Lady Vols Assistant Travels to Check on Prized Recruit

Tennessee's Gabe Lazo visits five-star signee Oliviyah Edwards in Tacoma, Washington

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Lady Vols basketball assistant coach Gabe Lazo made the trip across the country to Tacoma, Washington, to check in on Tennessee's five-star signee Oliviyah Edwards. Edwards, ranked as the No. 2 player in the class by ESPN and No. 5 by 247Sports, is considered one of the players with the biggest upside and a perfect fit for head coach Kim Caldwell's system.

Why it matters

Recruiting never stops in college sports, and Tennessee is making an effort to show how important Edwards is to the program. Edwards was being recruited by top schools across the country before committing to the Lady Vols during her official visit in September.

The details

Lazo, who is the primary recruiter for Edwards, traveled to Tacoma to check in on the prized signee. Edwards has the ability to play all over the floor and the athleticism to dunk as a high school player, making her the "dream fit" for Caldwell's system. The Lady Vols have also landed another big-time signing in the class, with four-star Gabby Minus ranked as the No. 47 player in the class by 247Sports.

  • Lazo made the trip to Tacoma this week to check in on Edwards.
  • Edwards committed to Tennessee during her official visit in September 2025.

The players

Gabe Lazo

Lady Vols basketball assistant head coach and the primary recruiter for Oliviyah Edwards.

Oliviyah Edwards

A five-star forward signee for the Lady Vols, ranked as the No. 2 player in the class by ESPN and No. 5 by 247Sports.

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team.

Gabby Minus

A four-star signee for the Lady Vols, ranked as the No. 47 player in the class by 247Sports.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, who was also recruiting Oliviyah Edwards.

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What they’re saying

“Oliviyah will come in and make an impact on both ends of the court. Her versatility and play-making ability will set her apart. She is a high character person, and we couldn't be happier for her to join our program.”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Lady Vols Basketball (rockytopinsider.com)

“Thank you for coming to spend time in Tacoma.”

— Oliviyah Edwards (Twitter)

What’s next

Lazo will return to Knoxville for a critical matchup with Missouri on Thursday. The Lady Vols are coming off a brutal 43-point loss at South Carolina and will host the return of Kellie Harper and the Tigers.

The takeaway

Tennessee's effort to show how important Oliviyah Edwards is to the program, with assistant coach Gabe Lazo traveling across the country to check in on the prized five-star signee, demonstrates the Volunteers' commitment to building a championship-caliber women's basketball team.