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All (national) eyes on Lady Vol commitment Avant
SI will feature Lausanne High star
Alan Spearman
Lauren Avant, right, tweaks her hair while her mother, Dana, holds the basketball during a Sports Illustrated photo shoot.
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MEMPHIS - As his subject dribbled, passed and posed for an upcoming photo spread in Sports Illustrated, photographer Al Tielemans quickly surmised Lausanne High School basketball star Lauren Avant had done this sort of thing before.
"She did great. She's obviously done it before. She was very comfortable," Tielemans said of the rising junior point guard and University of Tennessee commitment.
"Some of the younger kids that haven't done these kinds of pictures, they struggle. It's just hard because all this stuff, like running and dribbling, it's innate to them, but she doesn't ever have to do it on the blue block.
"Now you're asking her to do something natural, but she's got to make her stride on that point, and be smiling and looking at me. That's when it gets hard, when something innate and natural has to become a thought process."
The 16-year-old Avant, however, appeared to be at ease, gliding gracefully through a series of camera-pleasing drills across Lausanne's gymnasium floor.
The 5-foot-9 reigning Division II-A Miss Basketball is one of 16 high-school athletes picked from across the country to be featured this month in Sports Illustrated's "Where Will They Be" photo series.
Last September, Avant, who drew national attention two years ago when she committed to the Lady Vols as a 14-year-old, was one of several high-school underclassmen featured in a Time magazine article about the recruitment of eighth-graders.
"When you have a player of this caliber who brings this much attention to your program, I think that it benefits everyone. It benefits all the athletes here because it's going to give them exposure," Lausanne athletic director Troy Baker said.
"Everybody knows what we are academically in the community and in the Memphis area. . . . But they need to also understand we're doing some very good things on the athletic side. My hope is that people will understand we're building a serious program here."
Sports Illustrated informed Avant, a starter since her eighth-grade season who led Lausanne to its first basketball state title last March, of her selection for the "Where Will They Be" series in May.
"Usually, I think of Sports Illustrated as for adults. Then it kind of hit me, and I was like, 'Whoa!' " Avant said.
"They wanted background information. They ask you everything. They're like, 'What made you start playing basketball?' and 'What kind of cartoons do you watch?' Avant said.
"They just want to know what kind of person you are."
Also on hand for the photo shoot at Lausanne were Avant's mother, Dana, and Avant's boyfriend, Terrico White, a former Craigmont High basketball star who's entering his freshman season at Ole Miss.
"I'm here in support," White said, smiling.
Dana said she doubts the national attention will go to her daughter's head, but does acknowledge the pressures that have come along with Lauren's high-profile recruitment.
"One of the things I told her was, 'This could be taken away at any moment. You appreciate it and be excited, but you always need to stay grounded.' That's one thing I taught her," Dana said.
"I told people, 'We'll have just one (copy of next month's article) for our home. Just one.' . . . All of that is good, but like I said, it could be taken away. We're trying to raise her with values, where she's a student first."
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Posted by utchris2003 on July 1, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny how she committed before UT could even recruit her. She is a good player, but the school she attends has outright illegally recruited players (from other teams as well) and is paying players tuition illegally. If there is ever a fallout from that, I hope that baggage does not make its way across the state.
Posted by utvol008 on July 1, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lauren is a very good player
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on July 1, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UTChris, there are 1000's of little girls and big girls committed to UT all over the state that have never been officially offered.
And that is how it should be.
Posted by utchris2003 on July 2, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, but how many of them verbally commit to the school via the media and internet. I have no doubt that UT will be interested in her as she is a top recruit and a good player like i mentioned. I am just saying that I worry about the baggage she could bring if her school ever goes down for all their misdeeds. You do not go from worst in the state to state runner-up in one year.
Posted by utvol008 on July 2, 2008 at 12:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's the article when Lauren committed 2 years ago:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2006/nov...
She had taken visits on campus and Pat had gone to see her play at an AAU tournament.
Posted by pdhuff on July 2, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
16 yr old dating a college guy. Ma, run his azz off, now.
Congrats, young lady.
Posted by GreerVol22 on July 2, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pd, agreed. It's all good until they start knockin' boots.
Posted by volntr98 on July 2, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
utchris2003, you sure seem to act like you know a lot for not knowing the truth about anything. Pat offered, Lauren accepted, almost 2 years ago. Neither commitment is technically binding until she can legally sign but the fact that Pat wants her should say something to you and if you are truly a UT fan you should be excited to have her wear orange. With your comments about the high school it's obvious you have a chip on your shoulder about something. Probably tired of your team losing to them. Players switch schools all over the state, and what you call recruiting is usually nothing more than a child and her parents wanting to go to a certain school. Keep up the hatin...
Posted by tenncorncob on July 2, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
volntr98, I echo your comments. Recruiting per se goes on all over Tennessee. Shelbyville had a bunch of girls who lived within a 40 mile radius who "chose" to receive their education there. Of course, they could play a mean game of girls basketball too...lol....as an athlete, they want to go to the best programs available. Who can blame them. This girl seems to be smart and good. Let's hope she continues to mature on the court as well as off the court. GO LADY VOLS
Posted by utchris2003 on July 2, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Volntr98,
I guarantee you that I know I heck of a lot more about this situation than you do. No, I do not have a team that gets beat by them. This is about far more than players switching to a school because they are a good team. I never said that she was not a good kid or player. I am just worried that if the NCAA goes snoopin around (and there is enough complaint out of this area about the shady dealings at this schools) that this young lady (as well a the LV's) is going to get burned.
Posted by volntr98 on July 2, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You would lose that bet utchris2003. You are dealing in unsubstantiated rumors so you'll excuse me if i question your sincerity in worrying about the Lady Vols. The things you allege are issues that would be dealt with by the TSSAA at the high school level. I've never heard of the NCAA worrying about a high school supposedly recruiting players or providing inappropriate benefits as you allege, unless the benefits were being provided by one of their members. They've got bigger fish to fry and no jurisdiction in the matter even if they wanted to get involved, so you can rest easy since your real concern is for the Lady Vols and you have no other agenda, lol.....
Posted by utchris2003 on July 2, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe you need to go brush up on some NCAA rules and eligibility standards before you start making stupid comments. There have been plenty of cases where the NCAA has put there nose into these situations. You only have to look across town to Briarcrest where they investigated the eligibility of Michael Oher.
This school should have been buried a long time ago, along with other schools here and there across the state. Its unfortunate that the TSSAA is too scared of another lawsuit and costly court battle to step up and do something about it. There is stone cold documented evidence of the wrong doings.
And you can rest assured that I have a deep vested interest in the success and well being of the LV's and the UT athletic program because I
spent 4 years working there as a student.
Posted by volntr98 on July 2, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That had to do with him being academically eligible to qualify for college, which of course the NCAA would be concerned with. I don't think even you are insinuating there is anything that would prevent her from being eligible.
So how about we agree on one thing, good luck Lauren and congratulations on being recognized in Sports Illustrated. You are a talented young lady and a class act, and we can't wait to see you in a Lady Vol uniform......
Posted by RichRollin on July 2, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My buddy saw this gal play in AAU against his niece. He has talked about this girl for 1 year. She is the real deal. UTCHRIS, I'm not worried about a bunch of baggage coming with this girl. Besides , their were serious investigations with the school Demetrius Morley came from. Although he flunked out of school at U.T., his school breaking the rules has not tarnished the image of the football program,PLEASE!?!?
Posted by utchris2003 on July 2, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There was far more to the Oher situation than academics. Go pick up a copy of the book, The Blindside. It mostly all there in the book.
I will agree with you that she is a good player and good luck to her.
Posted by rockytopron on July 3, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All this says to me is that Pat continues to make her program the most attractive in the country. Remember, with Pat, Grades are more important to her than wins, Unlike that rat in the upper northeast area.
Lady Vols...#9 N '09!
Posted by trs7778 on July 3, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UTChris2003 is an idiot. He is understood the recruiting process, he would understand coaches can have contact starting early in high school. Recruits just aren't allowed to SIGN until their junior year. I know the Lady Vols Basketball coaches go to tournaments during the summer and watch 8th graders. So I highly doubt Mr. UTChris2003 ever worked for the athletic department at the great University of Tennessee. Usually when you attend school, you go to learn, not work.
Posted by rightontrs7778 on July 3, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
screen name says it all, not so sure about this utchris guy and his pipe dreams of working and attending the university of tennessee, may have worked as a janitor, or a coke or hot dog boy on game days. Maybe he should brush up on his recruiting policies
Posted by trs7778 on July 3, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a fan... I am honored. After reading UTChris2003's comment another time, I am left puzzled to why he wasn't coaching half the sports in the athletic department. Hell, even if he doesn't know all about coaching, it appears he knows everything about operations. I am surprised Doug Dickey didn't pick him instead of Mike Hamilton. If UTChris2003 has a law degree, I will hire him to work at my firm. He seems to know a lot about mergers having read his posts on the current status XM/Sirus merger. I am very curious to find out what position he held while he "work" or "cleaned toilets" for the athletic department. As RightOnTRS7778 said, I am sure he ate/eats a lot of hotdogs while attending football games. Anyone who puts their name as "Your Mom" on their www.govolsxtra.com profile surely couldn't be trusted with too many responsibilities. Please do reply UTChris2003… It kills me to see people try and work their way into the athletic department by acting as if they know everything and building the football stadium themselves by hand. God Bless America and everyone had a great 4th of July.
Posted by trs7778 on July 3, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe UTChris2003 should run for the Mayor of Memphis. He seems to know everything going on in Memphis. How do we nominate him to run the investigation unit on the NCAA? Any other jobs you think UTChris2003 would be good for? He already qualifies for the head football coach, means basketball coach, women’s basketball coach and athletic director position at the University of Tennessee... let's not forget about the janitor or concessions salesman proposed by RightOnTRS7778. In the end, UTChris2003 will probably keep sitting inside his cubical trying to sell vinyl siding to people over the phone at dinner time...
Posted by utchris2003 on July 3, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You two are funny..real funny...Mr. Stone and Mr. Jones....Seriously, you could have come up with some better names that in all this time couldnt you?
The mailbox is open for business!
Posted by CatScratchFever on July 6, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yaaawwwnnn. Who cares?
Posted by mungie314 on July 7, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it illegal to openly say where you want to go before the signing period begins? Sade W.Gatewood said she was going to be a Lady Vol since 8th grade. No one said anything about it then.
Posted by trs7778 on July 8, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Any player can verbally commit to any school at any age. They just aren't allowed to sign until their junior year. Any coaches are allowed to talk at recruits at an early age, but there are dead periods where they are not allowed to have contact with one another.
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