By UT Sports

On August 20th, when fall semester classes get underway at the University of Tennessee, Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt will welcome six former high school standouts to the Knoxville campus that will comprise the Lady Vol basketball class of 2012. Joining the back-to-back NCAA Champion Lady Vols will be Briana Bass (5-2, PG, North Central H.S., Indianapolis, Ind.), Alyssia Brewer (6-3, F, Sapulpa H.S., Sapulpa, Okla.), Amber Gray (6-1, F, Lakotah West H.S., West Chester, Ohio), Glory Johnson (6-3, F/C, The Webb School, Knoxville, Tenn.), Alicia Manning (6-1, G/F, Etowah H.S., Woodstock, Ga.) and Shekinna Stricklen (6-2, G/F, Morrilton H.S., Morrilton, Ark.).

“It’s hard to believe that classes start in two months,” said Summitt. “We are very excited to have signed this outstanding class of student-athletes with the University of Tennessee. Individually and collectively, they are regarded as some of the top prospects in the nation. All six players are expected to be an excellent fit and will certainly complement the returning players on our roster.”

“Our coaching staff and team are thrilled that these outstanding young women will be wearing Tennessee Orange and White in the coming season,” said Summitt. “We lost an experienced starting five in our senior class in 2008 but I’m looking forward to the competition from the six newcomers and our six returnees to see who fills those spots in the coming season.”

Forward Alex Fuller is the lone senior returning for the 2008-09 season. She will be joined by redshirt sophomore point guard Cait McMahan who will be back in the line-up after sitting out last season following knee surgery. Joining McMahan in the sophomore class will be Vicki Baugh, Angie Bjorklund and Sydney Smallbone. Redshirt freshman center Kelley Cain, who missed her rookie year following knee surgery, will finally see action in the coming season.

The “super six” are headed in a couple of different directions this summer. Glory Johnson is already enrolled at UT and taking classes in the first session of summer school. She will be joined by Briana Bass, Amber Gray and Alicia Manning for the second session of summer school in July. Alyssia Brewer and Shekinna Stricklen were named to the USA Women's U18 National Team will train at the USOTC in Colorado Springs from July 10-16 and in Washington, D.C., July 17-20, before departing for the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women. The 2008 FIBA Americas zone qualifier will be contested July 23-27 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the top four finishing teams earning a berth to the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship.

The 2008-09 Lady Vol basketball team will open the season with a pair of exhibition games on Nov. 6 and Nov. 9.