To the delight of UCONN fans, Tennessee is scarily thin in the post and doesn't seem to have a viable backup plan outside of Russell for the next 1-2 years.
They might have DeShields help in the post and play 4, ala how UCONN used Maya back in 2009 and 2010, since DeShields can compete inside and grab rebounds, but they do not have a true post outside of Russell who has been injury prone, but oozes untapped potential.
Graves has had moments of All American level play, but she isn't a banger inside nor does she have the bulk to defend posts like Alaina Coates or Brionna Jones.
She leaves after this upcoming season, and then it's a crap shoot. I'm guessing Tennessee will land a transfer or a JUCO next off season, but they really really need to land a quality post player to alleviate Russell, who I will be happy to get 25 minutes per game from next year.
As much as most UT fans hate to admit, losing out on this prospect really bites. We'll see how she transitions to the D1 level, but from articles and speculation, she has the makings of being a really really good player who might have been a top recruit had she played high school ball in the states. Great athlete with a knack for rebounding and blocking shots. Exactly what Tennessee could use next year, and she slipped through their fingers. Perhaps even tougher for Tennessee is that they missed out on Dangerfield, who is the top recruit to come out of Tennessee since possibly Glory Johnson, and they miss out on another top 15 in state recruit in Carter.
Tennessee has a ton of talent for the next 2-3 years with DeShields and Russell (if healthy), 2 starting guards on board for the next two years, not to mention a promising freshman in Nard, and a very good incoming PG in Cooper, but with a relatively underwhelming 2014 recruiting class, only one premier recruit in 2015 and no one on board for 2016, it's a bit concerning for UT fans about the future post-Diamond DeShields.
