The injuries also meant others had to gain experience faster, including now junior Tess Darby and the four freshmen who are now sophomores – Brooklynn Miles, Sara Puckett, Karoline Striplin and Kaiya Wynn. Jordan Walker, who is entering her fifth and final season after six years in college – she is taking what is now referred to in shorthand as “covid year,” the extra year offered by the NCAA because of the pandemic – brings a lot of experience.
Just talking ball!#SECTipoff #GoLadyVols pic.twitter.com/j0ZClI22ik
— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) October 18, 2022
Tennessee also won the 2022 portal with the addition of Jasmine Franklin, Jillian Hollingshead, Rickea Jackson and Jasmine Powell who add depth across the court. Jackson led the SEC in scoring last season before she left Mississippi State.
“Every player’s recruitment looked a little different,” Harper said. “We had a couple that finished their seasons halfway through last year, so they entered the portal very early. We were able to recruit them earlier than most, and that was Rickea Jackson and Jasmine Powell. Jasmine and Jillian Hollingshead were actually late entering into the portal, and we were really excited to add all four of those young ladies.
“I think they bring something special, each one of them. They bring something different. But they’re all very explosive, and they’re veteran. They’re very experienced and seasoned, and when we get them out in practice, you can tell. They caught on very quickly. I think their college basketball experience allowed them to do so.
“I think they all understood why we recruited them. We understand why they chose University of Tennessee. But that process happened – and it happened so quickly, recruiting in the transfer portal is like light speed, and you’ve got to get down to the business very quickly. Unlike high school recruiting where you’re recruiting people for years.”
Kellie Harper Queen of Content ??#SECTipoff #GoLadyVols pic.twitter.com/KV3AYGTmdY
— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) October 18, 2022
Jackson and Jordan are both 6-2 with speed and length. Both also can be elite defenders on the wing, which gives Tennessee a formidable perimeter defense with plenty of size lurking in the paint. Harper has witnessed it in practice when the seniors square off on the court, too.
“When Rickea Jackson and Jordan Horston are going one-on-one and they’re guarding each other every day, it’s exciting,” Harper said. “They’re making each other better. They’re pushing each other. I think they’re both elite-level defenders. And the challenge of going up against that every day has to be pushing them and getting them better.
“I’m excited for both of them, and I love the way they have embraced that competition. They are teammates, and they know it. They’re pulling for each other. But I’m telling you, as soon as I put them on opposite teams, they’re going to be the first to step up and guard each other, as well. It’s fun as a coach.”
Powell brings three seasons of college experience as a point guard and adds to the options that Harper has at the point position, including Walker, Miles and Wynn. Horston also can readily slide between point and shooting guard if needed. With Key on the SEC Network set with her, Harper joked that she wouldn’t use Key at point, which made the 6-6 post laugh.
“She’s powerful,” Harper said about Powell, who transferred from Minnesota. “She’s also explosive. She can handle the ball. She can create for others. She’s got a lot of players she can throw the ball to, but she also can score.”
Broadcaster Carolyn Peck, a former post player at Vanderbilt, always has been a defender of the bigs, and she told Key to just look at her, so they could talk one-on-one and asked: “Is the ball coming inside enough?” Key answered in the affirmative. Most of the video can be watched HERE.
Harper’s celebration of Saturday’s win over Alabama in football, which went viral on social media, also was played during the SEC Network interview. Harper said she had just gotten her voice back.
Vol Nation right now ?? ?? @LadyVol_Hoops | @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/s53SDvkK5q
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 18, 2022
Tennessee beat the Crimson Tide, 52-49, for the first time in 15 years with a field goal as time expired, setting off a celebration for the ages in Neyland Stadium.
“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that before in my life,” Key said, “and I know I will remember it forever.”
With three Tennessee players on the media’s All-SEC First Team, a preseason national ranking of No. 5 and the transfer portal haul, the Lady Vols realize the expectations in 2022-23.
“As a coaching staff and as the head coach and our players, we all come to the University of Tennessee to win,” Harper said. “You have to have winning championships as part of your goal, or you can’t come. The expectations are extremely high each and every year. You have to have confidence that you’re going out and you’re being the best you that you can be. You have to be competitive. You have to want the challenge.
“I don’t think you can look at it as pressure. It’s easy to if you’re looking at it the wrong way. But when you’re just wanting to be your best and you’re wanting to go out every day and do all you can do that one day, it really takes that pressure off of you.
“If you start thinking about April when it’s October, if we start worrying about April right now, that is pressure. But if we’re just trying to be the best we can be today and then tomorrow and understand that it’s a process, I think that helps. And I’ll tell you what, speaking from experience, you can’t skip steps. You can’t. You just have to enjoy each and every day. You have to enjoy the journey together, the ups and downs, because that’s what builds championship teams.
“It’s the journey. I hope our team can appreciate each and every day because this is a special group.”
Harper’s interview is embedded below. To view all interviews with the SEC coaches, click HERE.
Coach Kellie Harper
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