University of Tennessee Athletics
Three Future Lady Vol Hoopsters Ink during Early Signing
November 25, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2008
 Taber Spani |
 Faith Dupree |
 Kamiko Williams |
Joining the eight-time NCAA Champions are signees Taber Spani, a 6'1" home-schooled shooting guard from Lee's Summit, Mo., playing for the Metro Academy Mavericks; Kamiko Williams, a 5'11" combination guard from Northeast High School in Clarksville, Tenn., and Faith Dupree, a 6'3" post from The Webb School in Knoxville, Tenn.
"We are thrilled to have signed Faith, Kamiko and Taber," said Summitt. "All three are tremendous people, excellent students, outstanding basketball players and great fits for our basketball team."
Spani, ranked by ESPN.com as the nation's 13th ranked overall player in the class of 2009, is also regarded as one of the top backcourt players. She is a heady guard with incredible three point range. Last season, she averaged 29.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, three blocks and 2.4 steals a game and capped her junior campaign by winning the DiRenna Award, which honors the top boys and girls basketball players in metropolitan Kansas City. .
"Taber has great court vision. She is a deep three-point shooting threat who will force opposing defenses to stretch out. I really like her game and all the intangibles she brings to the court," said Summitt. "She's a fierce competitor and a winner. She's physically tough and mentally tough and wants to compete for championships."
In signing Dupree and Williams, it marks the first time Summitt has picked up two scholarship players from the state of Tennessee in the same recruiting class since Misty Greene (Decatur), Kellie Jolly (Sparta) and Brynae Laxton (Oneida) signed with the Lady Vols in 1995. That trio went on to win three consecutive NCAA titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Dupree plays at The Webb School and is coached by former Lady Vol Shelley Sexton Collier. As a junior, she averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game as the Spartans were the Division II-AA state runner-up and she was named to the Division II-AA all-tournament and all-region teams.
Dupree will join former teammate and current Lady Vol starting rookie forward Glory Johnson at UT.
"Faith is a strong and mobile post player who can also step out as a power forward," said Summitt. "She has great touch around the basket and isn't afraid of contact. She has really developed a stronger post skill set in the last year."
Williams was the first player to commit to this recruiting class when she notified Summitt of her intentions in the Fall of 2007. She is a left-handed combination guard who is comfortable at the point or on the wing. In 22 games last season, she averaged 19.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and also recorded 87 assists and 84 steals.
"I like Kamiko's game...she's a very talented guard," Summitt said. "She's tough on defense, sprints the floor and can shoot the three."
These signees will join 11 returning players on the Lady Vols 2009-10 roster. Tennessee's lone graduate will be fifth year senior forward Alex Fuller. Next year, UT's roster will have no seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores and the freshmen class of Dupree, Spani and Williams.
