Toris Woods Receives Basketball Award at Columbia State

Toris D. Woods was one of 150 Columbia State Community College (CSCC) students who were honored for excellence in academics, leadership, and service at the 57th Annual Student Honors Convocation. Woods, a graduate of Bolivar Central High School (BCHS), received a TCCAA All-Academic Athletics Basketball award and was named Class AA Mr. Basketball in 2021.

Woods was happy to receive the honor, but was not surprised, because he worked hard while a student at CSCC.

‘I worked hard for it, so it really was not a surprise,” said Woods who learned a lot about time management in college. “I worked hard and went to study hall, got help from the teachers and coaches. I got a good education.”

Woods played all four years of high school basketball under coach Rick Rudesill and graduated from BCHS in 2021. He continued to CSCC using the Tennessee Promise scholarship and on a basketball scholarship. He has learned a lot in the past couple years from playing basketball at the college level.

“Everything was good with coach (Winston) Neal and coach (Quan) Dudley. I learned a lot about how to be more physical on the court. It was fun playing with my teammates. It was like a family,” said Woods who is staying active in the sport during the summer participating in the Work Before Success basketball program in Bolivar.

Delicia Woods, Toris’ mother, shared how proud she is of her son and is excited for his future.

“Toris matured a whole lot and is more responsible. He loves basketball and is very dedicated to his education. Toris really gets in his books and gets his schoolwork done. I am glad he is furthering his education,” said Delicia Woods.

Woods plans to continue his education at Johnson University and study education. He would like to coach basketball in the future.

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