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Tennessee Lady Vols’ 2022-23 preview: Backcourt

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard/forward Tess Darby (21) with the 3-point shot 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
Tennessee guard/forward Tess Darby (21) with the 3-point shot 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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Rae Burrell is gone. The Tennessee Lady Vols will have to replace their best scorer over the past two years. Luckily for them, they spent the first half of last year learning to play without her while Burrell developed from an injury, and they also return other players to health who weren’t playing by the time Burrell was out there.

With this one departure and all the additions she added in the post, Kellie Harper didn’t have much room to add players at guard. She returns a ton of talent. However, that doesn’t mean the rotation is clear, and she did add two new players, one via transfer and one a walk-on freshman.

As we get set to preview the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team at guard, we’ll separate things out by returning starters, returning backups, biggest questions and a final take. However, let’s start things off for the women’s basketball program by taking a look at the few newcomers they do have on the team.

Kellie Harper and the Tennessee Lady Vols have a lot of talent back at guard. Here’s a look at the Volunteers’ backcourt.

Tennessee guard Edie Darby (12) during practice after the Lady Vols’ media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp
Tennessee guard Edie Darby (12) during practice after the Lady Vols’ media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp /

Transfers

Jasmine Powell (Minnesota Golden Gophers)

  • 5’6″
  • Senior
  • Detroit, Mich.

Of the four transfers the Lady Vols added this offseason, Jasmine Powell is the one pure backcourt player to join the team. Powell was the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ starting point guard the past three years and was one of the best all-around players in the Big Ten. She was All-Big Ten in her last full season, 2020-2021.

Last year, Powell only played 19 games, as she battled an ankle injury. However, the graduate of Detroit County Day School in Michigan has averaged 12.8 points per game and nearly four and a half assists per game, one and a half steals per game and four rebounds per game. Fully healthy, she could be a huge weapon in the backcourt.

Freshmen

Edie Darby

  • 5’7″
  • Greenfield, Tenn.
  • Greenfield High School

A walk-on and the sister of current Tennessee Lady Vols wing Tess Darby, Edie Darby is another three-point shooting specialist from within the state to join the program. She could be a surprisingly effective player in the backcourt in the future, but she probably won’t see the court much this year.