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Tennessee Lady Vols’ five biggest preseason storylines for 2021-2022

By Caleb Calhoun

From left, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball guard Brooklynn Miles (0), guard/forward Sara Puckett (1), guard Jordan Walker (4), and forward Alexus Dye (2) during practice in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.Kns Wbball Practice
From left, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball guard Brooklynn Miles (0), guard/forward Sara Puckett (1), guard Jordan Walker (4), and forward Alexus Dye (2) during practice in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.Kns Wbball Practice /
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Tennessee’s Lady Vols forward Karoline Striplin (11) during basketball practice in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.Kns Wbball Practice
Tennessee’s Lady Vols forward Karoline Striplin (11) during basketball practice in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.Kns Wbball Practice /

4. Which freshmen will work their way into the rotation?

It’s a little unique how the Tennessee Lady Vols’ 2021 recruiting class ended up. Kellie Harper’s second class includes three top 100 players, more than most schools, but nobody ranked in the top 40. Harper focused on an overall solid collection of players rather than somebody who could come in and make an immediate impact.

That resulted in the No. 15 ranked class nationally. Given the talent she has coming back, the return to health of one key player and the addition of another elite transfer, it makes sense that she would go that route for this year. However, with two rotational players gone, you have to think one of them can work their way into the rotation.

Forwards Sara Puckett and forward Karoline Striplin are the two best-positioned players to see the court. They were the two highest-rated recruits this offseason. Both were four-star recruits. Guard Kaia Wynn is also a four-star.

Brooklynn Miles is the lowest-rated recruit, a three-star, but she is also the only true point guard, so she could also see actin by nature of the position. None of these players are likely to start this year, but one or two will see the rotation. Who those players are and how they mesh with the rest of the team are things to watch out for.