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Emily Saunders works to develop offensive production with Lady Vols

Tennessee Athletics photo by Maury Neipris / Tennessee freshman Emily Saunders goes to the basket for a layup during practice this month at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
Tennessee Athletics photo by Maury Neipris / Tennessee freshman Emily Saunders goes to the basket for a layup during practice this month at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. Tennessee Athletics photo by Maury Neipris / Tennessee freshman Emily Saunders goes to the basket for a layup during practice this month at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.

By Gene Henley 3 min read

KNOXVILLE – Growing up, Emily Saunders didn’t necessarily believe she would ever have a chance to play basketball for Tennessee.

But her maternal grandfather, Gary Shrewsbury, did.

“I remember watching (former Lady Volunteers star) Candace Parker play one time, and he said, ‘This is going to be you one day,'” Saunders recalled recently. “I didn’t really believe him at first, but then as I progressed, he watched me and said, ‘I told you.'”

Shrewsbury passed away a couple of years before the 6-foot-5 Saunders received an offer to play for Tennessee. It didn’t take her very long to decide to join the program.

“It was so special,” she said. “I got my offer with my Mamaw in the room, and she started crying because it was a very special moment. I would never take this for granted because it’s so special. I think about him all the time when I step foot on the court.”