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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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Tennessee guard Jordan Horston (25) 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 Jordan Horston (25) 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 /

Returning starters

Jordan Horston

  • 6’2″
  • Senior
  • Columbus, Ohio

The go-to all-around star for the Tennessee Lady Vols, Jordan Horston was part of the injury bug that bit last year. After Rae Burrell got healthy, she got hurt, so one always had to shoulder a huge scoring load. Horston led the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game and started 23 games.

In addition to scoring, though, Horston averaged nearly nine and a half rebounds a game, leading the team in that too, along with ever so slightly under four assists a game and over one steal a game. She does it all, and fully healthy, she should be the team’s best player.

Jordan Walker

  • 5’8″
  • Senior (GR)
  • Muskegon, Mich.

Adding Jordan Walker from the Western Michigan Broncos was a big pickup for the Lady Vols two years ago, and she is back for that extra year of eligibility due to the NCAA’s COVID ruling. Walker has been the glue at point guard for UT in the starting lineup.

Last year, Walker averaged just under four assists, over one steal and over seven and a half points a game. While her stats aren’t through the roof, she does all the little things to keep everybody together, and as the most experienced player on the team, she will be crucial this year.

Tess Darby

  • 6’1″
  • Junior
  • Greenfield, Tenn.

Because Jordan Horston and Rae Burrell were almost never healthy together, Tess Darby ended up starting 30 of 32 games on the wing. She averaged only just over five points a game but shot 38.3 percent from three, truly emerging as a specialist to stretch the floor from the outside. This year, she figures to take on that role again for the Tennessee Lady Vols.