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Tennessee Lady Vols 2018-2019 preview by position: Back court outlook

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Tennessee Volunteers fans hold up a cardboard photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt during the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Connecticut 60-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Tennessee Volunteers fans hold up a cardboard photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt during the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Connecticut 60-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

Projected Backups

Zaay Green; Freshman; 6’0″; Duncanville, Texas

The Tennessee Lady Vols have another Top 5 recruiting class, but Zaay Green is the main star of the group. She is the only one that truly comes with the same hype as the top three players on Holly Warlick’s 2017 recruiting class that made it to No. 1. And as another guard, she’s going to be grooming to become a starter in a year this season.

Again, the departure of Anastasia Hayes puts a lot of pressure on Green to be able to immediately step in and fill a post. She’s may have to be the backup point guard and the player to provide the scoring off the bench from the back court, depending on how things shake out. And for the future, that’s what she’ll want to do anyway, because she’s becoming a starter once Meme Jackson leaves.

Jazmine Massengill; Freshman; 6’0″; Chattanooga, Tenn.

Jazmine Massengill is likely to be the true point guard to back up Evina Westbrook this year, as that’s what she was recruited as. She’ll join Zaay Green to make up the back court combination off the bench.

Although she didn’t have the exact same level of recruiting hype that Green had, she wasn’t far behind. A Top 10 player at her position, Massengill should be able to develop well this season, and she has the raw talent to provide necessary depth off the bench. This is something that Warlick did not have last year, so it’s great for the Tennessee Lady Vols going forward.

Rae Burrell; Freshman; 6’1″; Las Vegas, Nev.

Unless she shocks the world, Rae Burrell will probably see the least amount of minutes among the newcomers in the back court. It’s due to a combination of things, though. She was recruited as a wing player given her size, so expect her to back up Rennia Davis. As arguably the best player on this year’s team, you can expect Davis to see tons of minutes.

Burrell was also not as highly touted as the other players. However, she was still a five-star, so the talent is there. And if she can develop, this team can have a way deeper rotation that allows it to go through the gauntlet of an SEC schedule. So there’s a lot riding on what Burrell can do, and she can still be a factor.