Surprising deal: Kim Caldwell has rep miami of another veteran player Lazaria Spearman
Former Miami forward Lazaria Spearman has chosen to join the Lady Vols basketball team through the transfer portal, bolstering Tennessee’s frontcourt depth significantly.
Standing at 6-foot-4, the sophomore visited Tennessee officially during the weekend, and her commitment was announced by the Lady Vols on Wednesday. Spearman, previously ranked No. 30 in the 2022 class and a four-star recruit out of high school, entered the transfer portal following the retirement of long-time Miami coach Katie Meier in March.
Kim Caldwell, the new Lady Vols coach, expressed enthusiasm about Spearman’s addition to the program, highlighting her height and athleticism as valuable assets. Spearman’s impressive rebounding performance for Miami, averaging six rebounds per game this season, notably stands out, along with her career-high of 15 rebounds against Mississippi State. Hailing from Dacula, Georgia, she maintained an average of 6.3 points per game with a shooting accuracy of 50%, starting in 10 out of the 31 games she played.
Spearman notably contributed to Miami’s NCAA Elite Eight run in 2023, despite being a freshman at the time. She played a key role off the bench during the tournament, including a notable performance against LSU. Her freshman year statistics showcase her impact, averaging 5.3 points and four rebounds per game in 13 minutes.
Spearman’s commitment marks the second addition to Caldwell’s roster from the transfer portal, following Alyssa Latham’s commitment from Syracuse. Despite losing junior forward Karoline Striplin to the transfer portal, the Lady Vols have only faced minimal departures, providing room for new additions. With the departures of players like Striplin, Tamari Key, and Rickea Jackson, Spearman’s size becomes particularly valuable for Tennessee, especially with only two returning post players on the roster.
