After recently being named a Parade All-American, the Northern Region Player of the Year and the All-Met Player of the Year, T.C. Williams junior forward Tierra Ruffin-Pratt is continuing to receive honors. This time, she was clear consensus choice as the Associated Press’s Group AAA girls player of the year, as selected by a panel of sports writers from around the state.
Ruffin-Pratt averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists en route to leading the Titans to a 22-1 record. She, however, was sidelined with a dislocated shoulder during the first round of the Northern Region tournament, when T.C. Williams lost to Robinson.
With rumors continuing to swirl regarding Jim Lewis’ ability to handle an assistant coaching position with the Indiana Fever and the Titans head coach job, he put those rumors to rest last week.
While multiple sources indicated that Lewis was considering resigning, Kerry Donley, the director of student activities and Lewis both strongly denied the rumors.
“Go back and check the [reports] of when I was hired,” Lewis said. “I said I’ll be back. I’m a man of my word.”
The all-state team also includes Bonae Holston of Heritage, which won the state title; Lynetta Kizer of Potomac; Chay Shegog of Brooke Point; and Danni Jackson of Forest Park.
The second team includes seniors JoNiquia Guilford of Wilson, Raven Harris of Princess Anne and Gwen Washington of Stonewall Jackson, and juniors Ruthanne Doherty of L.C. Bird and TaShauna Rogers of King's Fork.
Michael Gardner, whose title-winning team became the 10th Group AAA squad in state history to win 30 games, was the unanimous selection as coach of the year.