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Tennessee Vols morning report: Jaden Springer, baseball rise

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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We are almost out of March and entering the first full month in which the Tennessee Vols haven’t had a football or basketball game since August. This time, though, there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to COVID, so UT fans may actually have a spring and summer to enjoy.

Anyway, our morning update on Rocky Top involves lots of coverage of spring’s major sport, baseball. Big Orange Country is ending longtime droughts this year on that front, and we have more of those to cover. Softball has news for us to cover as well.

Beyond the diamond, we do have a men’s basketball story involving one major player leaving for the pros, which we’ll get to, and we have administrative news to cover. So there is plenty of news despite no men’s and women’s basketball games. Let’s go ahead and dive in.

Jaden Springer declares for NBA Draft – Grant Ramey, GoVols247

After one year on Rocky Top, Tennessee Vols men’s basketball guard Jaden Springer revealed on Twitter Monday that he is signing with an agent and declaring for the NBA Draft. Springer penned a letter to Rocky Top with nothing but positive things to say about UT.

"Tobias Harris is the only one-and-done prospect to come out of Tennessee.…Springer ranks fourth on the list of all-time highest-ranked signees at Tennessee during the internet recruiting rankings era, trailing only Harris, Scotty Hopson and Kennedy Chandler."

Baseball on a roll ahead of midweek game – Ryan Schumpert, VolQuest.com

Coming off a sweep over the LSU Tigers, the Tennessee Vols baseball team jumped up to No. 6 in the USA TODAY Baseball Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the D1Baseball Top 25. That is their first top 10 ranking in the D1Baseball Top 25 since 2006. With a 21-4 record and 5-1 SEC record, UT will host the Western Carolina Catamounts Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

"Even with the series sweep over LSU, Tennessee was far from perfect, especially at the plate where the team hit just .211 on the weekend.The Vols did have 19 walks to pull their on-base percentage to a respectable .364 but that’s a number Tennessee needs to go up and one that you expect would."

Sean Hunley earns SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week – SECSports.com

Thanks to his performances in all three games this past weekend as Tennessee baseball swept the LSU Tigers, senior Sean Hunley earned SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors, sharing it with Jack Leiter of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Hunley allowed just one hit in all three appearances.

"After earning two wins over the weekend, Hunley is now tied for the team lead with four victories this season, sporting a perfect 4-0 record. Hunley has not allowed an earned run in his last five appearances, a span of 10.1 innings pitched."

Softball wins both games in doubleheader – Andrew Peters, UT Daily Beacon

In a Monday doubleheader with the Furman Paladins, the No. 21 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols softball team improved to 25-5 on the year, winning both games. They won the first game 11-4 and the second game 7-2.

"The Lady Vols will continue SEC play this weekend with a series against Kentucky. The three-game series will begin Friday night at 5 p.m. ET at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium."

Two new administrators announced – UTSports

As Danny White continues to settle into his role as the Tennessee Vols new athletic director just two months into the job, he has named two new people to senior leadership positions. Alicia Longworth and Brady Hart were named Senior Associate Athletic Directors Monday.

"Longworth will oversee all aspects of external relations. Hart will manage the Tennessee Fund and its strategic pursuit of transformational gifts for Tennessee Athletics. Both are expected to begin work on Rocky Top next month."

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