Oliviyah Edwards commits to South Carolina, but Lady Vols were in the running

Oliviyah Edwards commits to South Carolina, but Lady Vols were in the running

Former Lady Vols basketball signee Oliviyah Edwards has committed to South Carolina, she announced April 23.

Tennessee was still in the mix for the five-star and 6-foot-3 forward during her second round of recruitment, her mother Jordan West told Knox News.

Edwards took visits to South Carolina, Texas and Louisville after requesting her release from Tennessee. But she was still in "big talks" to return to the Lady Vols, West said, and Edwards went back and forth on the decision for the last eight or nine days. Tennessee recruited Edwards hard and did a really good job, West said, and in the end it came down to the Lady Vols and South Carolina.

South Carolina, Southern Cal, LSU, Florida and Washington were all finalists for Edwards before she signed with Tennessee in November. She had official visits set up with South Carolina and LSU in the fall, but originally committed to Tennessee on Sept. 13 before taking them.

When Edwards was officially released from her signing on April 7, all eight of the Lady Vols' possible returners entered the transfer portal. Since then, Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell and her staff have rebuilt the roster with eight additions out of the transfer portal. UT also signed 2026 prospect Irene Oboavwoduo, who will join four-star wing Gabby Minus in the incoming freshman class.