Lady Vols basketball hosted the No. 1 recruit in the 2027 class on Oct. 13.
Five-star point guard Kaleena Smith posted photos wearing a Lady Vols jersey from her unofficial visit on Instagram on Oct. 15. The 5-foot-6 prospect is one of the most sought-after players in the nation.
Smith is a talented scorer, and she turned heads as a freshman when she averaged 34.9 points for Ontario Christian outside of Los Angeles. As a sophomore last season, she averaged 23.2 points, 8.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 4.5 steals.
Smith one of three women’s basketball prospects Adidas signed in May. Lady Vols legend Candace Parker is the president of Adidas women’s basketball, and Tennessee will return to the brand as its official apparel provider in 2026. The blockbuster deal will also bring NIL benefits to Tennessee athletes.
Five-star 2026 forward Oliviyah Edwards, who committed to the Lady Vols in September, was one of the other three women’s basketball players to sign with Adidas this spring.
Smith is the second top-10 recruit in the 2027 class Tennessee has hosted this fall. The Lady Vols also hosted five-star forward Eve Long for an unofficial visit in September. The 6-3 Long, who’s ranked No. 8 in the 2027 class, plays for Olathe South High School in Kansas.
Smith’s visit adds to the Lady Vols’ recruiting momentum going into coach Kim Caldwell’s second season. Caldwell and her staff signed the No. 2-ranked 2025 class last year, and they’re off to a strong start in the 2026 class with the commitment of Edwards, who’s ranked No. 2 in the class.
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Kaleena Smith, No. 1 recruit in 2027, takes unofficial visit with Lady Vols
