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Tennessee Lady Vols Junior Guard Diamond DeShields is the Toughest Player in the Country

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 23, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Lady Volunteers guard Diamond DeShields (11) reacts during the game against the Florida Gators at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/ Knoxville News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
Feb 23, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Lady Volunteers guard Diamond DeShields (11) reacts during the game against the Florida Gators at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/ Knoxville News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Tennessee Lady Vols Junior Guard Diamond DeShields proved to be the toughest player in the country in leading her team to a win over the Florida Gators.

Remember back in the 2015-2016 season? Diamond DeShields was playing her first season with the Tennessee Lady Vols, and Holly Warlick benched her for a period of time due to her inconsistencies.

Yeah, that seems insane now.

DeShields proved on Thursday in the Lady Vols’ 74-70 home victory over Florida that she is their most valuable player, and she may be the most valuable player in the nation.

Coming off an injury when it wasn’t sure if she would be able to play, Holly Warlick didn’t start her.

But then DeShields came off the bench and, despite not being 100 percent, made every tough play.

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She was rusty and hurt, and her shot wasn’t falling like it usually does. That’s why she went 4-of-12 overall on the nith and 0-for-2 from the three-point line.

But she still finished with nearly a triple-double. Off the bench and hurt, she still played 35 minutes and had 15 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.

It wasn’t just the box score either.

DeShields made key plays down the stretch. Down 68-61 in the fourth, all hope seemed lost for the Tennessee Lady Vols. The lead was then cut to 68-63 with little hope still.

But DeShields sparked a rally by getting an and-one and completing a three-point play.

That made it 68-66.

Then, with the score 68-67, DeShields got a steal and found Schaquilla Nunn for the go-ahead two to give the Lady Vols a 69-68 lead. They never looked back.

So DeShields wasn’t just the star. She was, once again, the clutch player.

Sure, it was just a home game against Florida.

And yes, the underclassmen actually stepped up in this game for once, as it was more of a team effort.

But there was no question who the star was. And DeShields has been doing this all season long.

Going into this year, she new her role would be magnified. Mercedes Russell would obviously be the star down low, but with Bashaara Graves graduating, DeShields was going to have to take on a huge scoring load due to a lack of recruits coming in.

Then, the Vols got hit with another bombshell after Te’a Cooper suffered a season-ending injury and Andraya Carter quit the team.

They now had very little depth and scoring from the backcourt.

DeShields has picked up the load, averaging over 17 points and 33 minutes along with nearly four assists and seven rebounds a game.

She has done it all, and although Russell is still the go-to star under the basket, DeShields remains the main player for this team to revolve around.

You saw how lost the team looked without her last week.

They nearly looked lost with her when she was on the bench. She has carried the Lady Vols to some huge victories.

But on Senior Night in a home win over a bad team that never should have been that close, she managed use that game to prove why she is the toughest player in women’s college basketball right now.