2026 Lady Vols Recruiting

[Higbee]

If the 6 in question all wanted to come, does anyone think CKCwould take them all ?

 

[chuckiepoo]

If things fell our way, this class could rival the ‘04 recruiting class of Parker, Hornbuckle, Wiley-Gatewood, Anosike, Fuller, and Dosty. Five of those six were top 20 recruits according to Parade Magazine. Three were top 3. Fingers crossed….

Back when Parade was widely respected. Thats a little way back…

 

[chuckiepoo]

Ok. I want an honest opinion from somebody. Our2026 recruiting class is........?

Pending?
Incomplete?

 

[chuckiepoo]

Ok. I want an honest opinion from somebody. Our2026 recruiting class is........?

 

[Putbacks]

Back when Parade was widely respected. Thats a little way back…

Right. That was around 2010 and extended back to 1977. Haskell Cohen and Michael O’Shea provided a peephole (along with Street & Smith’s) into women‘s basketball recruiting with a fairly accurate evaluation of talent. More recruiting services have emerged with the increased notoriety and popularity of the women's game.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The current roster features 7 McDonald’s All-Americans. I believe that’s more significant than the individual player rankings which according to 247Sports & ESPN shows Tennessee has one of the most decorated rosters in the new recruiting (NIL) and transfer portal era in WBB.
This is a top 5-10 roster according to talent and early preseason projections.
I believe this 2026 recruiting class could be an excellent group and a reflection of what is already on campus elite talent.
3 Top 10 prospects, 7 Top 20 prospects, 9 Top 30 prospects, and 13 Top 70 prospects, all 5-star and 4-star players.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I think the only meter that matters is:
1) how many did we get who were on CKC's list of "Wants who fit our style," and
2) how were our Gets ranked on her list?

A clean sweep and perfect recruiting year would be when CKC fills every open slot with the top players on her list, regardless of how others ranked them.

 

[stllvf]

using
espn's top 40 as of today only 4 0f top 16 have committed and 11 of top 40 (7 of 24) and the top teams the LVs compare with have none as of today. They all have fan bases wearing rose colored glasses and pontificating the merits of their schools and coaches.

obviously the top players are each assessing their personal criteria for selecting the school.

 

[lfvol]

I think the only meter that matters is:
1) how many did we get who were on CKC's list of "Wants who fit our style," and
2) how were our Gets ranked on her list?

A clean sweep and perfect recruiting year would be when CKC fills every open slot with the top players on her list, regardless of how others ranked them.

Seems unlikely this wave of top 15 visitors do not fit based on skills. She may learn more about attitude, etc on a visit. But I doubt they are this far along trying to assess if the skills fit.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Seems unlikely this wave of top 15 visitors all fit based on skills. She may learn more about attitude, etc on a visit. But I doubt they are this far along trying to assess if the skills fit.

If you have time, can you explain more about what you mean about assessing if the skills fit?

I think I must be reading that differently from how you mean it. I'd think they know almost everything about each player they invite before they even invite, and when they arrive, the only thing left to discover is how they will respond to the current team members and the support staff (academic, strength & conditioning, nutrition, etc.).

My guess is that the first question on the recruiting staff's flowchart is, "Does she like to play fast?" because some players do prefer--just from personality, attitude, or mental process--to walk the ball down the court and work the halfcourt game to generate a winning advantage for their team. If a girl from an early age isn't pushing the ball, trying to create opportunities in transition, looking for teammates doing the same... I'd guess they're automatically off CKC's list.

I feel sure our staff is following girls from 8th grade who already show the athleticism and possibly the size, or simply the love of the game and drive to get better. Then they start tracking their progress in developing ball skills, setting up shots, extending their shooting range, etc. If the rules allow, I'd bet they even suggest (to parents or school coach) which club teams/coaches would most benefit the player.

Once the staff is legally able to have personal contact (I'm not up on all that stuff), I think they begin to establish a "coaching" relationship with them, advising each player on what skills they need to develop next, suggesting moves to work on, pointing out weaknesses in their game, so that they become the player Tennessee hopes to recruit by the time they finish high school.

But maybe I'm full o' hooey on all that. It's just my impression.

 

[chuckiepoo]

But maybe I'm full o' hooey on all that. It's just my impression.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Seems unlikely this wave of top 15 visitors all fit based on skills. She may learn more about attitude, etc on a visit. But I doubt they are this far along trying to assess if the skills fit.

If you have time, can you explain more about what you mean about assessing if the skills fit?

I think I must be reading that differently from how you mean it. I'd think they know almost everything about each player they invite before they even invite, and when they arrive, the only thing left to discover is how they will respond to the current team members and the support staff (academic, strength & conditioning, nutrition, etc.)....

nope

There are many things that cannot be deciphered until they are on the floor (practice and game floor) with the present coach...
things like:
Do they work hard to get to where they are or did they get to where they are purely on situation?
Do their skills include making those around them better?
Are they coddled?
Is their "drive" innate or do they have to be driven?


things like these, and others, cannot be assessed until they are under your personal guidance

 

[chuckiepoo]

Do their skills include making those around them better?

I think, to a large extent, this can be determined by scouting. Just me.
Totally agree with the balance.

 

[Coach Jumper]

I think, to a large extent, this can be determined by scouting. Just me.
Totally agree with the balance.

not really
some of these kids come from schools where they are the only talent on a team and can't share the ball,,,not out of selfishness, but out of trust (if the persons they opt to prove over time that they can't do anything with it)

I have had to mentor several players to not dotting a single column in the stat-line

 

[lfvol]

If you have time, can you explain more about what you mean about assessing if the skills fit?

I think I must be reading that differently from how you mean it. I'd think they know almost everything about each player they invite before they even invite, and when they arrive, the only thing left to discover is how they will respond to the current team members and the support staff (academic, strength & conditioning, nutrition, etc.).

My guess is that the first question on the recruiting staff's flowchart is, "Does she like to play fast?" because some players do prefer--just from personality, attitude, or mental process--to walk the ball down the court and work the halfcourt game to generate a winning advantage for their team. If a girl from an early age isn't pushing the ball, trying to create opportunities in transition, looking for teammates doing the same... I'd guess they're automatically off CKC's list.

I feel sure our staff is following girls from 8th grade who already show the athleticism and possibly the size, or simply the love of the game and drive to get better. Then they start tracking their progress in developing ball skills, setting up shots, extending their shooting range, etc. If the rules allow, I'd bet they even suggest (to parents or school coach) which club teams/coaches would most benefit the player.

Once the staff is legally able to have personal contact (I'm not up on all that stuff), I think they begin to establish a "coaching" relationship with them, advising each player on what skills they need to develop next, suggesting moves to work on, pointing out weaknesses in their game, so that they become the player Tennessee hopes to recruit by the time they finish high school.

But maybe I'm full o' hooey on all that. It's just my impression.

I had an incorrect autocorrected word in the first sentence which was confusing and counter to my last summary sentence. Sorry. Completely agree with your second paragraph. The top recruits visiting this past week and this week would have been well vetted in terms of talent and skill set. So they know they want them unless there is a chemistry, money or other non basketball skill issue that emerges.

 

[GameTime]

Coach, thanks for your input....

I have visions of a couple of these young ladies wearing the Lady Vol colors...In that vision, I see them fitting in nicely with the talent Coach Kim has already assembled...

The two ingredients that I'm sure coach Kim is looking for is big time game speed, and the ability to put the ball through the hoop in a judicious manner...

Damn, it's going to be nice!

 

[lfvol]

nope

There are many things that cannot be deciphered until they are on the floor (practice and game floor) with the present coach...
things like:
Do they work hard to get to where they are or did they get to where they are purely on situation?
Do their skills include making those around them better?
Are they coddled?
Is their "drive" innate or do they have to be driven?


things like these, and others, cannot be assessed until they are under your personal guidance

There was a misleading autocorrected word in my first sentence originally. However, you will not convince me that the staff is not yet sold enough on the physical and skill set attributes of the top15 rated recruits that visited last week and this to make them takes absent chemistry, character or other emerging issues like NIL.