Tennessee Vols players in the NBA Draft and baseball coach Tony Vitello’s contract extension lead our Volunteers news for Thursday, June 20, 2019.
We’re in the final third of the month of June, and the Tennessee Vols are still shocking the world by leading the headlines with men’s basketball. Sorry, but that just doesn’t happen usually when it’s this time of year.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with the upcoming NBA Draft. UT is expected to have multiple players taken, something that hans’t happened for them in a while and something that is extremely rare.
However, a new baseball contract in the works is also part of the big news. Women’s soccer’s new recruiting class and an interview with a women’s basketball assistant coach are also in the news. But let’s start with the draft.
NBA Draft expected to included multiple Vols – Marshall Hughes, WATE
The Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team is expected to have at least two players, Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, taken in the first round of the NBA Draft. They could potentially have three with Jordan Bone possibly landing somewhere.
"It’s one of those years where we already know how it’s going to start, not just with the first pick but the first three. Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and R.J. Barrett are widely expected to be selected with the first three picks by New Orleans, Memphis and the New York Knicks respectively."
Baseball extends Tony Vitello’s contract – Associated Press
Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello’s contract has been extended through 2024 after guiding the program to 40 wins and its first NCAA Tournament since 2005 in just his second year on the job. Athletic director Phillip Fulmer announced the extension.
"Fulmer says impressive doesn’t begin to describe what Vitello has done with the baseball program in just two seasons. Tennessee started this season with its best start in program history with 15 consecutive wins. Through Vitello’s first two seasons, Tennessee has won 16 games against ranked opponents."
Women’s basketball assistant speaks on new role – Maria M. Cornelius, GoVols247
A one-on-one interview with Tennessee Lady Vols assistant Jennifer Sullivan was published Wednesday about her new job coaching under head coach Kellie Harper. Sullivan, who played for the Memphis Tigers in the early 2000s, talked about becoming a Lady Vol and whether or not it’s hit her yet. Here’s a bit of what she said on the topic.
"“Like a lot of young ladies and little girls, I wanted to be here as a Lady Vol so bad. I am almost embarrassed to say how old I was before I accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to play here. I grew up like a lot of people just enamored with the program – 100 percent all of it was amazing to me and was at the time.”"
Women’s soccer welcomes new recruits – UTSports
Tennessee Lady Vols soccer coach Brian Pensky announced the 15 new signees for the program on Wednesday. Those signees include 13 true freshman and two all-conference transfers.
"In a recruiting ranking recently released by TopDrawerSoccer.com, Tennessee’s 2019 signing class was rated No. 6 in the country and first in the SEC. The class features several high school All-Americans, state champions and all-state performers, as well as players with experience on the international youth circuit."