Randy Smith: Rhyne Howard Making Her Mark

University of Kentucky sophomore Rhyne Howard is establishing herself as not only an upper tier SEC basketball p/layer this year but also as one of the very best players in the country. Howard, who played her high school basketball at Bradley Central, has led her Kentucky Wildcats to a number 18 national ranking and is currently a leading candidate for SEC Player of the Year honors, as well as National Player of the Year as well.

Winning national awards is nothing new for the 6'2" sophomore. She was named the national Freshman of the Year last year after scoring more than 16 points per game for the Wildcats and is developing into one of the best all-around p/layers in the country. So the big question is.....how did The Tennessee Lady Vols miss signing her two years ago? The answer is very simple. Tennessee got in on the Rhyne Howard sweepstakes too late. Then Tennessee coach Holly Warlick was obviously looking elsewhere for members of her Lady Vols' squad. In recruiting, getting in late on a player is a kiss of death. Howard chose Kentucky over Tennessee and everybody else who was recruiting her and hasn't looked back at all.

When Holly Warlick failed to recruit Rhyne Howard early in the recruiting process, she was also sealing her doom as the Lady Vols' head coach. Warlick was already on a very hot seat in Knoxville before Howard was part of the recruiting picture. And when Tennessee couldn't even sign the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, it was perhaps the final straw for Tennessee fans.

In women's basketball as with other collegiate sports, it's important to sign the best players in your own state first and foremost. There was no question that Rhyne Howard was the best player in Tennessee and would have been a great asset for the Lady Vols, following in the footsteps of another great Bradley Central product, Brittany Jackson, who played for Coach Pat Summit. Current Tennessee Coach Kellie Jolly Harper could have really used a player of Rhyne Howards' caliber on this year's squad. Heck, if Tennessee could have signed Howard two years ago, Holly Warlick might still have her job.

It appears that Tennessee is missing out on another Gatorade Player of the Year as another area product, Madison Hayes from East Hamilton, committed to Mississippi State over a year ago. That means that Tennessee is 0 for 2 in signing the state's best player as Hayes committed to the Bulldogs before Kellie Harper was hired at Tennessee. Just think how good Tennessee would be with Rhyne Howard and Madison Hayes on the Lady Vols' roster next year.  Instead Tennessee, currently is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, and has to look elsewhere to find the best players in the country.

I love Holly Warlick...she is a true Vol for Life but she unintentionally damaged the Tennessee program by not being able to sign the state of Tennessee's best player. I also love Kellie Harper and it remains to be seen if she will be able to get the best players available from the Volunteer state. I prefer to think she will, but to rebuild a program like Tennessee's is a tough chore.

As for Rhyne Howard, she will continue to be a standout for Kentucky and will also continue to haul in prestigious awards, including the Catherine Neely Female Athlete of the Year award from the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame on February 24th. She is very deserving and even most Tennessee fans wish her well.