New coach Kellie Harper holds workout for Lady Vols

Former Tennessee basketball player Kellie Harper holds a jersey during Wednesday's news conference introducing her as coach of the Lady Vols.
Former Tennessee basketball player Kellie Harper holds a jersey during Wednesday's news conference introducing her as coach of the Lady Vols.

KNOXVILLE - Having gone through all the pomp and circumstance the first day of a new job brings, Tennessee women's basketball coach Kellie Harper wasted no time going to work on the second day.

And she has quite the first test.

Harper held a workout with returning players Thursday at Pratt Pavilion, giving the players their first look at on-court life with the new coach.

Aside from departing seniors Cheridene Green and Meme Jackson, every Lady Volunteer on the 2018-19 roster was present Thursday. That includes point guard Evina Westbrook, who recently put her name in the transfer portal.

Westbrook also was at Wednesday's introductory news conference for Harper, who already had secured the support of signees Jordan Horston, Tamari Key and Emily Saunders. She wasn't allowed to speak about guard Jessie Rennie, the Australian guard who has committed to Tennessee but can't submit her letter of intent until the spring signing period starts next Wednesday.

So when Harper spoke of a "lot of priorities right now," she wasn't kidding.

Being able to get on the floor and analyze what she has was a big help. On paper, Tennessee is just a more talented version of Harper's last program, Missouri State. Both teams shot 43 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range this past season. Both dominated the offensive glass, with Tennessee ranking 10th in the country in offensive rebounds per game and Missouri State grabbing 14-plus per contest - a staple of teams directed by Harper's late mentor, Pat Summitt.

If Westbrook returns, she'll provide a two-year starter at point guard. Rennia Davis also has started two seasons. Zaay Green started in her first season with the program. Those three provide a solid foundation to build on, with role players surrounding them.

Throw in the recruits, led by Horston, the top-ranked guard in the country, and sixth-year senior Lou Brown, who sustained a knee injury that ended her season before it started, and the foundation is there to be successful right off the bat.

"Everyone knows at the University of Tennessee the Lady Vol basketball program is great and historic, but not everyone knows what it's like to be in it - what it's like to put that jersey on and play for something so much bigger than self," Harper told the media Wednesday. "So I do understand the gravity of this position, and I'm humbled, I'm honored, and I'm ready to take on this journey."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.

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