Chattanooga Times Free Press

Massengill makes history by signing with Tennessee

- Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreep­ress.com. BY DAVID COBB STAFF WRITER

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee women’s basketball program will soon have its first player from Chattanoog­a.

Jazmine Massengill of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy signed this week as part of a four-player 2018 class that is rated fifth in the country by ESPN. On Friday, Tennessee announced the signees who make up sixth-year head coach Holly Warlick’s second straight recruiting class with a topfive ranking.

The Lady Volunteers have welcomed several players from Bradley County over the years, but Massengill will be the first from the Chattanoog­a city limits.

She is rated the No. 26 player in the country for the 2018 graduating class, according to ESPN. The 6-foot point guard averaged 10 points, 6.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals as a junior.

“We have watched Jazmine be a great leader for her team,” Warlick said in a news release. “She plays hard and really knows the game of basketball. I think she has really improved her game offensivel­y, in terms of her ability to score. I’m excited for her, because she is a Tennessee kid, and she always wanted to play at Tennessee and represent her home state.”

Massengill is joined in the signing class by Zarielle “Zay” Green, a 6-0 guard from Duncanvill­e, Texas; Amira “Mimi” Collins, a 6-3 forward from Waldorf, Md.; and Rae Burrell, a 6-1 wing from Henderson, Nev.

Tennessee’s four current freshmen were rated the No. 1 signing class for 2017. They combined for 76 points in a 121-76 exhibition victory over Carson-Newman on Tuesday and are expected to be key contributo­rs for the Lady Vols this season.

Tennessee’s regular season begins Sunday with a 2 p.m. home game against East Tennessee State.

 ??  ?? Jazmine Massengill
Jazmine Massengill

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