Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

HomeWomen's Basketball

Signing day special for Clarksville's Williams

Guard met by dad, who was with Army in Texas

Tennessee signee Kamiko Williams had a special guest for her signing party at Clarksville Northeast High on Friday.

Williams' father, Vincent, made a special trip home for the occasion, arriving Thursday night. He's in the U.S. Army and has been away, training in Texas.

"She didn't think he was coming home until the holidays,'' said Northeast coach Tracie Mason-Blair. "She was all bubbly and excited."

Along with the 5-foot-11 guard Williams, Webb School forward Faith Dupree signed a national letter of intent with Tennessee on Friday. Guard Taber Spani of Lee's Summit, Mo., signed with UT on Wednesday.

The three signees will give Tennessee 14 players for next season. The Lady Vols haven't had that many since carrying 15 in 2004-05. And two of the players that season were walk-ons.

UT will have a full roster in 2010-11. Junior guard Lauren Avant from Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, already is committed to UT.

All In The Family: San Francisco, 14-16 last season, is led by guard Shay Rollins, who averaged 12.7 points per game last season and 22.5 for two exhibitions this season. The 5-foot-4 senior guard is the sister of All-Star second baseman Jimmy Rollins of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Nashville Gets Final Four: The Women's Final Four will be returning to Tennessee with Nashville being awarded the event for 2014. Knoxville was host in 1990.

"I think it's awesome,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "I think when we've been there for the SEC tournament, they've just done an incredible job. I think it's been a great venue for us."

Banner Crowd: Former Lady Vols Candace Parker and Alberta Auguste will take part in today's banner-raising ceremony.

Quan and Jerome Hornbuckle will be there to represent their daughter, Alexis, who is playing professionally in Turkey.

The other starters from last season's national championship team, Nicky Anosike and Shannon Bobbitt, also are playing overseas.

Leg Up For Cause: Summitt and the Lady Vols will be presented with a pair of ladders today from Werner Ladder, the official ladder of the NCAA Basketball Championships.

One was used by UT to cut down the nets in Tampa, Fla., last April. The other will be signed by Summitt and auctioned off with proceeds going to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Comment:

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.