College Corner: Belmont Star Destinee Wells Joins The Lady Vols, Vandy’s Malik Dia Transfers To Belmont, Jordan Wright Makes LSU Move

Former Belmont Star Destinee Wells Commits To Tennessee

After entering the transfer portal, former Belmont superstar Destinee Wells has committed to the University of Tennessee, joining the Lady Vols for the 2023-2024 season.

“We are excited to add Destinee Wells to the Lady Vol family,” says Head Coach Kellie Harper. “She possesses a wealth of experience at the point guard position and is a three-level scorer who shoots with impressive accuracy in each of those phases. We are so pleased to have a person and basketball player of Destinee’s caliber joining our program.”

Wells spent three years at Belmont University, breaking records and winning championships. She played 90 games as a Bruin, averaging 18.1 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 38.3 percent on threes and 83.4 percent on free throws. Wells amassed 1,648 points, 427 assists, 292 rebounds and 125 steals while connecting on 381 three-pointers during her time at Belmont.

Ranked as the No. 10 player in the transfer portal by ESPN, she was an All-Ohio Valley Conference First-Team selection and was named OVC Tournament MVP and All-OVC Tournament as well as being named 2020-2021 OVC Freshman of the Year and to the OVC All-Newcomer Team. Wells was selected as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Year in 2021-2022, and was once again on the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List that season.

 

 

 

Belmont Picks Up Malik Dia In Transfer Portal From Vanderbilt

Malik Dia. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt freshman Malik Dia will be staying in Nashville, playing up the street at Belmont next season after he entered the transfer portal.

Dia committed to Vanderbilt while at Ensworth High School in Nashville where he averaged 22.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as a senior in 2021-2022, and was ranked as the nation’s No. 31 power forward by ESPN as well as the state’s No. 5 recruit and nation’s No. 28 power forward by Rivals.

The six foot nine power forward averaged 2.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.5 minutes per game in 20 games while at Vanderbilt with a season-high 10 rebounds in win over Southeastern Louisiana, and scored 14 points on four made 3-pointers against Kentucky.

 

 

 

Vanderbilt Veteran Jordan Wright Transfers To LSU

Jordan Wright. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt senior and veteran leader Jordan Wright has transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) for the 2023-2024 season, the athlete announced via social media.

Wright entered the transfer portal after finishing his senior year at Vanderbilt, where he played 33 games, averaging 10.5 points per game, 5 rebounds per game and shooting 40 percent from the field. As a senior, he helped lead Vanderbilt to multiple wins over ranked opponents including Tennessee and Kentucky, where he hit the game-winning shot over the Wild Cats in Lexington. He also led the Commodores to the NIT Quarterfinals, beating Yale and Michigan at Memorial Gym.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native will be joining second-year LSU Head Coach Matt McMahon.

Steven Boero