Kim Caldwell Reveals Prospects Of Her Fifth Transfer Since Coming Onboard.
Rapuluchi Ayodele has committed to Lady Vols basketball, the program announced Tuesday.
The 6-foot-1 forward from Pitt is the fifth addition out of the transfer portal for new Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell this offseason. It also brings the roster to 14 scholarship players.
Ayodele provides some key depth in the post for Tennessee, which only had four forwards previously.
Ayodele started in 15 of 32 games last season and averaged 4.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. She shot 46.4% from the field and played 17.7 minutes per game.
“We had an opportunity to add depth and rebounding strength at the forward position, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with Rapuluchi joining the Lady Vol family,” Caldwell said in a school release.
“She provides a very strong and athletic presence in the paint and plays with great energy and intensity. She is a nice fit for what we are trying to do on both ends of the floor as well as for the team chemistry we are trying to build within our program.
Before playing for Pitt last season, Ayodele spent there seasons at junior colleges. She averaged a double-double at all three of her schools – Indian River State College, Eastern Florida State College and Independence Community College.
Ayodele was a second-team NJCAA All-American as a junior when she averaged 14.1 points and 14.1 rebounds. She was a first-team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore when she averaged 13.6 points and 13.2 rebounds.
Ayodele, who’s from Móstoles, Spain, joins forward Alyssa Latham (Syracuse), forward Lazaria Spearman (Miami), guard Samara Spencer (Arkansas) and guard Ruby Whitehorn (Clemson) as transfer portal additions. Tennessee has one open scholarship left.
The Lady Vols have lost only one player to the transfer portal since Kellie Harper was fired on April 1. Rising senior Karoline Striplin entered the portal on April 19. The 6-3 forward averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds and started 11 games in 2023-24