Tennessee senior guard/forward Rae Burrell is among 15 players named to the 2021 USA TODAY Preseason All-America Team. The 6-1 product of Las Vegas was named to the third team.
The recognition is the latest in a string of preseason accolades for the Lady Vol standout. Previously, Burrell was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List and the Coaches All-SEC Preseason First Team.
The three-year letterwinner is a big reason why the Lady Vols are ranked No. 18 in USA TODAY’s Preseason Poll released today (not to be confused with the USA TODAY Coaches Poll that comes out on Nov. 3). UT was previously announced at No. 15 in the AP Preseason Poll and was picked second by the media and third by the coaches in the SEC Preseason Polls.
An All-SEC Second Team performer in 2020-21, Burrell averaged 16.8 ppg. and 4.6 rpg. and hit double figures in 22 of 25 contests. She shot 45.8 percent on field goals, 40.2 on three-pointers and 82.5 percent from the free-throw line, all easily career bests. The 6-foot-1 Las Vegas native fired in 15 or more points 17 times and hit 20+ on seven occasions, leading UT in the first two categories and ranking second in the third a year ago.
Burrell is the fifth-best returning scorer in the SEC and is No. 1 in free throw percentage, No. 2 in three-point field goal percentage and No. 7 in field goal percentage. Her 861 career points leave her 139 away from becoming the 47th Lady Vol to score 1,000 points during her time on Rocky Top.
-UT Athletics
