Kim Caldwell confirm the departure her star player to
Lazaria Spearman, a former forward for Miami, has made a commitment to join the Lady Vols basketball team through the transfer portal, providing much-needed depth to Tennessee’s frontcourt. Standing at 6-foot-4, the sophomore recently visited Tennessee officially, with her commitment being announced by the Lady Vols on Wednesday. Spearman, who was a highly regarded four-star recruit in high school, ranked 30th in the class of 2022. Her decision to transfer came after the retirement of Miami’s longtime coach Katie Meier in March.
In a statement released by the school, Kim Caldwell, the new head coach of the Lady Vols, expressed excitement about Spearman’s addition to the team, highlighting her height and athleticism as valuable assets. Spearman’s performance for Miami this season showcased her prowess in rebounding, averaging six per game, with a standout performance of 15 rebounds against Mississippi State. As a native of Dacula, Georgia, she averaged 6.3 points on a 50% shooting average and started in 10 out of 31 games played.
Spearman contributed to Miami’s NCAA Elite Eight run in 2023 as a freshman, where she showcased her skills with four points, four rebounds, and two blocks in a game against LSU. During her freshman year, she averaged 5.3 points and four rebounds in 13 minutes per game coming off the bench.
Spearman’s commitment marks the second addition to Caldwell’s roster from the transfer portal, following Alyssa Latham’s commitment from Syracuse. The Lady Vols have seen minimal losses from the transfer portal since the departure of former head coach Kellie Harper, with junior forward Karoline Striplin being the sole departure thus far.
With the departures of Striplin, Tamari Key, and Rickea Jackson due to graduation, Spearman’s size becomes crucial for the Lady Vols, who were left with only two returning post players. This addition leaves Tennessee with four available scholarships after Spearman and Latham’s commitments.
