NEW RICHMOND, W.Va. — Wyoming East junior girls basketball standout Emily Saunders has verbally committed to Tennessee.
Saunders, 6-foot-5, made the announcement Monday night on Twitter.
“When I was younger, I was at my papaw’s house one day while the UT Lady Vols were playing, back when Pat Summit was the coach and Candace Parker played. He talked so much about them and it eventually turned me into the biggest Lady Vol fan.
I’ve loved them ever since. Every time we vacationed to Tennessee, I felt the need to buy every Lady Vol thing I saw.
Since then, my papaw has passed on and I wanted nothing more but to be able to make him proud. I’ve been recruited by numerous schools and the process has been such an amazing experience that I have been able to partake in.
I’m so beyond blessed and happy to announce that I have decided to become a Lady Vol. It’s honestly so surreal that I still can’t believe it. I want to thank God, my family and coaches for everything they’ve done. Without them, none of this would have been possible.” — Emily Saunders @EmilySaunders31
Saunders averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocks per game last season for Class AA runner-up Wyoming East.
Saunders set the Class AA state tournament record with 12 blocks in the championship game against North Marion. She also finished with the overall AA state tournament record of 25 total blocks combined in the three state tournament games.
Saunders had originally committed to Marshall in February of 2017, but reopened her commitment last summer.
She’s the first commitment to Tennessee’s 2019 recruiting class.
The Lady Vols went 25-8 this past season with a loss to Oregon State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.