Lady Vols: Sophomore Anastasia Hayes dismissed following violation of team rules

Show Caption Hide Caption Lady Vols' Anastasia Hayes on bringing a championship home Lady Vols signee Anastasia Hayes' ambition is home grown

Tennessee has lost a decorated player from a top-ranked women's basketball recruiting class with the dismissal of Anastasia Hayes.

UT coach Holly Warlick announced the move Friday in a statement, saying the 5-foot-7 sophomore from Murfreesboro was dismissed for "a violation of team rules."

When reached for further comment, Warlick said, "That's all I can say."

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Hayes' mother, Sherry, did not comment on Anastasia's dismissal, but she said her three younger daughters, who all have offers from Tennessee, will not be playing for the Lady Vols.

Hayes was named the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year last season and averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 assists. She didn't start any of Tennessee's 33 games but averaged 24.3 minutes. She was second on the team in steals with 44.

Meanwhile, Tennessee learned Friday that graduate transfer Lou Brown has solved her travel problems and will be joining the team.

A source aware of the situation but unable to comment on the record said Brown has informed Warlick that her student visa has been approved, allowing her to travel from her native Australia to the U.S. The source said Brown, who previously played at Washington State, has enrolled in classes and is expected on campus early next week.

UT didn't update Brown's status on Friday.

Hayes, who was the state's Class AAA Miss Basketball in 2017 and led Riverdale to back-to-back state titles in her junior and senior years, was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017.

She was the No. 7 recruit in the country for the Class of 2017, according to ESPN, and No. 3 point guard coming out of high school. Tennessee's signing class that fall was ranked No. 1 nationally

She also earned SEC freshman of the week honors in February after averaging 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals against Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Hayes' dismissal leaves fellow sophomore Evina Westbrook, the top-ranked player in that signing class, as UT's lone point guard with experience. Westbrook started all 33 games last season, averaging 8.4 points and recording a team-high 143 assists.

Freshman Jazmine Massengill likely will see action this season as Westbrook's backup.

With Brown on the way, Tennessee will have 11 players on its roster this season.

"I'm excited about the group that's with us," Warlick said.