Adams: Parker says she is ready

Zolman's 30-foot jump shot at the buzzer gave the Lady Vols a 70-67 victory over second-ranked Stanford on Tuesday night. Candace Parker's change of clothes gave the Lady Vols more reason to be optimistic about the rest of the season.

Parker, who hasn't played all season because of a knee injury, began the evening in street clothes. She changed into her uniform at halftime after being re-evaluated by Dr. William Youmans, the team's orthopedist. He cleared her to begin practice the day after Christmas.

UT publicist Debby Jennings suggested to coach Pat Summitt that Parker might as well dress for her new role. So Parker donned her uniform for the second half.

"I knew I wasn't going to go in the game," said Parker, who was a two-time, national player of the year at Naperville (Ill.) Central High School. "But it's really exciting to look forward to practicing on the 26th.

"There's no doubt in my mind that I'm ready."

No one could be that sure in late August when Parker had the first of two surgeries to repair cartilage in her left knee. She underwent another operation in early September.

It was an ominous college beginning for a player who is referred to as "the most heralded signee in Lady Vol basketball history." For a program that signs high school All-Americans in droves, that's quite an assessment.

She will give the Lady Vols what they need most - a go-to player in their half-court offense.

The Lady Vols have won eight of 10 games despite an inconsistent half-court offense. They struggled again Tuesday night, hitting only 37.3 percent of their field-goal tries but making up for it with defensive intensity and occasional clutch plays on offense, the greatest of which was Zolman's 30-footer to end the game.

Parker's strength is her offensive versatility. Because she can post up inside or shoot from the perimeter, she will be a constant source of concern for opposing defenses.

While recruiting Parker, Summitt asked Billie Moore - her former Olympic coach and longtime friend - what she thought Parker's best position would be.

"I'd just tell her whatever position she wants to play," Moore said.

Parker was asked after the game what position she expected to play.

"Wherever Coach Summitt puts me on the floor," she said. "We haven't talked about (what position she will play). I'm just happy to be back on the court."

She's not there yet. And she won't put her uniform on one night and start dunking the next afternoon.

Parker hasn't played basketball in four and a half months. There will be a transition period for her, just as there has been for another formerly injured freshman, guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who played only eight minutes against Stanford.

"We're not going to throw (Parker) in early," Summitt said. "We're going to give her some reps."

Eventually, UT also will give her a position - one of the two forward spots, Summitt said. But that's just a formality.

"She can play any position," Summitt said.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com