Joining Lady Vols basketball meant so much to Jada Eads that she was brought to tears the moment she made her transfer official.
Eads, then a 5-foot-7 guard at Seton Hall, tore the ACL in her right knee Jan. 17 against DePaul, ending her sophomore season after 16 games. She averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals across two seasons with the Pirates.
"It meant a lot to have somewhere to continue playing at the next level, especially coming off an injury," Eads said Aug. 3. "I'm going to give it my all for (coach Kim Caldwell) because that's what she wants, and she believed in what I can do. I love the way she picked me up, and I will always have that chip on my shoulder to play at the next level, to compete with her and for my team."
Jada Eads' recovery progress and practice observations
Tennessee held its first open practice of the summer on Aug. 3. Eads said her knee is feeling great and credited the training staff for keeping her rehab on track, though she isn't fully cleared yet.
She's only about 6½ months removed from surgery, but Caldwell said she expects Eads to be available by the start of the season.
She did not participate in live drills that involved a lot of contact, but took part in full-court and half-court work on both ends of the floor. She looked comfortable guarding the ball and playing on-ball in transition with pace while being pressured full court.
"It honestly felt good, felt therapeutic," Eads said. "I love basketball so much. To be able to go out there and work out and do a lot of things felt nice. I'm proud of what I'm going through and what I'm doing now."
She said she wants to show more of her all-around game once fully healthy, pointing to her playmaking ability as an area Seton Hall didn't get to see, and she wants to shoot the ball better this year.
Fellow transfer Avery Mills is also working back from right knee surgery for a torn ACL and meniscus. Eads has used her own experience to encourage Mills.
"It can be hard, especially with the first process going through with the surgery and everything," Eads said. "Avery's a strong girl, she's one of the strongest people I know. I have no doubt she'll get through this process well. I'll always check in with her no matter what."
Eads and Caldwell both said the team has bonded quickly.
"Our chemistry is actually there," Eads said. "When we first got here, we knew what the plan was, coming into the summer we had a lot of work to do. That's a good group of girls, and I'm ready to play with this group."
Why Jada Eads chose Tennessee
Eads committed to Tennessee on April 25, the 10th of 13 transfers Caldwell brought in to rebuild a program coming off a 16-14 record, at 53% the worst winning percentage in its history. Neither that stat nor Caldwell's blunt recruiting pitch scared her off.
"With the season (the Lady Vols) had last year, we knew it was going to be work," Eads said. "But we all wanted to be here and play for Coach Kim. She's so competitive. She wants to win, and we want to win, so we're willing to do whatever it takes."
Caldwell was surprised by Eads' emotion but told her to never forget the version of herself that felt that way in the moment.
"It took me aback a little bit," Caldwell said. "She got up from the table, had a conversation with her mom, then came back and was so emotional after she did it. I think it was a great reminder of what it means to be a Lady Vol."
Eads said the ultimate draw was the plan the training staff laid out for her.
"Honestly, the rehabilitation is what got me," she said. "The whole environment here, the legacy behind it, everything felt great, and I wanted to play at the next level for Coach Kim."
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Jada Eads viewed Lady Vols basketball's first open practice after ACL surgery
