How Grant Williams helped Tennessee soccer land graduate transfer Michelle Alozie

Grant Williams sat on the bench after cheering on the Tennessee women's soccer team during a game last season. The men's basketball star was preoccupied with his phone, texting with a friend. 

UT coach Brian Pensky approached him after meeting with the media, and Williams shared some exciting news with him: "It’s looking good Coach, it’s looking good. I think she wants to be here."

On the other end of the phone was Michelle Alozie, who a few months later would announce she was leaving Yale and would attend UT as a graduate transfer. The 2017 Ivy League Co-Offensive Player of the Year will make her UT debut Thursday when the Vols open the season against Fordham at Regal Soccer Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. 

Williams was on a recruiting visit to Yale as a high school senior in the fall of 2015 when Alozie was in the middle of her freshman season of soccer at the Ivy League school. 

The two met through a mutual friend and clicked instantly. . 

“He’s just awesome," said Alozie, who has a degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology from Yale with the goal of becoming a cardiologist. "We just always kept in touch, always wanted each other to do well in our relative sports, so it’s just been a really good relationship.”

Alozie's college career was extended one more year after she tore an ACL after playing in only two games last season.

When Pensky discovered Alozie was looking to finish her college career elsewhere, he turned to Williams to make some recruiting pitches about Knoxville. Pensky and Williams already had a good relationship — Williams attended almost every soccer game — so they were comfortable working together. 

Over the next few weeks they  worked hard to persuade Alozie, who was also considering Florida, Baylor, Georgetown and Ohio State. When Alozie made her official visit to UT, the roles were very much reversed.

Williams showed her around Tennessee's campus and athletic facilities.

"I really think he was a big part of her committing here," Pensky said.

Alozie downplayed the role that Williams played in her decision.  

"Obviously the team is amazing. Brian Pensky and the whole coaching staff are amazing," said Alozie, who is from Apple Valley, California. "I had Maya (Neal) as my host and now I’m living with her so she was also amazing, showed me the ropes and it was just also a really welcoming environment.”

With the loss of Bunny Shaw and Danielle Marcano, who accounted for 22 goals last season, Alozie will go a long way in replacing that production. In 2017, the 5-foot-6 forward had nine goals and 23 points. 

Alozie says she has recovered from the knee injury.

Williams, however, won't be around to see Alozie play. He declared early for the NBA draft and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Expectations are high for the Vols this season. After an Elite Eight appearance last year, the Vols earned a preseason ranking of No. 10. They were picked to finish fourth in the SEC in the preseason coaches' poll.