Mark Alewine

For USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

It wasn't a basketball game. It was better.

The men’s and women’s teams from the University of Tennessee joined forces at Knoxville Christian School Saturday morning to play basketball with some very excited fans.

The 10th annual Hoops for Hope benefits the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee. Players teamed up with children with special needs for the opportunity to play basketball with the Vols and Lady Vols.

“I love this event,” said Lady Vols senior Kortney Dunbar. “Especially seeing their smiling faces and knowing it’s a lifetime experience, it’s hard for us to say no.”

New faces for Lady Vols

It was a moment for camaraderie to begin the school year after a summer of training for a Lady Vols team that’s welcoming the nation's No. 1 recruiting class.

Meanwhile, Diamond DeShields, Te'a Cooper and Alexa Middleton have since left the program. DeShields will play overseas. Cooper and Middleton have transferred.

More:Diamond DeShields not returning to Lady Vols

It should give the Lady Vols a different look under Holly Warlick, who is entering her sixth year as coach.

“It’s a completely different feel,” said senior Jaime Nared. “Just having the four freshmen come in and they’re working so hard, I think everyone’s willing to take a step back because we really haven't made it to where we wanted to go in the past.”

Evina Westbrook, Anastasia Hayes, Rennia Davis and Kasiyahna Kushkituah are the incoming freshmen. Westbrook, the top-ranked player in the class by the All-Star Girls Report, is the highest-ranked prospect to sign with Tennessee since Mercedes Russell in 2013.

“It’s been a very good summer,” said Russell, who's a redshirt senior. “Obviously, we have four pretty good freshmen coming in and a great class. We’ve been just helping them learn the ins and outs of Lady Vol basketball.”

Already, the experience and work ethic of the newcomers has made an impression.

“I wouldn't say it’s hard incorporating them because of their experience,” said Dunbar. “They’ve played USA basketball. They went to the Jordan Brand Classic. They’ve seen the top of the top already. When they jumped in, they just hit the head rolling. I’ve come in at eight, nine, 10 o’clock at night and I see Evina Westbrook putting up shots. I see Annie in there and Rennia. With them coming in shooting late-time shots, getting reps in already, I’m excited for them to jump in.”

Warlick’s recruiting success has renewed team talk of being a Final Four contender (the last Final Four appearance was 2008), and Nared says the change in perspective is evident throughout the team.

“I think it’s just everybody’s willingness to listen and understand that the coaches have been successful,” Nared said. “Everyone on our coaching staff has been to a Final Four or won a national championship, so everyone’s willing to listen to them and humble themselves to know we haven't figured it out yet and trust people ahead of us and allow them to lead us to where we want to go.”

Mark Alewine is a freelance contributor.