Ruby Whitehorn Dismissed from University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball Team
Ruby Whitehorn is officially no longer part of the University of Tennessee women’s basketball squad. In a statement released on Sunday, just a couple of days before the Lady Vols’ season opener against North Carolina State in Greensboro, Coach Kim Caldwell confirmed Whitehorn’s dismissal following her second arrest in under three months.
Once a five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American, Whitehorn has already been taken off the University of Tennessee’s online roster.
“As the head coach, I have a duty to uphold the high standards of our historic program,” Caldwell expressed. “Given the latest developments, it’s clear Ruby has not met those expectations. This was not an easy choice, but my top priority is to maintain the Lady Vols’ respected reputation. I care about Ruby and will continue to support her.”
Whitehorn was arrested last week for simple possession of marijuana, finding herself in trouble just hours after she scored 18 points in a pre-season game against Division II Columbus State. According to the police report, she was in possession of 5.59 grams of marijuana at the time of her arrest.
This incident marks Whitehorn’s second legal issue since August. She had previously been arrested on August 8 for domestic assault and aggravated robbery. After that incident, she was indefinitely suspended by Caldwell but eventually reinstated in September after changing her plea to guilty for two misdemeanors: aggravated trespass and aggravated robbery.
Upon her return, Caldwell commented on the situation, saying, “It’s not an ideal scenario, and it doesn’t reflect the image we want for our program. We have a strong tradition here, and everything we’ve faced hasn’t helped with recruiting. It’s crucial for us to take these matters seriously and focus on moving forward.”
If another program decides to sign Whitehorn next season, she will still have one year of college eligibility left. Standing 6 feet tall and hailing from Detroit, Michigan, she started her collegiate career at Clemson University where she earned a spot on the 2023 All-ACC Freshman Team, participating in 66 games and starting 62 of them.
In her first season at the University of Tennessee, Whitehorn set personal bests in 3-point and free throw percentages while also achieving her lowest averages in turnovers per game. She averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, while shooting 46.3 percent overall. Last season, she was a key player, ranking fourth on the team in both points and minutes played, and third in rebounds. She was one of the three returning starters from the Lady Vols team that made it to the Sweet 16 last season, which was Caldwell’s first as head coach.
This season, expectations for the Lady Vols are quite high. They are ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll and No. 4 in the SEC preseason poll.
Currently, Tennessee has a roster of 13 players. Only Talayshia Cooper and Zee Spearman are returning starters, but the team is reinforced by transfers like Jania Barker and Nia Robertson, along with a promising freshman class led by Mia Pauld.
