Tennessee Vols morning report: Basketball graduate transfers officially welcomed
A graduate transfer signing with the Tennessee Vols men’s and women’s basketball programs each headlines our Volunteers news for Thursday, April 16, 2020.
We’re almost through another week of quarantine, and the most interesting bit of news as it related to Tennessee Vols fans was Vice President Mike Pence speaking with college football commissioners Wednesday about bringing the sport back. However, no real developments have been confirmed from that call yet.
As a result, our morning update on Rocky Top focuses more on things specifically related to UT. The arrival of a pair of graduate transfers, one in men’s basketball and one in women’s basketball, are among the main stories.
After that, we cover a couple of bits of news surrounding former Lady Vols, including a recent transfer. Then there is some news surrounding the Vol Network as well, and we have a couple of honors to cover. So this is a heavy day of coverage in general. We’ll actually get started with the transfers signing.
Men’s basketball signs E.J. Anosike – Grant Ramey, GoVols247
Sacred Heart graduate transfer forward E.J. Anosike officially signed with the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball program Wednesday. Anosike adds another element to the postgame for Rick Barnes, joining John Fulkerson, Olivier Nkamhoua, Uros Plavsic, Drew Pember, and assuming he stays, the player he is most like, Yves Pons.
"A 6-foot-6, 245-pound forward, Anosike averaged 15.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game at Sacred Heart last season, starting all 33 games while averaging 33.2 minutes per game. He was selected First Team All-Northeast Conference in March. He’s the younger brother of former Lady Vols forward Nicky Anosike."
Keyen Green signs with Lady Vols – Kenny Hawkins, WJHL
Graduate transfer forward Keyen Green officially signed with the Tennessee women’s basketball program Wednesday. She was a major addition after the program lost two elite guards, Zaay Green and Jazmine Massengill, to transfer this past year.
"Green, a 6-foot-1 forward/center, comes to Rocky Top from Liberty University, where she has spent the past four seasons, redshirting in 2018-19 due to an ankle injury. She graduated in May 2019 with a degree in finance and has been working on a master’s degree in business administration. She will have one season of eligibility remaining."
Jazmine Massengill transfers to Kentucky – UKAthletics
In a major blow to Kellie Harper’s program, star guard Jazmine Massengill confirmed her transfer destination Wednesday. She will be joining the Kentucky Wildcats. This comes a year after Evina Westbrook transferred from UT to the UConn Huskies.
"The 6-foot guard averaged 6.5 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and 4.1 assists per game last season, hitting 40 percent from the field and tripled her output from long range after hitting only a handful of 3s as a freshman. Massengill finished second on the team with 128 assists while adding 23 blocks and 27 steals."
Nicky Anosike becomes high school coach – Gregory Raucoules, WATE.
On the day her brother signed with Tennessee basketball as a graduate transfer forward, former Lady Vol Nicky Anosike was confirmed as a high school coach. Anosike will take over the girls’ basketball team at Anderson County High School in Clinton, Tenn., which is about 20 miles northwest of Knoxville.
"Lady Vols fans will remember Nicky Anosike as a two-time national champion with the Lady Vols from 2004-08. She was twice named to the NCAA All-Final Four Team and was drafted by the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx in 2008."
Vol Network to air classic games – UTSports
Beginning today and lasting through Saturday, different affiliates of the Tennessee Vols radio network will be airing classic games. “Vol Network Classics” will debut by airing UT’s national championship game against the Florida State Seminoles to close out the 1998 season.
"The series is planned for a 10-week run this spring. Other planned football broadcasts include, as a sample, the 1986 Sugar Bowl vs. Miami, 1991’s “Miracle at South Bend” and the 2001 victory at Florida. Some of the basketball selections include Tennessee’s first game vs. Kentucky at Rupp Arena in 1977, the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup vs. Memphis in 2008 and the 2019 SEC Tournament semifinal classic against Kentucky."
Riley Lovingood joins NFF Hampshire Honor Society – Football Foundation
After spending his last four years as the long-snapper for the Tennessee Vols football program, Riley Lovingood was named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society Wednesday. He joins 12 other Vols to earn that honor since 2007.
"Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have:Completed their final year of playing eligibility in 2019; o Graduated players, who have remaining eligibility but will not return to collegiate play (e.g. declared for NFL Draft or retired from football), may also be nominated.Achieved a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; andMet all NCAA- or NAIA-mandated progress toward degree requirements.Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2019 season"
Ariadna Riley named to SEC Community Service team – SECSports.com
Senior Ariadna Riley out of Macon, Ga. was named as the Tennessee Lady Vols representative on the SEC Women’s Tennis Community Service team. She has logged over 150 hours of community service during her time on Rocky Top.
"Riley spent the bulk of her community service time her senior year with the Lost Sheep Ministry, helping to feed the homeless. 14.5 community service hours this academic year have been recorded with the Lost Sheep Ministry. She also served as an SAAC Representative. Riley was also a VOLeader during the 2017-18 year. As a VOLeader, Riley traveled to Ecuador on a 10-day cultural exchange that provided leadership opportunities focused on community development and social change through sport."