[Maria M. Cornelius]

I am out now. Talk to y’all soon. Mike, does this link stay up if others want to pay and read it later?

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Let’s definitely do this again.

And I L, I get the commit thing. I told Mike last week I need someone to commit in 2023 so people will stop asking me when it will happen. Ha.

A year ago, I knew Tennessee was treading water with 2022s. They, as of now, are in great shape with 2023s they want, just need it to pan out. (Again, teenagers.)

The effect of Coach Sam can’t be overstated. Other schools panicked at that hire. They knew Sam would change the trajectory and Kellie respects her so much. Very symbiotic relationship.

Joy also is young and energetic and connects well with the players. Two great staff additions.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Big thing for Lady Vols this season is to manage the hype. The target is always big – everyone always wants to beat Tennessee, but, wow, it somehow got bigger.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Not sure what went down there. I think NC was open to it, but dates didn’t work. NC State dates didn’t wok either. It’s too bad.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

To add up to what Mike said, Rickea has turned heads this summer, too – coaches and players. She can do things a lot of players can’t do with her length and athleticism.

Horston and Jackson on the wings? Lord have mercy.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Did we miss any questions? I saw the Texas one. Tennessee tried to find an open date but could not work it out on Texas’ end. Maybe they meet in the Bahamas. I really wish that bracket would be released.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

IL, Horston definitely went to another level. Jillian is turning heads in a good way. She is every inch of 6-5 and apparently has range to the arc.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

I will also add Tennessee is the Fort Knox of recruitment. They keep info well-guarded. Jillian Hollingshead was a surprise, not to Tennessee, of course, but to everyone else. Very stealthy in how they operate behind the scenes.

Mike and I have to share notes and rattle a lot of cages to get the best info we can.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Rickea is seeking her first NCAA tourney, which is hard to fathom. She may want the extra year to have a fuller college experience. But, again, they don’t know yet. Probably won’t until winter.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Agree about culture. Players want that. Parents, too. And there have been more high profile stories of coach abuse from Syracuse to ETSU. Players and parents are aware that a stable environment is priceless.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Nik, no one has made a decision yet. And, yes, they are aware of the roster limitations. Jasmine Powell did say when she signed that she would take the extra years.

For the others, I think TK, Horston and Rickea are locks for the WNBA. Horston is a big guard/wing who can run the offense, play on the wing, rebound, score and defend. She is a wing prototype in the league. TK is 6-6 and mobile. Rickea is a special talent.

So will just have to wait and see how it shakes out for them. The great thing is all athletes can get agents now and get an honest assessment of where they stand.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Tennessee can’t buy a car. The school can gather info about NIL requests, provide to athlete and process the paperwork, but Tennessee can’t buy the car, nor can coaches be involved in NIL deals.

(Louisiana has better state laws than Tennessee and a basketball staffer can oversee NIL. NCAA just parachuted NIL in with no real standards. And good for that state. Nearly every other state needs to catch up.)

But the visibility and brand of Tennessee means a car dealership is on the table. Rickea got one out of Detroit. That’s the power of Tennessee name.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Olivia Olson is definitely on Tennessee and everyone’s radar. She hasn’t indicated anything yet.

Adults want definitive answers. But these are teenagers. They can’t always decide what to wear to school. And we want answers about the biggest decision of their life. It’s guesswork.

And early commits to me sometimes are great. Justine Pissott knew she wanted to go to Tennessee. But a player who doesn’t should not commit early. The women’s game has seen more de-commits lately and reopening recruitment. Teenagers can’t rush it.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Nik, these recruits are awfully quiet overall so it’s not easy to sort rumor from truth. Her team did come, but that’s OK and not really unusual. She also has a sister at Kentucky so they are in the mix. I think 2024 will get sorted out in 6-12 months.

Heck, 2023 is still in the blender. And these recruits don’t tip their hand at all.

[Maria M. Cornelius]

Jackson, I will have a better idea of that when it all shakes out by signing week in November.

LSU got Mikaylah Williams, the No. 1 player, so that is big for the Tigers but so far, not a lot have popped for the SEC. Right now North Carolina in the ACC is doing really well.

Of course, those HS rankings don’t matter at the next level.

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