Tennessee may not have gotten the result it wanted on the gridiron Saturday, but Kim Caldwell and the Lady Vols secured exactly the outcome they were hoping for with elite 2026 prospect Oliviyah “Big OH” Edwards.
On a day when Caldwell and her staff hosted 2026 five-stars Bri Crittendon and Edwards for official visits — along with 2027 five-star Eve Long on an unofficial — the goal was to impress, strengthen relationships, and lay the groundwork for commitments down the road. That’s why Edwards’ sudden pledge wasn’t just surprising — it was a statement. A big one.
Tennessee is no stranger to landing elite women’s basketball talent. Just look at this year’s freshman class, which features five-star Deniya Prawl, the No. 6 player in the nation. But Edwards is different. Prawl and her classmates are undeniably skilled, yet Edwards is the kind of player who commands national attention. She’s the type who draws in casual fans, the ones who will tune in just to watch her play. And with good reason — while women’s basketball is seeing more above-the-rim moments than ever, it’s still rare. Edwards makes dunking look easy.
While she is a powerful player, she is very skilled as well with an improving jump shot.
If you don’t believe me, Edwards says it best. In an interview with Yahoo Sports, she broke down her game this way:
“I’d say I’m very versatile,” Edwards said. “I think that as a big, I do have good handles. I could also post up the little, tiny ones. I feel like it’s hard to guard when I can shoot, I can get to the basket, and I can create my own shot. That’s really hard to guard, especially with my height. I also know how to pass the ball, too.”
Brandon Clay, the Director of Women’s Basketball Scouting for 247Sports, had this to say about the elite 2026 prospect:
“Edwards is a fantastic frontcourt option when sprinting the lane in the open floor. In that regard, she is the most intriguing prospect in the class right now. She possesses a physical toolbox that no one else has. Edwards is also showing signs of making the 15-18 foot jumper when her feet are set. Her calling card is her willingness to rebound the basketball and be impactful in the paint.”
I’m not saying Edwards will be the Caitlin Clark of Tennessee basketball, but she has the type of game that forces people to pay attention. If she lives up to her potential, she won’t just elevate the Lady Vols on the court — she’ll elevate the program’s profile nationally. For Kim Caldwell, that kind of spotlight doesn’t just bring wins. It brings momentum, recruits, and the chance to restore Tennessee to the forefront of women’s basketball.
