JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman women's basketball head coach Mike Mincey announced Wednesday evening a four-player recruiting class for the 2025-26 women's basketball season, bringing Tennessee natives Chloe Heath, Cybil Penland, Harmony Sullivan and Delaney Weddington to Mossy Creek.
"We are very excited to welcome these 4 outstanding players to Mossy Creek," Mincey said. "We feel like we answered our needs well with what we will be losing meshed with what we return. Good height, good speed and all have the ability to score. All are local talents and all play for teams that will reach the post season. They all should have an outstanding senior year for their respective high schools."
Carson-Newman is off to an 8-1 start this season and has been nationally ranked all season, while also being ranked inside the top ten in the media poll all six weeks.
Chloe Heath – Forward – 6'2 – Maryville, Tenn – Heritage
Earning Class 4A all-state honors as a junior, Heath led Heritage to a district and regional championship to make it to the state basketball tournament. The district and regional MVP was the rebounder of the year and three-point contest winner. She reached the 1,000 point scoring mark for her high school career as a junior.
Mincey on Heath: "Chloe can play inside and out at 6'2. She is a deadly outside shooter that will help us stretch the floor whether she is playing at the 4 or 5 spot. She will give us a lot of options in how we want to play because of her offensive abilities and mobility. Getting taller players that are skilled is always tough at the D2 level which makes getting Chloe even more special."
Cybil Penland – Guard – 5'10 – Sevierville, Tenn – Sevier County
Cybil will become the third member of her family to play a sport at Carson-Newman. Her sister, Campbell, is a 1,000-point scorer and is in her senior season with the Lady Eagles. Her father, Matt played quarterback at Carson-Newman from 1993-96. He started for two South Atlantic Conference Championship units in 1995 and 1996 winning the conference's Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1995.
Penland has scored more than 1250 points in her high school career and has led her team in scoring the past three seasons. She is a three-time first-team all-district selection and is coming off a junior season where she was named to the all-region tournament team and was TWSA all-state. With the Smoky Bears, she has won three consecutive district and region tournament championships.
Mincey on Penland: "Cybil is an outstanding guard that will hopefully replace what we are losing in her sister Campbell. Cybil is slightly taller than Campbell and will give us an inside out player at whatever position she ends up playing. Cybil has good speed and athleticism and will fit into our style of play with her ability to defend and also be an efficient offensive player scoring at all 3 levels. We are excited to have another Penland for 4 more years."
Harmony Sullivan – Guard – 5'7 – Morristown, Tenn – Morristown East
As a junior in 2023-24, Sullivan averaged 15 points, four assists, five rebounds and two steals per game. Her all-around play earned her Lakeway Area Girls Basketball Player of the year honors. She had her sophomore season cut short because of an injury, but still managed to average 11 points, five assists and five rebounds per game. In 56 games, she has averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and two steals per game and is nearing the 1,000 point scoring mark.
Mincey on Sullivan: "Harmony impressed us all summer long with her aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. She has great lateral quickness and speed which will help with our defensive style of play. She shoots the ball well from the perimeter and always plays extremely hard. She is tough as nails."
Delaney Weddington – Forward – 5'11 – Morristown, Tenn – Morristown West
A two-sport athlete at Morristown West, Weddington also exceeded the 1,000-point scoring mark during her junior season. She is a two-time district two all-conference player, earning first team honors in 2023. As a junior, she was named Co-Player of the year in the conference.
Mincey on Weddington: "Delaney is another lengthy player that has good speed and athleticism. She will be able to play inside and out and is a very consistent 3 pt shooter. She has great footwork near rim and is a tremendous passer with high a high basketball IQ."
