Tennessee women's basketball point guard Evina Westbrook has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Entering the portal does not mean a player is definitely transferring, but it is a first step that allows other coaches to contact the player. The transfer portal went into effect last fall.

Westbrook's development comes as the Lady Vols are amid a coaching search for a replacement for Holly Warlick. UT fired Warlick on March 27 after seven seasons as head coach.

Westbrook averaged a team-best 14.9 points and 5.3 assists per game during her sophomore season. She's a former McDonald's All-American from Salem, Oregon. Westbrook was the No. 2-ranked overall prospect in the 2017 signing class by ESPN/HoopGurlz.

If Westbrook returned to Tennessee, she'd be a top talent around which an incoming coach could build.

NCAA rules require a transferring player to sit out one season – Westbrook still has her redshirt year available – unless she receives an NCAA waiver.

Westbrook became a focus of attention after the Lady Vols' first-round NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA. Asked by a reporter what Tennessee needed to focus on in the offseason, Westbrook said: "I just think off-the-court stuff, steps need to be taken with our staff and just overall off the court with this team."

Later asked whether she expected Warlick to be back for an eighth season, Westbrook paused for a few seconds before saying, “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Many viewed her comments as an unnecessary shot at a coaching staff that was already on the hot seat, while some Lady Vols fans applauded her for speaking up.

HOT BOARD:Monitor Kellie Harper, Kara Lawson, Tina Langley during Lady Vols' search

STAYING PUT:Jeff Walz plans to be the coach at Louisville next season, not Tennessee

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