Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- Zee Spearman arrested June 13 in Lawrenceville, Georgia for speeding, open container, failed sobriety tests, alcohol and marijuana found.
- Spearman pled guilty to reckless driving, received probation, community service and substance evaluation; DUI charge later dropped in Gwinnett County court records.
- Zee Spearman drafted 31st by Dallas Wings, waived in training camp, then joined Savannah Steel in the Upshot League, averaging 8.8 points.
- Tennessee endured a down year, heavy roster turnover with eight leaving, 13 incoming, and assistant coaching departures amid Kim Caldwell's second season.
Just before the start of the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season, Tennessee dismissed guard Ruby Whitehorn following a pair of arrests in the span of about three months on charges related to possession of marijuana and domestic assault in separate incidents.
But Whitehorn wasn’t the only member of the Lady Vols who had legal troubles.
At 1:10 a.m. on June 13, 2025, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, former Tennessee forward Lazaria “Zee” Spearman was pulled over and arrested on charges of speeding, possession of alcohol in an open container and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police records obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
According to the police report, Spearman was driving an estimated speed of 100 miles per hour in a 2016 white Chevrolet Malibu in a 55 mph zone. Spearman also told the responding officer she had smoked three grams of marijuana that day. She did not pass the field sobriety tests administered by police and had a blood alcohol content of 0.104% at the scene, well above the legal limit of 0.08%. Police said they found a bottle of Don Julio tequila in her car, as well as a case for storing marijuana. At the jail, where police administered the state chemical test for alcohol, Spearman had a blood alcohol content of 0.073%, slightly below the legal limit.
Court records show Spearman pled guilty to reckless driving on Feb. 9 and was sentenced to probation, community service and substance abuse evaluation. The driving under the influence charge was dropped, according to Gwinnett County court records.
Unlike Whitehorn’s pair of arrests, Spearman’s run-in with police in Georgia and subsequent court hearings were not publicized or covered by local media in Knoxville, Tennessee. If she was disciplined by Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell, it was not made public.
Spokespersons for Tennessee athletics did not respond to a request for comment and a list of questions when reached by USA TODAY Sports. Two people with direct knowledge of the Lady Vols women’s basketball program said Caldwell was aware of Spearman’s arrest when it occurred.In a statement to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY network, a Tennessee spokesperson said, “We are aware of the matter from last season. It was handled internally.”
In a statement to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, a Tennessee spokesperson said, “We are aware of the matter from last season. It was handled internally.”
Earlier this month, Spearman was arrested again in Georgia, this time in Monroe County, just northwest of Macon, according to police records viewed by USA TODAY Sports. On July 6, Spearman was charged with speeding and driving with a suspended license. She was released on a $960 bond.
Spearman was selected 31st overall by the Dallas Wings in this year’s WNBA Draft, but was waived 12 days into training camp. She signed with the Savannah Steel of the startup Upshot League — a four-team professional women’s basketball development league. Spearman has played in five games since her July arrest and is averaging 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game across 19 contests this season.
When reached by USA TODAY Sports a spokesperson for the Upshot League said: “We understand the matter is pending and have no comment at this time.”
A 6-foot-4 forward from Dacula, Georgia, Spearman was a top 30 recruit and started her collegiate career at Miami. As a rookie for the Hurricanes, she led all ACC freshmen in field-goal percentage and helped the program reach the Elite Eight for the first time.
Spearman transferred to Tennessee shortly after Caldwell was hired and started in 50 of the 64 games she played in for the Lady Vols. She ranked in the top four on the team in scoring and rebounding in both seasons she was at Tennessee and twice made the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Last summer, Spearman also featured with Team USA in the 3×3 U23 World Cup and in the 3×3 Nations League.
Tennessee went 16-14 this past season, a record for the least amount of wins in a single season in the storied program’s history. In Caldwell’s second year at the helm, the Lady Vols lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, capping an eight-game losing streak.
No player with eligibility remaining returned to the roster as eight players transferred out and 13 transferred in. The coaching staff was shaken up as assistant Gabe Lazo became the head coach at UCF and former assistant Roman Tubner landed at Louisville after being dismissed by Caldwell.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As Lady Vols rebuild after down year, Zee Spearman’s arrests raise new concerns
Reporting by Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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