KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - University of Tennessee Lady Vol head basketball coach Pat Summitt announced this afternoon that redshirt freshman post Faith Dupree intends to transfer after the fall semester.
"This was Faith's decision to leave the program," Summitt said. "She told me she wants to play basketball at a school where she can have an impact right away. "I support her choice and wish her nothing but continued success both on and off the court."
The 6-3 post appeared in the first two games of the 2009-10 season before it was announced on Nov. 23, 2009, that she would redshirt her freshman year due to recurrent lower back pain. Against #7/4-ranked Baylor she logged four minutes and grabbed a rebound. In San Antonio at the ESPNU Road to the Championship, she played 18 minutes and tossed in five points, grabbed six rebounds and had three assists in 18 minutes against Texas Tech.
"I have been thinking about this all summer," said Dupree. "There is never a good time to make a decision like this, but I feel like it will be in my best interest to pursue an opportunity where I can be major contributor in the post.
"I will finish this semester at UT in order to transfer in good standing to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in January 2011."
Dupree signed with the Lady Vols in 2009 following an impressive career at the Webb School in Knoxville. During her 124-game career as a Spartan, she scored 1,724 points, snagged 802 rebounds and recorded 244 blocks to go along with 208 assists and 169 steals. Coached by former Lady Vol Shelley Sexton Collier, Dupree averaged 16.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg as senior and was selected as an honorable mention All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
She earned recognition as a three-time all-state honoree (2007, 2008 and 2009) and as a member of two all-state tournament teams (2007 and 2008).
