First-year head coach Kim Caldwell has confirmed that five highly-regarded high school players from the class of 2025 have signed Institutional Financial Aid Agreements to attend the University of Tennessee and represent the Lady Vol basketball program.

Making it official by submitting their paperwork were 5-foot-6 “Twin Backcourt” point guards Mia and Mya Pauldo of Denville, N.J., the first players to commit to Caldwell and her staff, as well as 6-foot-2 guard/forward Deniya Prawl of Toronto, the first-ever Canadian player to sign with the Big Orange, 6-0 guard Jaida Civil of Vero Beach, Fla., and 6-3 guard Lauren Hurst of Cleveland, Tenn.

Mia and Mya Pauldo are rated No. 11 and No. 56, respectively, in the espnW 100, while Prawl is the No. 14 ranked player by that organization, Civil checks in at No. 32 and Hurst is rated No. 42. The group represents Tennessee’s first signing class since 2017 with two or more top-15 prospects and the first with three rated among the top 35 since the Lady Vols inked three top-12 high school standouts en route to the nation’s No. 1 overall group in 2017. 

Additionally, this marks UT’s first group with four top-50 rated signees since landing four in 2018 and its first class with five high school players inking paperwork since the program reeled in six scholarship players (all in the top 35) back in 2008.

As of Nov. 21, Tennessee’s current five-member class is ranked No. 1 by 247Sports and No. 2 by ESPN and World Exposure Report. It marks the first time the Lady Vols have been ranked in the top 10 by any organization since 2019 (No. 9/ESPN), in the top five since 2018 (No. 4/ESPN) and in the top two since 2017 (No. 1/ESPN). UT is the only school currently listed with five signees during the early signing period.

“From the time that these five young ladies came on their visits, it just felt right,” Caldwell said. “It felt like they were supposed to play here. They got along with our staff, and they got along with our players really well.”

Caldwell credited her staff with its efforts in signing one of the nation’s most dynamic classes despite being on campus a little over six months.  

“I’m really proud of the staff’s hard work,” Caldwell said. “I think that we all came together and learned a lot in a short period of time. We had really great visits that were genuine and authentic, and we were just ourselves. 

“I think we presented what our culture is in the best way we possibly could, and our staff just did a really good job of hitting the ground running, working and getting out on the road. We had some really good people in (on visits), and the class we signed is terrific. I can’t wait to get to work with them and see what they do together over their four years here. It’s going to be special.”  

Caldwell also was complimentary of the role the current Lady Vols played in the recruiting process.

“Our team did a great job during recruiting visits displaying our team chemistry, and they were just themselves and authentic,” Caldwell said. “One of our biggest selling points is how genuine our team is, how well everyone gets along, how much they value basketball and winning, and what their goals are for Tennessee. 

“I think for every visit we had, our team hit a home run, and they really sold that and connected with the players we had on campus.”

 

 

Caldwell’s Comments About Mia Pauldo

“Mia is a significant scorer. She can score at three levels. She is fast, she is scrappy and she is full of energy. Mia is the exact type of player I want — someone who can create a shot for herself as well as for others.”

Mia Pauldo’s Career Highlights

• Rated No. 8 by World Exposure Report.
• Ranked No. 11 in espnW 100 / 5-star / No. 4 point guard.
• Rated No. 14 by On3 / No. 4 point guard.
• Ranked No. 16 by 247Sports / 4-star / No. 3 point guard.
• Rated No. 18 by ProspectsNation.com / 4.5-star / No. 3 point guard.
• Ranked No. 26 by BlueStar Basketball.
• Part of “Twin Backcourt” with sister Mya for Morris Catholic High School Crusaders.
• The duo combined for 2,779 points, 818 assists, 713 rebounds and 503 steals in their first three seasons at Morris Catholic.
• Through her junior year at MCHS, she logged 1,640 points, 444 assists, 402 rebounds and 272 steals. 
• Named the MaxPreps Player of the Year in New Jersey in 2023-24, averaging 19.9 points, 5.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 steals as a junior.
• Shot 56 percent from the field with a high of 30 points in a 64-48 win over Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in January 2024.
• Reached Non-Public B state title game the first three years of her prep career, winning the last two championships.
• MCHS won the Morris County Tournament three times.
• Chose Tennessee over Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Rutgers to name a few.

 

 

Caldwell’s Comments About Mya Pauldo

“Mya is a very good three-point shooter, and she also can create a shot for herself and for her teammates. She’s incredibly scrappy, defensively. She and Mia both are, and that’s something that we need is two hard-nosed defenders who can press full court and still get steals in half court. They’ll be huge for us on both ends of the floor.”

Mya Pauldo’s Career Highlights

• Rated No. 48 by World Exposure Report.
• Ranked No. 49 by 247Sports / 4-star / No. 13 guard.
• Rated No. 54 by ProspectsNation.com / 4-star / No. 8 point guard.
• Ranked No. 56 in espnW 100 / 4-star / No. 10 point guard.
• Part of “Twin Backcourt” with sister Mia for Morris Catholic High School Crusaders.
• The duo combined for 2,779 points, 818 assists, 713 rebounds and 503 steals in their first three seasons at Morris Catholic.
• Mya has amassed 1,139 points, 374 assists, 311 rebounds and 231 steals in her career through her junior year.
• Averaged 14.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals as a junior in 2023-24.
• Reached Non-Public B state title game the first three years of her prep career, winning the last two championships.
• MCHS won the Morris County Tournament three times.
• Chose Tennessee over Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Rutgers to name a few.

 

Caldwell’s Comments About Deniya Prawl

“Deniya is an all-around phenomenal athlete. She has the ability to have a great four years here and can come in and help us right away. She can shoot threes. She can shoot mid-range. She can score, and she can guard.”

Deniya Prawl’s Career Highlights

• Ranked No. 6 by 247Sports / 5-star / No. 3 wing.
• Rated No. 8 by World Exposure Report.
• Rated No. 10 by ProspectsNation.com / 5-star / No. 3 wing.
• Ranked No. 10 by On3 / No. 2 at wing.
• Rated No. 14 in espnW 100 / 5-star / No. 3 wing.
• Chose Lady Vols over Notre Dame and Baylor.
• First Lady Vol to hail from Canada.
• Helped IMG advance to the 2024 Chipotle Nationals title game, chipping in 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting along with eight rebounds and four assists as her team fell to Montverde Academy, 61-53, and finished the season 23-4.
• Played on Canadian 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup team, averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 blocks in 27.2 minutes over seven games. 
• Led the team in rebounds and assists, and she had the third-highest efficiency on the team at 15.7.
• Was a significant contributor as her nation took silver in that event, as she tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the gold medal game vs. United States.
• Also played on 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup team for Canada, contributing 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 points and 1.8 assists to that squad’s fourth-place finish as one of its younger members.
• Chose Lady Vols over Notre Dame and Baylor.

 

 

Caldwell’s Comments About Jaida Civil

“From the moment I saw Jaida play, I wanted to coach her. She is perfect for our style of play. She is a great full-court defender and can score from anywhere on the floor. She has an aggressive mindset that will instantly make us better.”

Jaida Civil’s Career Highlights

• Ranked No. 13 by 247Sports / 4-star / No. 5 wing.
• Rated No. 19 by ProspectsNation.com / 4.5-star / No. 6 guard.
• Rated No. 20 by World Exposure Report.
• Ranked No. 20 by ASGR.
• Rated No. 32 in espnW 100 / 4-star / No. 11 guard.
• Named 2023-24 FLORIDA TODAY Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
• Chosen to 2023-24 All-Space Coast First Team.
• Selected as 2023-24 FACA 4A District 12 Player of the Year.
• Averaged 14.2 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 5.1 apg. and 2.6 spg. while shooting 36 percent from three-point range at PBMHS as a junior.
• Scored in double figures 19 times as a junior and dished out five or more assists on 15 occasions.
• Helped Palm Bay Magnet to a 22-8 record and 2023-24 FHSAA Regional Final.
• Chose UT over Miami, North Carolina and Florida State among others.

 

 

Caldwell’s Comments About Lauren Hurst

“Lauren is a great transition player who can play multiple positions for us. Her size, mixed with her skill set, separates her from others in her class and makes Lauren a great fit here. She is a wonderful person and already feels like family.”

Lauren Hurst’s Career Highlights

• Rated No. 38 by World Exposure Report.
• Ranked No. 42 in espnW 100 / 4-star / No. 9 wing.
• Rated No. 47 by BlueStar Basketball.
• Ranked No. 50 by 247Sports / 4-star / No. 12 forward.  
• Rated 4-star prospect by ProspectsNation.com as a wing.
• Named TSWA All-State in 2023-24.
• Selected 2023-24 Chattanooga Times-Free Press Scrappy Moore Female Athlete of the Year.
• Averaged 14.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for the Blue Raiders on their way to the 2024 TSSAA Class 4A state semifinals.
• Hit 44 percent from the field, 36 percent on threes and 80 percent at the free-throw line as a junior.
• Put up 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals as a sophomore.
• Participated in the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team Trials.
• In addition to being the state’s highest ranked recruit in basketball, she has been a two-time Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball as well.
• Chose Tennessee over NC State and Clemson.