Ruby Whitehorn has found a new home in women’s college basketball.
The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American revealed on her Instagram account on Friday that she has joined Molly Miller’s program at Arizona State. Whitehorn is practicing with the team, but will not play this season, instead using her final year of collegiate eligibility to help the Sun Devils next season.
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Whitehorn was dismissed from Tennessee in early November, just days before this season started, after her second arrest in a span of less than three months.
She was arrested in late October and charged with simple possession of marijuana, hours after she scored 18 points in an exhibition victory for the Lady Vols over Division II Columbus State. That came after Whitehorn had been arrested on Aug. 8 and charged with domestic assault and aggravated burglary. Whitehorn was suspended indefinitely by Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell, but reinstated to the team in September after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors — aggravated trespassing and aggravated burglary — in exchange for judicial diversion.
A 6-foot guard from Detroit, Michigan, Whitehorn began her career at Clemson where she was voted to the 2023 All-ACC Freshman Team and started in 62 of the 66 games she played in. Last season for Tennessee, Whitehorn averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the floor. Whitehorn was fourth on the team in minutes played and scoring, and third in rebounds. Before her dismissal, she was one of three starters set to return from the Lady Vols’ squad that made the Sweet 16 in Caldwell’s first season.
“I’m here to help young people,” Arizona State coach Miller told On3. “Our culture gives Ruby an opportunity to grow and I believe she can be the best version of herself in this environment.”
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Miller is in her first season coaching Arizona State. She was hired by the Sun Devils last offseason after an incredibly successful tenure at nearby Grand Canyon where she went 117-38 in five seasons and led the Lopes to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Before that, she won 91 percent of her games over six seasons at Division II Drury and took the Panthers to the Final Four in 2019.
Arizona State won just 10 games last year, but Miller reshaped the roster with the transfer portal. All five starters for the Sun Devils played elsewhere last season, and together they’ve guided Arizona State to a 21-7 record, putting them in contention for a spot in the NCAA Tournament — a stage the program hasn’t been on since 2019.
The Sun Devils are also bringing in an ESPN-ranked top 60 recruit next season in guard Averie Lower out of Iowa. Miller will likely bolster the roster once more when the transfer portal opens officially the day after the national championship game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee’s Ruby Whitehorn transfers to Arizona State after dismissal
