Jaiden McCoy, a former Farragut standout, commits to Tennessee Lady Vols

Former Farragut standout Jaiden McCoy has committed to play basketball at Tennessee, she announced Monday on her Instagram account.

Along with a photo decked out in Lady Vols gear in the UT locker room, she wrote, "It's official. I'm a Lady Vol! Every kid from Knoxville has this dream, and it has become my reality. It's been a LONG road, but I'm thankful for all who stood by my side. Knoxville, I'm back baby!!"

The 6-foot-3 McCoy, who has played the past two seasons at Northwest Florida State College, has two years of eligibility remaining and can play immediately.

Tennessee will be the third Division I program that McCoy has signed with, although she never played for the first two schools.

McCoy originally signed with Louisiana Tech in November 2015 but asked for a release from the national letter of intent after then-coach Tyler Summitt resigned five months later.

She later signed with Virginia Tech but never played for the Hokies. She left school the week before the first official practice.

McCoy returned to Knoxville and enrolled at Pellissippi State College and instead of basketball practice she was working retail at Old Navy.

Another chance to play basketball lured McCoy to Northwest Florida State. She signed with the junior college in Niceville, Fla., in June 2017.

"Something was missing in my life," McCoy said in an interview in 2018 for a player profile by Northwest Florida State. "It was basketball. I called my dad back up and we instantly (started) looking at schools."

McCoy played four games during the 2017-18 season, her return to basketball cut short after she fractured her hip in what she called a "fluke injury."

This past season, she played in 32 games and averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

McCoy played in one game her senior season at Farragut after suffering a concussion in the season opener. She was a second-team All-PrepXtra selection as a junior in 2014-15, when she averaged 12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks.

McCoy began her high school career at Webb School. 

McCoy would be the fifth new player for the 2019-20 season and more importantly grows the roster to 12 scholarship players for new coach Kellie Harper. Five-star guard Jordan Horston, center Tamari Key, forward/center Emily Saunders and Australian 3-point specialist Jessie Rennie make up the 2019 signing class.

There are seven returning players – sophomore guards Zaay Green and Jazmine Massengill, sophomore forward Rae Burrell, junior forward Rennia Davis, junior center Kasiyahna Kushkituah and senior center Kamera Harris. Forward Lou Brown, who missed the 2018-19 season with a torn ACL, will make her debut with the Lady Vols in the upcoming season.

Point guard Evina Westbrook has transferred to Connecticut, and forward Mimi Collins has entered the transfer portal.