Lady Vols Announce Addition Of Zhen Craft

Zhen Craft, last year's fifth-leading scorer and fourth-leading rebounder for Georgia's NCAA Tournament squad, has signed an Institutional Financial Aid Agreement (IFAA), Lady Vol head coach Kim Caldwell confirmed on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-2 rising sophomore forward from Waldorf, Maryland, who was ranked as the No. 46 prospect in the 2025 SportsCenter NEXT 100, has three seasons of eligibility remaining. She reunites with UT assistant coach Isoken Uzamere, who was at UGA last season and whose hiring on Caldwell's staff was announced on April 7.

Craft joins 5-9 guards Avery Mills (Liberty) and Naomi White (Northern Arizona) and 6-3 forward Harper Peterson (Stanford) as those in Tennessee's 2026 portal class who have officially submitted paperwork. UT also will welcome 6-1 freshman guard/forward Gabby Minus (Dacula, Ga./Hebron Christian Academy), the No. 64-ranked player in the 2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 class.

Craft played in 27 games and earned four starts for the Bulldogs while averaging 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in her rookie season in 2025-26. She shot 47 percent from the field and contributed 26 assists, 17 blocks and 12 steals during the campaign.

As a freshman at UGA, Craft scored in double figures five times, including four occasions during non-conference play. She contributed points in 24 of 27 contests, scoring seven or more points 11 times. She pulled down at least one rebound in 24 games as well, grabbing seven or more in eight different outings.

Among her best performances, Craft tallied career bests with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds in 20 minutes vs. Charleston Southern on Dec. 29. She recorded her SEC statistical bests with 11 points and eight rebounds vs. South Carolina in a season-most 29 minutes on Jan. 11.

In addition to her ESPN top-50 prep ranking, Craft was assessed as the No. 52 prospect by 247Sports. The second-highest ranked prospect in the state of Maryland in 2025, she helped lead Bishop McNamara to a state title and earned MVP honors. She also was named to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference All-State Team.

2026-27 Lady Vol Roster Additions (Signees)

Incoming Transfers
Zhen Craft (6-2, SO, F, Waldorf, Md./Bishop McNamara H.S./Georgia)
Avery Mills (5-9, JR, G, Lynchburg, Va./Lynchburg H.S./Liberty)
Harper Peterson (6-3, R-SO, F, Rocklin, Calif./Whitney H.S./Stanford)
Naomi White (5-9, R-SO, G, Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West H.S./Northern Arizona)

Incoming Freshman
Gabby Minus (6-1, FR, G/F, Dacula, Ga./Hebron Christian Academy)

University of Tennessee Athletics

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