Stricklen, of Morrilton, Ark., already had been scheduled to be elevated to No. 9 in HoopGurlz rankings that will be re-released on Monday morning. She joins Amber Gray of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Alicia Manning of Woodstock, Ga., as players in HoopGurlz.com's new top 10 for 2008 who have committed to the Volunteers.

Shekinna Stricklen

The 6-foot-2 Stricklen committed to Tennessee at the end of its elite camp this weekend, according to coaches and other players present.

Stricklen had a strong showing at the camp, according to the coaches, and was named top offensive performer by the Tennessee staff. She was coming off a spectacular performance at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. The smooth but explosive Stricklen was rated as the No. 2 player at the Youth Development Festival by HoopGurlz.com.

Tennessee loaded up with a 2007 signing class that was ranked No. 1 by HoopGurlz. That class included guard Angie Bjorklund, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class; forward Vicki Baugh, No. 5; post Kelley Cain, No. 12, and guard Sidney Smallbone, No. 38.

Stricklen, Gray and Manning all are classified by HoopGurlz as wing prospects, but each has a distinctive style that could make them compatible on the floor. Stricklen is probably the best defender of three and has an extremely smooth jump shot, from liftoff to delivery. Gray, who is 6-1, is a physical inside scorer who also can be explosive from the perimeter. Also 6-1, Manning has one of the best jump shots in the country off the bounce and, like Bray and Stricklen, is explosive off the floor.

Though she did not demonstrate her usually strong marksmanship from long range, Stricklen handled the ball well, rebounded strongly, was disruptive on defense and showed a nose for the ball during the Youth Development Festival, which assembled 35 of the top rising juniors and seniors in the country. She also had considered Stricklen recently told HoopGurlz.com that she also had considered Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M.

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