Tennessee Vols morning report: Grant Williams, Kellie Harper, spring ball
Tennessee Vols football practice, Grant Williams NBA news and Kellie Harper being hired all lead our Volunteers news for Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
The end of college basketball season and the middle of April usually comes with very little news. However, it’s been a crazy time period for the Tennessee Vols, and that continues today with all the major sports getting coverage.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with more men’s basketball news, specifically related to Grant Williams. The women’s basketball program making a coaching hire official also comes into play. We then have multiple stories on spring football practice and another on Rick Barnes.
Oh, and we also have a baseball and women’s golf recap to bring you. Simply put, it’s a huge Wednesday in Knoxville with multiple football and men’s basketball stories along with a major Lady Vols story. And despite football being in the news, basketball still takes the lead.
Grant Williams to test NBA Draft – Peter Simeone, WVLT
Tennessee Vols basketball junior forward Grant Williams, a two-time All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year who has also been the team’s leader in scoring the past two years, announced on Tuesday that he would test the NBA Draft waters. However, he could still return to Rocky Top.
"The NBA Draft is set for June 20th, Williams can go through the draft process and withdraw from the draft before May 29th while still retaining his last year of eligibility at Tennessee. Wiliams said he will sign an agent to help him make the most informed decision.Williams follows Vols point guard Jordan Bone into the NBA Draft process, Bone announced his decision last week. Williams emphasized, however, Bone’s choice will not affect his."
Lady Vols make Kellie Harper hire official – UTSports
The Tennessee Lady Vols program officially announced the hire of former player Kellie Harper as their new women’s basketball head coach. Harper played for Pat Summitt in the 1990s and was the point guard of the program that won three straight national championships.
"Harper becomes only the third Lady Vol head coach in the NCAA era of women’s basketball. She will take the reins at Tennessee after six years of leading the Missouri State Lady Bears, capped by this season’s impressive march to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and magical run to the NCAA Sweet 16."
Tennessee football continues spring practice – Patrick Brown, GoVols247
The Tennessee Vols football team held their 13th spring practice Tuesday. Jeremy Pruitt met with the media before practice began. He specifically mentioned that Carlin Fils-Aime is now out for the spring because of a procedure he needed on his leg but will be back in July. Here’s a bit of what he said about the final week of spring ball.
"“We’ve got to continue to work hard to be a smart, a tough and a fundamentally-sound football team, and today’s another opportunity. We’ll see where we go.”"
Tee Martin, Derrick Ansley meet with media – WNML.com
Tennessee football wide receivers coach Tee Martin and defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley both met with the media Tuesday. Here’s a bit of what each of them said.
"Martin: “I’ll start with the wide receiving group, I was really impressed. It’s a group of four seniors that have played a lot of football. The first thing I look for is toughness and the will to win.”Ansley: “I think we have a lot of talent. We are built back-end forward. We have some seniors up front that have played a lot of ball.”"
Rick Barnes talks about rejecting UCLA – Chris Low, ESPN.com
Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes talked on Tuesday about his decision to reject the UCLA Bruins’ offer to stay with the Vols. After expressing his confidence that UT could reach another level, here’s what he said about entertaining the UCLA offer.
"“It had nothing to do with Tennessee. I’ve been here for four years and could never, ever say enough about the way this university, this state and the Vol Nation has treated me. It was simply the lure of UCLA basketball. I remember all those great teams and great players going back to Lucius Allen, Tommy Curtis, Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton, and I had a chance to spend quality time with Coach Wooden in his later years when I was able to go by and meet with him at his condo and go to lunch with him.”"
Tennessee baseball defeats Lipscomb – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com
The Tennessee Vols baseball team defeated the Lipscomb Bisons Tuesday in Knoxville. With the win, they moved to 9-1 in midweek games.
"In the bottom half of the first, the Vols accounted for three home runs, all of which came from back-to-back-to-back hitters, the first time such a sequence has occurred since the 1996 season against ETSU. Tennessee (24-10) would go on to hit four more in the game, matching a program record of home runs in a single game, notching seven for the first time since 1980 in their 11-2 midweek win over Lipscomb (15-16)."
Women’s golf finishes No. 7 at Clemson Invitational – UT Daily Beacon
The Tennessee Lady Vols golf team came in seventh place at the Clemson Invitational. They finished behind four SEC teams, including the Vanderbilt Commodores, Auburn Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers.
"The Lady Vols were in the midst of a 6-under-par round before play was suspended indefinitely. Junior Micheala Williams held a three-stroke lead in the hunt for the individual title."