After Liv Fuller tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, sidelining the Georgia Southern signee for the season, Clearwater needed to find more production – and leadership – to keep its state title hopes on track. 

Ace Sturdivant provided both. 

The senior surpassed the 1,000 point career plateau and has already set the school record for most 3-pointers made in a season. She also is averaging a team-best 16.5 points per game and was recently selected as Pinellas County all-conference, a distinction she has held all four years of her high school career.

The accolades, combined with her experience, have played a pivotal role in Clearwater advancing to the state semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons. Today, the Tornadoes take on Plantation American Heritage in the 5A semifinals at 2 p.m. at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center. 

But Sturdivant is more than just a basketball player. She is smart, has a catchy nickname and her talents go beyond basketball. .

Artist in motion

Off the court, Sturdivant shows off her creative side. She is interested in all sorts of mediums – drawing, paintings, photos. 

One of her favorite works is a shoe she drew that hangs in a frame in her room. She also has banadas and flags on the ceilings and walls. 

It does not end there. 

There are pictures, paintings, even collectables on display.

The name game

Sturdivant’s first name is Tatiyana. She got the nickname Ace from her father. 

“My dad gave it to me when I was younger,” she said. “He said since I was his first born I was his ace.”

The name took on even more meaning, especially when Sturdivant tried something new. 

“My dad said I was good at cards, and since I played tennis at the time, my serve was pretty nice, too,” Strudivant said. 

Student athlete

Studivant, who has a weighted 4.3 grade point average, said she is in every national honor society Clearwater offers. 

She is even president of the school’s honor societies in English, science and math.