BB RECRUITING Class of 2025 Board

[MidTennFootball]

Unfortunately it puts them 1 over next season the 15 scholarships available with only 5 graduating this season. Surely someone will transfers out, because of playing time. The reality is only so many play (especially given Insell's history), but I feel VERY confident they won't lose production year-over-year, like we've seen the last 4 years returning all meaningful minutes every season (with the exception of Grabovskaia).

2025-26 is shaping up to be a solid group that will earn quality PT early in their careers. It will be underclassman heavy, so I wouldn't be surprised to dip into the transfer portal again in summer '25 and get some added experience to team up with Ta'Mia.

That was my first guess but I'm hoping for unselfish option where one of the local players gives up their scholarship to make it work, maybe MT can give her the equivalent of a scholarship in additional NIL money

There are a couple on the roster that i kept waiting all offseason for them to transfer and didn't. I think it speaks well to the culture MT has created that they want to stick around.

Assuming nobody in this class flips, really nice to have a class of this size locked a few months before the season even begins. If this is the kind of class that people remember if everything goes right

 

[Shayne_Pickering]

I think in this day and age you just have to naturally account for the fact that someone will probably transfer

 

[blue rai]

I think in this day and age you just have to naturally account for the fact that someone will probably transfer

You’re right plus you may very well know that your new recruit is better than the 6th person on your bench already. It’s a new era in college sports but not necessarily better.

 

[MTFAN61]

For the women's 2025 recruiting ratings I see there are plenty of top 25 player ratings, but very few team rankings. Would like to see how the Lady Raiders recruiting class shows nationally, especially with the addition of Dominguez.
Wish player or team rankings would expand beyond a top 25 listing. Like to see a top 50.
Very easy to place a team in the top 10 because they get one 5 star player.

 

[Shayne_Pickering]

For the women's 2025 recruiting ratings I see there are plenty of top 25 player ratings, but very few team rankings. Would like to see how the Lady Raiders recruiting class shows nationally, especially with the addition of Dominguez.
Wish player or team rankings would expand beyond a top 25 listing. Like to see a top 50.
Very easy to place a team in the top 10 because they get one 5 star player.

I wish there was an outlet that ranked wbb recruits like that. Even ESPN only does top 100

 

[jakeboldenbrp]

Lady Raiders target picks Michigan over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Louisville, and California

Off the Board:

• Ciara Byars, 6'2" CG from George Rogers Clark HS (Winchester, KY)
  • #3 in KY, #63 Nationally verbal commit to Michigan

 

[MTFAN61]

Side note for those interested. Jake has an interview with Joe Fisher in tomorrow's Blue Raider Podcast

 

[MTFAN61]

I see the early signing day for basketball is November 13th which is just around the corner, & regular signing date is April 16 - May 21 2025.
How many if any are we expecting to sign on the early date?

 

[jakeboldenbrp]

I see the early signing day for basketball is November 13th which is just around the corner, & regular signing date is April 16 - May 21 2025.
How many if any are we expecting to sign on the early date?

My expectation is all of them. I can’t confirm that, however.

 

[jakeboldenbrp]

Offers:

• Lauren Hurst, 6'3" PF from Cleveland HS (Cleveland, TN)
  • #1 in TN, #41 Nationally, 2024 (Volleyball) TN Gatorade Player of the Year
  • Most Recent Offers: Florida, Tennessee (re-offer), Clemson, North Carolina, NC State

Off the Board:

• Harmonie Ware, 5'9" SG from Bradley Central HS (Cleveland, TN)
  • #5 in TN, signed to Arkansas
• Tatianna Stovall, 6'1" SF from Bradley Central (Cleveland, TN)
  • #6 in TN, signed to Kennesaw State

Putting a bow on this signing class with some news earlier this week. The two Bradley Central standouts made late commitments but signed early were Harmonie Ware committing to Arkansas and Tatianna Stovall (2022 Class 3A State Tournament MVP) made a surprising commitment to Kennesaw State. Look forward to those conference matchups in the coming seasons. Only one still left out there is Lauren Hurst who has been a mystery this season with P4 offers rolling in, my instincts would say she'll sign with UTK given that was her last OV and it's not far from Cleveland. I wouldn't throw out her HC Poppie connection in Clemson, could be a steal for a rebuilding Clemson program.

Also some names that didn't sign this week (not yet anyways):

Jaidynn Askins (Jackson Southside HS, TN) verbal to Murray State
Ace Austin (Piedmont, AL) verbal to Alabama
Channah Gannon (Coffee County HS, TN) verbal to Southern Indiana

I'm sure we aren't pursuing any of these players, but I like to pin these names for future matchups. Fun storylines especially with the revolving transfer portal.

 

[jakeboldenbrp]

Off the Board:

• Jaidynn Askins, 6'0" SF from Jackson Southside HS (Jackson, TN)
  • #22 in TN, verbal commit to Murray State
• Channah Gannon, 6'3" C from Coffee County HS (Manchester, TN)
  • #19 in TN, verbal commit to Southern Indiana
• Lauren Hurst, 6'3" PF from Cleveland HS (Cleveland, TN)
  • #1 in TN, #42 Nationally, signed to Tennessee

As expected Hurst selects Tennessee over Clemson and NC State in her top 3. Look forward to next year's rematch with the Lady Vols in Murfreesboro.

Still monitoring Channah Gannon (6'3" C from Coffee County) and Jaidynn Askins (6'0" SF from Jackson Southside) as the only two that didn't sign during this early period.