High Post Hoops
Fansided

Tennessee announces that Evina Westbrook will transfer

By Kim Doss

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 15: Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Holly Warlick talks to guard Evina Westbrook (2) during a game between the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on February 15, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 15: Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Holly Warlick talks to guard Evina Westbrook (2) during a game between the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on February 15, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former No. 2 recruit will not remove her name from the transfer portal

At the end of the season, Tennessee sophomore Evina Westbrook entered her name into the transfer portal. While that indicates the possibility of transfer, players can remove their names from the portal and opt to stay with their programs. Tennessee announced Tuesday that Westbrook will not be removing her name, but will move on next season.

More from NCAA

“Evina and I met to discuss her future, and she shared with me that she has decided to transfer,” new Tennessee coach Kellie Harper said in a statement issued by the school. “We wish her well.”

Westbrook caused a stir late in the season by making comments about the possibility of staff changes in the Tennessee program. The guard was criticized for failing to back previous head coach Holly Warlick and suggesting that “off-the-court” changes,  including with the coaching staff, needed to be made.

Whether she could have found her way back into the good graces of the fans and succeeded under Harper is now a moot question.

KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 10: Kentucky Wildcats guard Maci Morris (4) drives around Tennessee Lady Volunteers guard Evina Westbrook (2) during a game between the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats on January 10, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 10: Kentucky Wildcats guard Maci Morris (4) drives around Tennessee Lady Volunteers guard Evina Westbrook (2) during a game between the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats on January 10, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Westbrook was the No. 2 recruit in the 2017 class when she made her decision from a list that consisted of Tennessee, Oregon State, Notre Dame, Maryland, and USC. At the time, the Salem, Oregon native told ESPN that she “felt in (her) heart that (Tennessee) was the right place to be.”

In her two years with the Lady Vols, Westbrook appeared in 64 games, all as a starter. She averaged 11.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.8 apg, and 1.2 spg while playing 29.3 minutes per contest. She was an efficient shooter, shooting 40.7 percent from the field including 35.1 percent from distance.

Her sophomore season, she improved both overall and 3-point shooting. Westbrook increased her overall percentage from 39 to 41.9 percent and went from 31.8 percent to 38 percent from beyond the arc.

There is no word yet on where the 6-foot guard might end up.

In better news for Tennessee, Lou Brown, a grad transfer from Washington State, received an extra year of eligibility.

Love our 24/7 women’s basketball coverage? Join our Patreon now and support this work, while getting extra goodies and subscriber-only content for yourself.

Home/SEC