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Ranking all 10 returning Tennessee Lady Vols for 2022-2023

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 21, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper talks to guard Jordan Horston (25) during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Kellie Harper talks to guard Jordan Horston (25) during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee center Tamari Key (20) shoots in warmups during the first round NCAA Division I WomenÕs Basketball Championship game matchup between No. 4 Tennessee and No. 13 Buffalo at Thompson-Boiling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn on Saturday, March 19, 2022.Tennesseevsbuffalo 0220
Tennessee center Tamari Key (20) shoots in warmups during the first round NCAA Division I WomenÕs Basketball Championship game matchup between No. 4 Tennessee and No. 13 Buffalo at Thompson-Boiling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn on Saturday, March 19, 2022.Tennesseevsbuffalo 0220 /

6’6″

Nobody’s debating Tamari Key’s value. A five-star as part of Kellie Harper’s first recruiting class out of North Carolina in 2019, Key has lived up to her hype. She’s now the best defensive post player in the SEC and probably the best defensive post player in the history of the Tennessee Lady Vols, as she already has the career record for blocks.

The graduate of Cary High School in Wake County, N.C., averaged an insane three and a half blocks per game last year. She also finally became a scoring threat in the post, averaging 10.5 points per game, and she grabbed over eight rebounds a game.

Although her efficiency numbers slightly dipped from the field and the free throw line, they stayed in the mid-50s and low 60s respectively. Given how much her usage increased, that’s a big deal, and if she can take that up a notch entering her senior year, she could be unstoppable.

Key was easily the best player who actually played the whole season last year. With Alexus Dye and Keyen Green gone, there would seem to be even more pressure on her in the post, but the additions of transfers Jasmine Franklin, Rickea Jackson and Jillian Hollingshead should help take a lot of that off.