Who Has the Top 2008 Class?

In all of this discussion, which I realize is old, Nov. 2007, a factor is left out -- the coach -- what is done with the talent recruited. It was interesting seeing two teams play the same team in the 2008 Final Four -- both playing Stanford. I just about have a new feeling for the term "out coached" when you compare the two games. I'm thinking not just about game/play calling, but the training of that talent to be good in their positions, including defensive play styless. It seems like Pat Summitt clearly demonstrated a difference in both, game playing and developing the players to do what was needed. There are a number of behind-the-scene players on that UT championship team that made a difference, not just the No. 1 recruiter, Candace Parker. 2008-2009 and 2008-2010 seasons will be interesting regarding best class, best recruit, and the coach involved.

I was just referrring to the talent that LSU has coming in. I'd like to see the VOLS go undefeated in the conference and win the SEC championship in the same year.

Mungie314, When LSU or some other team besides Tennessee bring home a National Championship for the SEC, then we can talk about Supremacy and SEC Teams pushing Tennessee to their limits. No other SEC team has won a championship yet.

TENN need not worry about UCONN or Rutgers so much. Van has put together a great class coming in and they will push TENN to the limit for top of the hill in the SEC.

Yes, unfortunately, Tina Charles was the National Freshman of the Year last year, but she was a non-factor most of the season. Epiphanny Prince should've walked away with that honor. She's the real deal!! And Vols_fan-DJ is absolutely right - UCONN NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT TENNESSEE... They need to focus on RUTGERS! Although Rutgers lost to Standford on Sunday, they'll be a much stronger and more focused team from here on out - especially when they get into conference play. And TENNESSEE will be ready for their showdown w/ Rutgers on Monday, Feb. 11 (during ESPN2's "Big Monday")... And let's not forget, the game is in KNOXVILLE - the mecca of women's college basketball!!!!!!
SWITCHING GEARS... How about the "CP3 Jamboree" Thursday evening between Candace Parker and Courtney Paris (both sportin' #3 jerseys for their respective clubs)? The only reason Courtney Paris is a "great rebounder" is because she's a lousy shooter down in the paint. She's basically rebounding her misses (2, 3 or even 4 times), and that's what makes her sound like the rebounding machine she's been tabbed. Yes, Candace Parker will have her hands full, but the Lady Vols will triumph in the end! Let's not forget Nicky Anosike... This is her senior season, and she'd love nothing short of another National Championship (the Vols' 8th)... Go Lady Vols!!

Tina Charles was the College Freshmen of the Year last year and you think she hasn't accomplished anything. Candace has a stronger supporting class surrounding her then Tina has at UConn, let's see what happens this year now that UConn team is similar in strength to Tenn. However Tenn is still has size on UConn and possibly better outside shooting.

In regards to a UConn player attending Tenn, that's not accurate. A college student who did attend UConn as a student did transfer to Tenn and become a walk on at Tenn. This student was never a walk-on or member of UConn's womens basketball team.

r

Waltsblueconn and rwsinsalem, ... both of you flying the Rutgers flag as having a better recruiting class than Tennessee. You all should be more worried that Rutgers don't start beating up on UConn regularly in the Big East. UConn and Rutgers both play in the Big East, Tennessee doesn't. And because Tennessee and UConn will no longer meet in the regular season, and is not guaranteed to meet in the NCAA tournament, all this comparison between Uconn and Tennessee will become moot and will soon die down. Remember, C. Vivian Stringer and Rutgers has got the defense, all they have always needed with the offense. With this year's recruiting class, they've got the offense. I can't wait to see Elena and April go head to head. Brooklyn Pope will be a match for Maya Moore. I can go on and on. All this talk about UConn getting the #1 rated player for pass three years, unless the #1 player actually do something, she's only one player. Tina Charles hasn't done anything yet. And all that talk about how Tina Charles can dunk. Tell her to show us in a game the way Candace has. And by the way, three years, is how long it's been since UConn has even been to final four. Moreover, Tennessee is not the only program that has lost players over the years. Ask Geno where Liz Sherwood is (at Vanderbilt). One of his players even transferred to Tennessee, but never got any playing time. We all know that Charde Houston asked for a transfer after her Sophmore year, and we also know of Geno and Diana Taurasi's (his star) rocky relationship. UConn has in the past, and is as prone as Tennessee to lose players. Competition for playing time at elite programs is a reality, and players know that when they sign with an elite program. It's survival of the fittest. No program is immuned to losing players. If they are the best, they will play. But such is life, there are no guarantees that things will work out. That's why Sade Wiley-Gatewood is now a senior at Maryland averaging 6 points a game and warming the bench. She was one of the most over-rated players coming out of high school, and found that out when she got to college. She tried to hurt the Tennessee Program by leaving in the middle of the year, but look at where it got her. The Tennessee program wasn't why she wasn't prospering, she just not that good! We don't miss players like that at Tennessee.

Everybody makes it seem like Tenn has no guards. Our forwards handle the ball well enough and with their height we'll be able to over the top of 99.9% of all presses. Even Baugh is very fast with a decent enough handle.

It's been quite interesting reading all these biased and so-called, "non-biased" comments, so I won't go there - except to say that I am a HUGE TENNESSEE FAN!! And even though, it's apparent that TENNESSEE has, once again, nabbed some of the nation's best ballers, all the haters have to step up and try and do their damage! Remember, don't hate the player (Tennessee), hate the game (women's college basketball recruiting). And until Tina Charles and Maya Moore can do somthin', they're still the ones looking in from the outside. Hopefully, they won't be disappointments like Charde Houston was! Remember, it's all about CANDACE PARKER and the rest of the Lady Vols!! So, play on, play on...and GO LADY VOLS... And yes, I do believe that Glory Johnson will be the next BIG TIME player @ UT...

Well uconn women got the number 1 overall recuit for a 3rd straight year and not tennessee.Uconn women got 3 top 10 recruits and rutgers loaded up so i think they both rank ahead of tennessee.Also like elena ddonne said geno recuits pieces of the puzzle and doesnt try to just get everyone he can get to say yes"Like ut lady vols just try to get anyone who can say yes.And since the lady vols have 6 players and only 5 can play at a time they wont all get playing time at tennessee anyways so it doesnt matter!Uconns 1 and rutgers is 2 and lsu 3 and tennsee 4 in this years recruiting.Thanks.have a great day all!Go uconn!Go Big east!

Rwdinsalem, your assessment of who has the #1 recruiting class is completely bias because you are a "die hard UCONN fan", and you know it! Ranking Tennesse 4th - you've done lost your mind. You are completely in denial. All this discussion about balance is garbage. When you combine last year's class with the 2008 class, Tennessee has all the balance they need. Big, athletic, versatile, players that can play inside and out and can handle the ball like a guard. And talking about guards, wait until Tennessee adds Kamiko Williams in 2009 from Clarksville, TN. She is high scoring combo guard that can slash to the basket and shoot. She's a lefty and is hard to guard. She will be followed in 2010 by Lauren Avant from Memphis. I don't even need to say anything else about Lauren, wait and you'll see!

First, I'm a die hard UCONN fan and have been for many, many years. I like the way Rutgers has put together a needs based recruiting class. Athletic ability alone does not make for a great recruiting class, so Tenn is in the 4th position in my rankings. So it is Rutgers, UCONN, LSU and Tenn in that order.

Anybody saying the Lady Vol team is unbalanced just can't see the facts.

Guards
Angie Bjorklund #1 ranked guard 6’ STARTER
Sydney Smallbone #20 ranked guard 5’10 FIRST OFF
Brianna Bass unranked guard 5’4
Cait McMahan guard 5’4 #3ranked guard STARTER

Wings
Alicia Manning #5 ranked wing 6’1 can play the 2
Shekinna Stricklen #3 ranked wing 6’2 can play inside
Amber Gray #2 ranked wing 6’1 can play inside
Forward/Post/Center
Glory Johnson #1 ranked forward 6’3
Vicki Baugh #3 ranked forward 6’5
Alyssia Brewer #4 ranked forward 6’3
Kelly Cain #1 ranked center 6’6
May be available:
Alex Fuller forward Senior 6’3 #3 ranked forward
Candace Parker Senior 6’4 #1 ranked g/f/p

Glory, Amber, Vicki, Alyssia, and Shekinna can all play inside or outside
5 incredibly versatile athletes with ball handling skills and height
Great distribution of talent - possibly the most ever assembled on one single team

Because of the balance they recruit, a PG,SG,WF,and a Post. they have the #1,10,11 and 31st player in the top 100. They have the purest shooter in Elena, probably the smartest point in Doty, the do everything SG in Hayes and the #5 post in the country in Buck. Like Waltsblue wrote Tenn. has an impressive recruit but they're mostly forwards. I see a few of those players transferring because lack of playing time. LSU & Rutgers also have a very balanced recruit, but not as high as UCONN. #1 UCONN, #2 L.S.U., #3 Rutgers and no disrespect to the LADYVOLS but I believe this year they're #4. GOOD LUCK HUSKIES!!!!!!!! Bring the Championship TROPHY home for the 6th time.

Everyone is talking about UCONN & TENN's recruiting classes which are both very impressive. Rutgers has something to talk about as well, but we should give great consideration to LSU's sensational 6, although they are not ranked very high it's still impressive. Here's to a great year. GO UCONN!!!!!!!!

It's Tennessee - maybe not the most balanced class, but an incredible wealth of talent and you can be sure that Summitt will find a way to utilize it to maximum effectiveness.