Gaines commits to Vols hoops for ’19
KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee men’s basketball program picked up its first commitment for the signing class of 2019 on Saturday.
Davonte Gaines, a 6-foot6 small forward from Buffalo, N.Y., announced his verbal commitment to the Volunteers on Twitter. He also has scholarship offers from Buffalo, Canisius, Hampton, Kent State, Monmouth, Niagara and Rhode Island, according to 247Sports. com and the Buffalo News.
Gaines attended a camp at Tennessee in June.
“I didn’t really think I’d have a chance to play in the SEC,” Gaines told the Buffalo News. “I never thought of it. I have to continue to stay humble and playing the way I’ve been playing and hope things work out.”
The lanky wing averaged 17.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.0 blocks and 3.0 steals a game for Health Sciences Charter School last season.
Tennessee does not yet have any known commitments from the signing class of 2018.
Familiar face
The Lady Vols will have to face former assistant coach Jolette Law and national champion South Carolina twice next basketball season.
This past week, the Southeastern Conference released matchups but not a full schedule. In addition to the Gamecocks, Tennessee will play both Texas A&M and Vanderbilt twice.
Law left the Lady Vols after five years earlier this offseason to become a Gamecocks assistant, saying she wanted to be closer to her family in Florence, S.C. Law’s departure came soon after guard Te’a Cooper announced she was transferring to South Carolina after two seasons at Tennessee.
Another one of the program’s departing figures from this offseason, Alexa Middleton, announced this past week that she will continue her career at Iowa State. The guard from Murfreesboro will be required to sit out one year and will have one year of eligibility remaining.
In the family
Charles and Cindy Hudson, son and daughter-in-law of Earl Hudson, will continue the family tradition of providing the university with its living mascot after Earl died June 24 at age 91.
Earl was one of the owners and trainers of the bluetick coonhound line that has produced Tennessee’s “Smokey” mascots. He and his wife, Martha, owned the line of dogs since 1994.
They took over the responsibility of supplying Tennessee with new dogs from Earl’s sister, Mildred Brooks, who held the responsibility for eight years after the death of her husband, Bill Brooks. He supplied the original mascot in 1953.
Back to baseball
Former Vols baseball coach Dave Serrano has reportedly accepted a position as pitching coach at West Virginia. He resigned this spring after six years leading Tennessee.
D1baseball.com and the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported Serrano’s hiring.
Key position
The Tennessee athletic department introduced a new development director this past week. Kurt Gulbrand will spearhead athletic fundraising efforts for the university after spending 5 1/2 years in a similar role at the University of Colorado.
Gulbrand will start July 24. He replaces Greg Hulen, who accepted a position at Florida State.
Course work
Former Baylor School golfer Blakesly Warren was one of nine Tennessee women’s golfers to make the spring SEC Academic Honor Roll. A total of 83 Tennessee student-athletes made the list, which requires a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Spencer Cross, an incoming freshman for the men’s golf team, tied for third at the Tennessee Junior Amatuer Championship at Cleveland Country Club this past week.