Kim Caldwell’s Lady Vols basketball transfer portal tracker: who’s in and who’s out
The Lady Vols basketball team has been using the transfer portal since Kim Caldwell became head coach.
Here is a look at Tennessee’s roster on the transfer portal, including both new and returning players for the Lady Vols.
On April 21, Alyssa Latham made her intention to play Lady Vols basketball public on social media. Latham is the first player to sign with Tennessee following the hiring of Kim Caldwell.
During her rookie season, Latham averaged 27.6 minutes per game while scoring 8.6 points and pulling down 7.0 rebounds per game for Syracuse.
The 6-foot-2 forward played 40 minutes in a Syracuse victory and finished with a career-high 23 points against Alabama in November.
For her accomplishments last season, Latham was chosen to the ACC All-Freshman team, becoming the first player from Syracuse to do so since Kamilla Cardoso. During a season in which she started 26 out of 32 games, she blocked 42 shots.
The native of Glenwood, Illinois, participated in two NCAA Tournament games the previous year. She led the Orange against Arizona in the opening round with 10 points and five rebounds. Latham finished the second round of the Syracuse University tournament with six points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
On April 24, Miami transfer Lazaria Spearman posted a social media message announcing her joining the Lady Vols basketball team.
Over the last two seasons, Spearman was a member of the Hurricanes, starting ten games and playing in 60. Spearman averaged 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game throughout her career. In her sophomore year, she surpassed her previous high, averaging 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
In three NCAA Tournament games during her rookie year, the 6-foot-4 entering junior averaged 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds. During her stay, she was a part of Miami’s march to the Elite Eight, which included an upset over Indiana, the top seed.
Miami was 19-12 overall and 8-10 in the ACC last year. Virginia Tech defeated them in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. In Miami’s victory over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament, Spearman scored 12 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and then scored eight points in the defeat to the Hokies.
Spearman led Miami to victories over Alabama State and Clemson with a season-high 14 points. With ten rebounds in the victory versus Alabama State, she also recorded a double. Spearman played 20 minutes or more 17 times and scored in double figures eight times.
On May 5, Samara Spencer—who had attended Arkansas for three years—committed to the Lady Vols. With an average of 13.9 points per game, the incoming senior was Arkansas’ second-leading scorer the previous campaign.
During her junior season, Spencer played 33 games for the Razorbacks, starting every one of them. She averaged 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in addition to her scoring. She averaged 1.2 3-pointers per game, shooting 26% from 3-point range and 33.6% from the field.
Both teams the 5-foot-7 guard played for in the NCAA Tournament lost in the opening round.
After making the decision to use the transfer portal, Karoline Striplin will be moving for her last season of eligibility. She officially announced her departure from Lady Vols basketball via a social media statement.
“It has been a true blessing for me to be at Tennessee,” Striplan stated. “Thank you, Coach Kellie, for allowing me to compete at the highest level of collegiate basketball. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the instructors, coaches, managers, assistants, and supporters who have helped me over the past three years.”
During the previous season, Striplin averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while playing 14.4 minutes per game. Striplin started 11 games in her junior season after making 28 starts in her sophomore year. She made 49.1% of her field goals.