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.
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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.
Edwards is ranked No. 3 in the 2026 class by ESPN, which previously made her highest-ranked signee for the Lady Vols since Jordan Horston, who was ranked No. 2 in the 2019 class.
Edwards is from Tacoma, Washington. She has been dunking since seventh grade and was the runner-up in the McDonald’s All-American Game dunk contest.
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Edwards previously credited former assistant coach Gabe Lazo as her lead recruiter. Lazo resigned before being hired to LSU’s staff, but then was announced as the UCF coach April 4.
Edwards also had ties to the program through Lady Vols legend Candace Parker, who connected with Edwards because of her viral dunking. The pair stayed connected over the years and Edwards eventually signed with Adidas in May 2025.
Parker is also the president of Adidas women’s basketball, and Tennessee will once again be an Adidas school starting in July.
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
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Oliviyah Edwards’ commitment came down to South Carolina and Tennessee
