Former Cosby girls basketball star Whitehead to get WNBA opportunity with nearby Washington Mystics
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. (BVM) — It’s no secret around the state of Virginia that Tyra Whitehead can play basketball. As one of the top players on a Cosby High School girls basketball team that won three consecutive Virginia High School League Class 6A state championships, Whitehead became a household name throughout the state and the country with her strong post play. Now, Whitehead, who recently wrapped up her collegiate basketball career at San Jose State University, will be returning near the same area where her basketball journey began.
On April 17, San Jose State women’s basketball announced Whitehead received an invitation to attend training camp with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. The invite represents an opportunity for Whitehead to achieve her dream of playing in the WNBA.
“Tyra was a great Spartan and we are thrilled she is getting the chance to prove herself at the next level,” Spartans head coach Jamie Craighead said in a school press release. “This is a proud and historic day for San José State basketball. Most importantly, this is about Ty and all of the hard work she has put in since she first touched a basketball.”
Worked for it. Earned the Opportunity. Can’t wait to see what @tmarie1533 does with the Mystics. Proud of you! @1SpartanNation is behind you too! https://t.co/A3zuP5x7DG
— Jamie Craighead Turner (@JCTurner523) April 18, 2021
During her time at Cosby, Whitehead earned USA Today first team all-state accolades as both a sophomore and a junior as well as second-team honors in 2016 to go along with first team VSHL 6A all-state honors that same year. Her dominance on the court also made Whitehead a sought after recruit as she was named as a candidate to play in the McDonald’s All-American game during her senior season of 2016 and was listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 16 post player by ESPN.
This interest led Whitehead to Wake Forest where she would play in 59 games with seven starts. Though she played admirably during her time with the Demon Deacons, it wasn’t until Whitehead transferred to San Jose State that her career blossomed.
Whitehead burst on the scene with the Spartans during the 2019-20 season, starting all 31 games and averaging 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.3 assists. During the campaign, Whitehead placed herself in program history through a number of different accomplishments including the third-highest single-season field goal percentage after shooting 51.1% (185-for-362) from the floor, recording the second 20-20 game in program history with 22 points and 20 rebounds against Fresno State, grabbed 314 total rebounds which was good for No. 4 on SJSU’s all-time single-season list and became just the fifth Spartan in program history to average a double-double in a season.
Whitehead became an immediate high level player in the Mountain West during her first year as she finished the season ranked first in the conference in defensive rebounds, second in overall rebounding, second in steals, third in offensive rebounds, fourth in field goal percentage, sixth in blocked shots and 11th in scoring and was one of two Mountain West performers to finish the season averaging a double-double. For her efforts she earned All-Mountain West Honorable Mention recognition at the end of the year after she finished league play as the only performer ranking inside the top-five in both steals and blocks.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, their 2020-21 season was limited to just four games which also reduced the opportunities for Whitehead. However, even in a smaller sample, Whitehead was again a dominant force averaging a career-high 15.0 points with 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.3 assists per contest and finished the year with three double-doubles in four games.
https://twitter.com/tmarie1533/status/1360638693543866368?s=20
Despite the lack of film, Whitehead was clearly able to impress enough to earn an invite to a WNBA camp. Now, close to home once again, the former Cosby star will try to make the Mystics roster to continue her career at the next level. One thing is clear, despite being years away from her time at Cosby, Whitehead is still one of the country’s best.
Someone must’ve known I was homesick. #blessings https://t.co/MYymcrK9ei
— ♠️ (@TSmooth1533) April 18, 2021
