Graduation Spotlight: Pruitt’s decision to attend Lipscomb will have lifelong impact

The decision of where to attend college is often one of the biggest young people face.

Kim Chaudoin  |  04/26/2025

When Mount Juliet, Tennessee, native Will Pruitt was considering his options for where to play college basketball, he knew this choice would have a lasting impact on his life. 

When Pruitt committed to the Lipscomb University men’s basketball team, he didn’t it as merely a four-year plan — he saw it as a life decision. Now, as he prepares to graduate from Lipscomb University with a double major in business management and marketing and a certificate in organizational leadership, Pruitt clearly sees the full impact of that choice — one that has shaped his faith, forged lifelong relationships and set the course for decades to come.

“The relationships I’ve built at Lipscomb will forever impact my life in more ways than I can imagine,” Pruitt said. “I’ve met some of my lifelong best friends, mentors, my wife and many other people here. It truly is a family culture. I’ve experienced that during my time here, and I will continue to see the fruits of being part of this community for the next 40 years.”

A challenging start

Pruitt’s journey at Lipscomb got off to a rocky start. His first semester was fall 2020 — right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his freshman season, he faced significant challenges, including multiple quarantines and missed games.

“It was one of the craziest years of my life,” he recalled. “I was in the worst shape of my life and spent more time alone than I ever had. It was difficult and made me question a lot of things. But eventually, I got to see how special Lipscomb is.”

Despite the early obstacles, Pruitt quickly became an integral part of the men’s basketball team. A guard, he played in 146 games in his five seasons with the Bisons. His final season was one for the history books as Pruitt helped lead Lipscomb to a victory over North Alabama in the ASUN conference tournament in Allen Arena on March 9. The win earned Lipscomb its second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. The No. 14 seed Bisons took on No. 3 seed Iowa State in the NCAA first-round in the Milwaukee regional on March 21.

“It’s meant the world to me,” Pruitt said. “I’ve loved every bit of my time at Lipscomb, and to get to finish the way we did was a blessing. I wanted this for the Lipscomb community, my team and coaches just as much as I wanted it for myself. I am so thankful.”

This season Pruitt was named to the 2025 ASUN All-Tournament Team, earned Second Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Academic honors and was a finalist for the prestigious Nolan Richardson Award. Pruitt averaged 13.0 points per game, second on the team, while starting all 35 games. He was among the top players in the ASUN Conference in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Over the course of his career, Pruitt accumulated 1,599 career points.

A game of brotherhood and discipline

For Pruitt, basketball has always been about more than wins and stats. It’s about the relationships and values it builds.

“I love the game of basketball for many reasons,” he said. “It brings with it a brotherhood and community that is life-changing. The guys I’ve played with over the years will have a special place in my life forever.”

Basketball also provided Pruitt a platform to share his faith and values.

“It’s a privilege because people look at you differently,” he said. “It gives you a chance to share what you believe and impact somebody else. I love basketball for the process, discipline and hard work it requires. I hope I take that mindset into my next career.”

Balancing the demands of being an NCAA Division I student athlete with academics was no easy feat. Pruitt, who maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning his certificate in organizational leadership, knows the sacrifices it took.

“It’s difficult at times, and I still probably never found the right way to juggle it,” he admitted. “It takes a lot of sacrifice to be an athlete at any level in college. I tell people it is a full-time job. It takes a lot of late nights and early mornings to excel in both areas with the help of many others. I wouldn’t have been able to succeed if it wasn’t for my teachers and Lipscomb’s support staff for athletes.”

Growing in faith

Perhaps most transformative for Pruitt has been the impact Lipscomb had on his faith journey.

“My faith journey has transformed tremendously,” he said. “My freshman year, a mentor poured into me and told me that basketball is not who I am but something I get to do. The past three years, I’ve been part of a Bible study led by Taylor Barnette with guys who play college basketball all around Nashville. Taylor always says, ‘basketball makes a great game but a terrible god.’ That has stuck with me.”

Through the influence of teammates, coaches and mentors like Barnette and Lipscomb Athletics’ spiritual leaders such as Chris Klotz, Pruitt has grown into a leader both on and off the court.

“God has taught me what it looks like to lead well and put others before yourself,” he said. “The Lord has put unbelievable mentors in my life.”

Looking ahead

Pruitt’s next chapter is already taking shape. Earlier this spring, he proposed to his girlfriend, Jalyn Holcomb — a standout for the Lipscomb women's basketball team and the program’s all-time leading scorer — at midcourt in Allen Arena. They will marry in June.

“My next steps are to get married and most likely move to Europe to play professional basketball,” he said. “We will see what exactly the Lord has in store.”

No matter where his journey leads, Pruitt said he will carry the lessons of Lipscomb with him.

“My experience at Lipscomb has been better than I could have planned for myself,” he said. “I’ve learned to stay strong during the hard times and be thankful in the good times. I’ve learned to work hard, be disciplined, go out of your way to speak to others — and the Lord will bless you in more ways than you can imagine.”

And for Will Pruitt, the possibilities are just beginning.