One of the big curiosities about Kim Caldwell when she was hired as the University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach was how she would be able to recruit.
Caldwell spent one season coaching at Marshall and seven seasons with a Division II program before taking over the Lady Vols. The level of players required to compete in the SEC and become a national title contender is higher on Rocky Top.
Judging by Caldwell’s first class, the early returns are promising.
Caldwell and her staff signed a 2025 class that’s ranked No. 2 in the nation by multiple outlets. The class includes twin guards Mia and Mya Pauldo, small forward Deniya Prawl, guard Jaida Civil and power forward Lauren Hurst.
The Pauldos are rated No. 11 and No. 56, respectively, in the espnW 100, while Prawl, the first Canadian player to ever sign with the Lady Vols, is No. 14. Civil is rated No. 32 and Hurst is No. 42. The group represents Tennessee’s first signing class with two or more top-15 prospects since 2017.
Caldwell called the class “really special” and believes it’s “a great foundation” for the future of the program.
“They are a class that can leave their mark here, and that was talked about at length in the recruiting process,” Caldwell says. “It was something they all embraced, and it’s something they all welcomed and wanted to be a part of.”
The Lady Vols showcased all the bells and whistles to impress the recruits. During Prawl’s official visit, she took photos alongside orange and Summitt Blue Lamborghinis that were parked on the court of Food City Center. Assistant coach Gabe Lazo had friends in Knoxville bring the cars to campus for the big recruiting weekend.
“We want to play fast, we want to play with great pace, so what car resembles that more than a Lamborghini?” Lazo says.
Up to speed with traditions
Lazo and Roman Tubner played significant roles in recruiting the class. Lazo, the lead recruiter for all five players, was previously an assistant at Mississippi State, and Tubner at Alabama. Their connections to the SEC were a significant asset as Caldwell adjusted to the new role.
“Absolutely, they were huge,” Caldwell says. “When I got here, I hadn’t seen the players, I had a lot of catch-up to do ... But they already had relationships. They had already talked to these players, and so (they were) two great hires that really helped get this class done.”
Having only a short time to recruit from when she was hired in April, Caldwell learned a lot about what makes the Lady Vols and the university an attraction to players. This class will be helping Caldwell put her stamp as the new leader of the tradition-rich program.
“I think they saw a challenge and saw the ability to come somewhere and be a face of a program and didn’t back down, and they embraced that,” Caldwell says. “To have that core group that will hopefully stay with you for four years, you don’t get that very much anymore, especially a group like them ... if they can come here and do what they should on paper, it’s going to be really good.”
Caldwell credited the current Lady Vols with helping make the recruits understand what makes Tennessee so special.
“Our team did a great job during recruiting visits displaying our team chemistry, and they were just themselves and authentic,” Caldwell says. “One of our biggest selling points is how genuine our team is, how well everyone gets along, how much they value basketball and winning, and what their goals are for Tennessee.”
Still a family affair
Hurst is a local recruit from Cleveland. She and her parents drove to campus to surprise Caldwell and her staff when she committed. Hurst posted a video on social media of Caldwell, who is pregnant with her first child, opening a gift from her before Tennessee’s game against Liberty Nov. 16.
“Aw, for Baby Caldwell. Can’t wait to join you in 2025,” Caldwell read on the card.
Caldwell pulled out an orange bib that revealed two framed photos from Hurst’s official visit. Hurst is standing next to Caldwell with her hand on Caldwell’s belly in both photos.
“Is this a good sign?” Caldwell asked.
Hurst and her parents, dressed in Tennessee orange, then walked in as the room erupted with cheers.
“I had no idea what was going on. No idea,” Caldwell says. “And so it’s game day and I’m just thinking, what are we doing? It’s game day, I need to be focused, why do you have us up here? So it was special for her to take the time to make it such a good announcement.”
Caldwell hopes her initial signing class will be one to remember for a long time in her career coaching the Lady Vols. Although recruiting can be an inexact science – and NIL and the transfer portal have only added to the volatility – Caldwell feels confident the 2025 players can help the program return to contending status.
“From the time that these five young ladies came on their visits, it just felt right,” Caldwell says. “It felt like they were supposed to play here.”