Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Morning high of 63F with temps falling to near 55. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..
Wilson County native and Class of 2020 Mt. Juliet High graduate Will Pruitt hasn't missed a beat as he has transitioned into a key role for the basketball team at Lipscomb University.
Pruitt was a star at Mt. Juliet High, where he was team captain under then-coach Troy Allen and twice earned all-state honors.
Pruitt was the Region MVP and a TSSAA Mr. Basketball finalist while leading the Golden Bears to a record of 29-3 and a berth in the ill-fated TSSAA state tournament that was canceled because of COVID-19.
After an ultra-successful high school career, the 6-3 guard headed to nearby NCAA Division I Lipscomb to continue his academic and athletic journey.
Following a redshirt year, he was one of three Bisons to play in all 33 games, all as a starter, and has started all 12 games this season for the 8-5 squad.
“Will has been incredible since the day he walked on our campus,” said Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff.
“It is obvious to anyone who follows Lipscomb basketball that he has been impactful on the court. However, he has been equally impactful off the court.”
Pruitt is averaging 11.8 points per game — the second most on the Lipscomb squad — and leads the squad with 27 assists.
He is also putting in work on the defensive end, leading the team with 18 steals, and he is averaging nearly seven rebounds per game — a mark that is also second best for the Bisons.
He recently scored a career-high 27 points at Michigan and knocked down a career-high five triples in the outing.
Acuff credits Pruitt's high school coach for the development of his point guard.
“He was fortunate to play for a tremendous fundamental coach like Troy Allen. He was coached hard and challenged every day. We are blessed that Will is a Bison,” said Acuff.
Pruitt will continue to be a leader for the Bisons as the team opens its ASUN (formerly Atlantic Sun Conference) season Friday, Dec. 30 at home against Stetson.
“I’m excited to continue to see this team grow," Pruitt said. "We have a lot of potential and have yet to play our best basketball.
“Conference play is a step-up in competition because teams start playing better basketball. I’m looking forward to getting it rolling and winning a lot of games.”
