From Michelle Marciniak to Rickea Jackson: Top nine transfers in Lady Vols basketball history
Transfers have made big impacts in the history of Lady Vols basketball.
There have been 24 transfers since legendary coach Pat Summitt began coaching in 1974. Summitt and former Tennessee coach Holly Warlick brought in a combined 13 transfers.
The creation of the NCAA transfer portal and the one-time immediate eligibility rule led to an increase in transfers across college basketball. Tennessee coach Kellie Harper has recruited well out of the portal, and has brought in 11 transfers going into her fifth season.
With three transfers set to make their debuts in the 2023-24 season, here's a look at the most impactful transfers to Tennessee over the years in alphabetical order.
Alberta Auguste and Shannon Bobbitt (2006-08)
Transferred from: College of Central Florida (Auguste), Trinity Valley Community College (Bobbitt)
Seasons at Tennessee: 2
We're combining the two in this case. Alberta Auguste and Shannon Bobbitt went from first-team NJCAA All-Americans to winning two NCAA championships at Tennessee.
Bobbitt averaged 9.3 points, three assists and 2.3 rebounds. The 5-foot-2 guard was named to the NCAA All-Final Four team twice. Bobbitt ranks in the top 10 at UT in every 3-point shooting category but one and assists in a single game (13).
The 5-11 Auguste played guard and forward, averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds at Tennessee and her eight steals during a game in 2006 rank No. 4 in program history. Auguste and Bobbitt were part of Tennessee's five-player 2008 WNBA Draft class, which was the first draft five players were selected from one team.
Cindy Brogdon (1977-79)
Transferred from: Mercer
Seasons at Tennessee: 2
Cindy Brogdon played for Summitt after winning a silver medal with her at the 1976 Olympics, and went to the AIAW Final Four both seasons at Tennessee.
The 5-10 forward was a three-time Kodak All-American and scored 1,458 points at UT. She recorded 3,204 points, 1,028 rebounds and 377 assists in her career.
She ranks in the top 10 in career scoring average, points scored in a season, career free throw percentage and career assists per game. Brogdon was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Diamond DeShields (2014-17)
Transferred from: North Carolina
Seasons at Tennessee: 3 (one redshirt)
Diamond DeShields made it into the 1,000 point club in two seasons at Tennessee, averaging 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and three assists.
DeShields ranks in the top 10 in career scoring average and free throws made in a game. The 6-1 guard played on the last Tennessee team to make it to an NCAA Elite Eight in 2015-16. DeShields was a WBCA honorable mention All-American before turning pro after her redshirt junior year.
DeShields was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She won a WNBA title with the Chicago Sky and now plays for the Dallas Wings.
Rickea Jackson (2022-present)
Transferred from: Mississippi State
Seasons at Tennessee: 1
Jackson was an All-America honorable mention, a first-team All-SEC selection and Cheryl Miller Award Top Five finalist during the 2022-23 season. She averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
The 6-2 forward ranks in the top 10 of career scoring average, free throws made in a game and 20-plus point games. Jackson recorded the second-longest streak of 20-plus point games (8) and set the program record for highest free-throw percentage (100%) with the most made attempts when she went 14-for-14 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Jackson is set for a second season at Tennessee after deciding not to enter the WNBA Draft.
Michelle Marciniak (1993-96)
Transferred from: Notre Dame
Seasons at Tennessee: 3
Michelle Marciniak is one of the best point guards in program history, and played for two legendary coaches in Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame and then Summitt.
She still ranks in the top 10 at Tennessee in all assists and steals categories and owns the school record for steals in a single game (11).
The 5-10 Marciniak led the Lady Vols to two straight NCAA title games, winning a national championship in 1996 when she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. She went on to play in the ABL and WNBA for six seasons.
Cindy Noble (1978-81)
Transferred from: Ohio State
Seasons at Tennessee: 3
Cindy Noble was a Wade Trophy Finalist, a Kodak All-American and led UT to three AIAW Final Fours and two runner-up finishes. The 6-5 center averaged 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals with the Lady Vols.
Noble's 67.9% field goal percentage in 1979-80 is the highest in program history. She's in the top 10 of career points per game, career field goal percentage and free throws made in a single season.
She went on to play professionally in Italy and Japan and won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. Noble was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Jill Rankin Schneider (1979-80)
Transferred from: Wayland Baptist College
Seasons at Tennessee: 1
Jill Rankin Schneider went to the Final Four and was a Kodak All-American and Wade Trophy finalist at both her schools.
The 6-3 center averaged 19.2 points and 7.3 rebounds to lead Tennessee to the AIAW Final Four. UT won both the regular-season and SEC Tournament championships, and Schneider won SEC tournament MVP.
Schneider had 2,851 points and 1,101 rebounds in her career and shot 58.3%. She's in the top 10 for career shooting percentage, points scored and field goals made in single season. Schneider was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Patricia Roberts (1976-77)
Transferred from: North Georgia College/Emporia State College
Seasons at Tennessee: 1
Patricia Roberts won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympics alongside Summitt before playing for her. Roberts averaged 29.9 points and 14.2 rebounds – the highest averages ever at UT – and had 2,447 career points and 1,031 rebounds.
The 6-2 forward holds the program records for single-season points (987) and rebounds (467) and single-game points (51) and rebounds (24). Her 64.7% field goal percentage is the second-highest recorded in a season at UT.
Roberts was Tennessee's first Kodak All-American in 1977 and was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols basketball: Top Tennessee transfers include Rickea Jackson
