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Tennessee Lady Vols: Team awards for 2021-2022 women’s basketball season

By Caleb Calhoun

From left, Tennessee guard/forward Rae Burrell (12), guard Jordan Horston (25), center Tamari Key (20), guard Jordan Walker (4), and forward/center Keyen Green (13) talk during a time in in the NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Kentucky Wildcats in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sunday, January 16, 2022.Kns Lady Hoops Kentucky
From left, Tennessee guard/forward Rae Burrell (12), guard Jordan Horston (25), center Tamari Key (20), guard Jordan Walker (4), and forward/center Keyen Green (13) talk during a time in in the NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Kentucky Wildcats in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sunday, January 16, 2022.Kns Lady Hoops Kentucky /
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Tennessee guard/forward Sara Puckett (1) celebrates during a time out as the Tennessee Lady Vols maintain a lead against Belmont Bruins during the NCAA basketball tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, March 21, 2022.Ladyvols Belmont
Tennessee guard/forward Sara Puckett (1) celebrates during a time out as the Tennessee Lady Vols maintain a lead against Belmont Bruins during the NCAA basketball tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, March 21, 2022.Ladyvols Belmont /

Freshman of the Year: Sara Puckett

By winning sixth woman of the year, Sara Puckett was naturally going to be the team’s freshman of the year, as no freshman started. She had competition to be the team’s three-point specialist with Jessie Rennie and another freshman in Kaiya Wynn. With Rae Burrell and Marta Suarez both out the first half of the year, one would have to step up.

Puckett was the one to step up for the Tennessee Lady Vols. By the time Burrell returned, she had fully developed as a solid scorer. We mentioned her numbers. It’s also worth noting that she hit the clutch three against the Belmont Bruins to secure UT’s Sweet 16 appearance.

Taking that into account, it’s pretty obvious that Puckett was the best freshman on this team. Kellie Harper’s 2021 class was one made up of four-stars, but Puckett was the best of the bunch, and she was able to live up to those expectations. Her future is bright.

Runner-up: Brooklynn Miles

Wynn did play in 30 games, and Karoline Striplin stepped up after Keyen Green went out. However, Brooklynn Miles was clearly the second best true freshman. Similar to Zakai Zeigler, she was the lowest rated player in the class who emerged as the backup point guard, and at 5’4″, she averaged over two and a half points, nearly three rebounds and over two assists on the year.