Tennessee’s new head coach of the Lady Vols basketball program has confirmed that sophomore guard Evina Westbrook will no longer be part of the team.

Westbrook originally put her name in the NCAA transfer portal after former head coach Holly Warlick had been fired and while the search for a new head coach was taking place. Now, according to new head coach Kellie Harper, Westbrook won’t return to UT and will transfer out of the program. Harper and Westbrook met, and the sophomore guard will pursue a playing opportunity elsewhere.

“Evina and I met to discuss her future, and she shared with me that she has decided to transfer,” Harper said via a release. “We wish her well.”

Westbrook joined the Lady Vols as one of the highest-rated players in her respective recruiting class. Westbrook was considered the No. 1 guard and was ranked as high as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2017 recruiting cycle, and she was a McDonald’s All-American. She was named the National Player of the Year by several outlets, and she helped win gold for the USA at the FIBA Americas U18 Tournament.

The 6-foot guard played in 31 games for the Lady Vols this season and started every game she played. She averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 41.9 percent overall and 38.0 percent from three.

Westbrook played in 64 games for the Lady Vols in her two years with the program, and she started all 64 of them.

After the Lady Vols’ first round exit in the 2019 NCAA Women’s Tournament, Westbrook drew headlines for her post-game comments. She was asked if she thought Holly Warlick would return as head coach after the game, to which she replied “I don’t know” and also stated that “steps need to be taken with our staff” during the offseason.



The Lady Vols currently have Jordan Horston as part of their 2019 signing class, and she is the No. 1 guard and No. 2 overall player in the 2019 cycle.