Tennessee’s Ruby Whitehorn Dismissed After Second Arrest

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell announced on Sunday that senior guard Ruby Whitehorn has been dismissed from the team following her second arrest in just over two months.

“In light of recent events, Ruby has been unable to reflect those standards, and I have made the difficult decision to dismiss her from our team,” Caldwell stated. “I love Ruby and will always be rooting for her, but my priority is to uphold the respected reputation of the Lady Vols.”

Whitehorn was arrested on October 30 at 4:31 a.m. for possession of 5.59 grams of marijuana, just hours after scoring 18 points in a dominating 148-48 exhibition victory over Columbus State. This marked her second arrest since August when she faced charges of aggravated burglary and domestic assault.

According to a police report, Whitehorn attempted to retrieve her belongings from a woman’s residence, which led to her kicking in a bedroom door. After that incident, she was suspended from the team but was reinstated following a plea deal on September 5, allowing her to keep her record clean.

The 6-foot guard, originally from Detroit, Michigan, started her career at Clemson, where she earned All-ACC Freshman honors. Last season with the Lady Vols, she averaged 11.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, playing in 34 games, 28 as a starter. Whitehorn was expected to be a key player for the team this season.

After her dismissal, Whitehorn issued an apology on Instagram, stating, “I have failed to uphold the standards of the Lady Vol legacy and what it represents and for that I apologize.”

The Lady Vols, currently ranked eighth in the AP Top 25, are set to begin their season against No. 9 NC State on Tuesday in Greensboro, North Carolina.