough NIL to secure.

 

[Volfan2012]

I somewhat agree, but the top players do get a bulk of the minutes. I think its the frequency in which she subs. Like every 60-90 second subbing, I could see being a problem for a top player and honestly you can tell it on certain player's faces sometimes. If she keeps them in maybe 2-3 or 3-5 minutes, I think it'll go over a little better with top recruits.....if it even is a problem to begin with.

In the end we will have about five to six players in the upper 20 minutes of playing time. We have six players over 20 minutes now and we had one game where they sat out quite a bit of the game. I think she is going to have to realize to change the sub pattern to at least three minutes which would be fine. Players can run up the floor more than two or three times even if they are pressing. By SEC play she will have a top seven or eight that will play most of the minutes with two or three filling in from 7 to 9 minutes a game.

 

[VolBall09]

Ruby will very little effect on who joins the lady vols. MONEY is the biggest factor now days. It takes a lot of money to sign the number 1# class. To do it back to back years would be incredible. We got 5 players last year that added up to the 1# class none of the real high dollar players because we needed numbers. We need a couple mid major sharp shooters and one more big. Hopefully we'll have enough NIL to secure.

A player getting in trouble with the law twice in two months doesn’t instill confidence in a parent and at the end of the day they often have the final say on things like that.

At this stage they are still kids and under their roof.

 

[Volfan2012]

Ruby will very little effect on who joins the lady vols. MONEY is the biggest factor now days. It takes a lot of money to sign the number 1# class. To do it back to back years would be incredible. We got 5 players last year that added up to the 1# class none of the real high dollar players because we needed numbers. We need a couple mid major sharp shooters and one more big. Hopefully we'll have enough NIL to secure.

It is money and what a few players are asking for is totally ridiculous. Your going to need to get a couple from the top 10 to 15 and then try to get a couple that are just as good or close to as good from 16 through 50.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Good for you. All the gossip aside, with Gabby Minus and Oliviyah Edwards that’s the kind of athleticism and physicality that Tennessee had at a high level in Keyen Green, Alexis Dye, and Tamari Key.
We have had some elite skill in players like Rickea Jackson, Jordan Horston, Rae Burrell, Rennia Davis etc but not the complimentary physicality.
You got it all with Minus and Edwards. Tennessee was flat out making teams earn it in the paint and get it out the mud before Green went out for the season.
Jordan Walker and Green are examples of the type of players we need out of the portal to go with this haul of stacking elite high school talent rolling in. That team was ranked as high as #4 in WBB before some devastating injuries.
I’m not sure what’s going on with Latham, but if those three (Minus, Edwards, and Latham are playing the 3, 4, & 5 positions with atleast 3 other players from the portal in addition to retaining the majority or all of our guards that can return next season this LV roster will be unstoppable.

Don't agree with KnoxLikeUs often but they are 100 percent right when they say Gabby Minus is an exceptional athlete in every part of the game. She has the mid-range, three point and speed to get to the basket. She can defend and rebound. Rated way to low watch her at Hudl and you will see she is really an awesome player. I think she plays a lot right in the rotation from day one. No way she is not playing a lot from the time she gets to Tennessee.

 

[Volfan2012]

Who did Kansas get Skim flashing a big Kansas post.

 

[volsagain]

It is money and what a few players are asking for is totally ridiculous. Your going to need to get a couple from the top 10 to 15 and then try to get a couple that are just as good or close to as good from 16 through 50.

That's what we done last year because we needed numbers. Now one or two top ten players and one or two 40-60 range. You just need to find the shooters that may not be quite as athletic as you would like to keep teams from packing the lanes . Hard to rebound when they surround the paint and you don't have players making the 3 shots .

 

[Volfan2012]

That's what we done last year because we needed numbers. Now one or two top ten players and one or two 40-60 range. You just need to find the shooters that may not be quite as athletic as you would like to keep teams from packing the lanes . Hard to rebound when they surround the paint and you don't have players making the 3 shots .

I think we got two in at least the top 30 this season. I know they are rating Minus down there really can't see why. She is just as athletic as Jones and Abii and an excellent shooter and defender. Guess we'll find out when the time comes, but I was elated at the film I saw of her in several high school games no matter where the services decided to rate her.

 

[th2421]

I think we got two in at least the top 30 this season. I know they are rating Minus down there really can't see why. She is just as athletic as Jones and Abii and an excellent shooter and defender. Guess we'll find out when the time comes, but I was elated at the film I saw of her in several high school games no matter where the services decided to rate her.

If for no other reason, I'm excited about Minus because Tennessee was her dream school, and she clearly LOVES Tennessee. She seems like a high-energy, hard-working, kind of player, and exactly the type of teammate any team would love to have to help build their program culture.

 

[chuckiepoo]

the kind of athleticism and physicality that Tennessee had at a high level in Keyen Green, Alexis Dye, and Tamari Key.

Pretty sure Keyen and Alexis well exceeded Tamari in athleticism and physicality. If Oliviyah doesn’t exceed all three, in those qualities, by mid season her first year, i will be disappointed.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

To add to what one poster is trying to describe about Gabby Minus, she is a versatile talented player.
Not just an energy player. Not just a role player with athleticism but the total package. These recruiting services do this with players and in the end it’s why coaches conduct their own evaluation process.
Minus is as good as any 2025 or 2026 big guard/wing that goes for T. Jones (Clem), J. Abii (ND), N. Brooks (UNC), O. Jones (Vandy) or B. Flemings (Duke).
If you watched Overtime Select there’s no justification for Flemings or Jones being in the Top 20 and Minus in the Top 40-60.
This is a steal for Tennessee and that’s why the coaching staff is excited to add her along with Oliviyah Edwards.