Jones, Sims Named OVC Preseason Players to Watch
10/14/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the 2026-27 season on the horizon and the annual Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Day Friday, the league has announced that sophomore guard Tyler Jones and senior guard Raven Sims of the University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team have been named to its annual Preseason Players to Watch List.
"Tyler and Raven are both multidimensional guards who can score, defend and rebound," said head coach Kevin McMillan. "Tyler is a skilled guard who sees the floor extremely well and can score or set up teammates, while Raven is an elite rebounder and skilled passer who can play one through three on the floor."
Both Jones and Sims are in their first season with the Skyhawks and they are not alone. This year's UT Martin women's basketball team features eight transfers, four freshmen and two returners, giving fans plenty of new faces to watch in the November 2 season opener against Eastern Kentucky at the Elam Center.
Jones is a 5-9 guard from Memphis, Tennessee, who spent her freshman season at New Mexico. She appeared in 24 games for the Lobos in 2025-26 and averaged 6.7 minutes per game. Before New Mexico, she was a highly decorated high school player at Hutchinson, earning All-State honors from the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and the Tennessee Report. Jones was also named the TSSAA Division II-AA West Region Player of the Year and was a 2025 TSSAA Miss Basketball finalist.
Sims, a 5-9 senior guard from Memphis, comes to UT Martin after sitting out last season at Niagara. Before her year with the Purple Eagles, she spent two seasons at Memphis, playing 57 games with three starts for the Tigers. In high school, Sims played at Tipton-Rosemark Academy and Bartlett, where she earned three All-Tennessee accolades. As a senior, she ranked as Tennessee's ninth-best player, after leading the Memphis area in scoring her junior year.
UT Martin season ticket packages are now on sale through the Skyhawk Ticket Office at UTMSports.com/tickets.
"Tyler and Raven are both multidimensional guards who can score, defend and rebound," said head coach Kevin McMillan. "Tyler is a skilled guard who sees the floor extremely well and can score or set up teammates, while Raven is an elite rebounder and skilled passer who can play one through three on the floor."
Both Jones and Sims are in their first season with the Skyhawks and they are not alone. This year's UT Martin women's basketball team features eight transfers, four freshmen and two returners, giving fans plenty of new faces to watch in the November 2 season opener against Eastern Kentucky at the Elam Center.
Jones is a 5-9 guard from Memphis, Tennessee, who spent her freshman season at New Mexico. She appeared in 24 games for the Lobos in 2025-26 and averaged 6.7 minutes per game. Before New Mexico, she was a highly decorated high school player at Hutchinson, earning All-State honors from the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and the Tennessee Report. Jones was also named the TSSAA Division II-AA West Region Player of the Year and was a 2025 TSSAA Miss Basketball finalist.
Sims, a 5-9 senior guard from Memphis, comes to UT Martin after sitting out last season at Niagara. Before her year with the Purple Eagles, she spent two seasons at Memphis, playing 57 games with three starts for the Tigers. In high school, Sims played at Tipton-Rosemark Academy and Bartlett, where she earned three All-Tennessee accolades. As a senior, she ranked as Tennessee's ninth-best player, after leading the Memphis area in scoring her junior year.
UT Martin season ticket packages are now on sale through the Skyhawk Ticket Office at UTMSports.com/tickets.
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