Charlotte Latin School

Tonya Phifer was a three-sport athlete, excelling on the softball field, the basketball court, and the track. Basketball was Tonya’s true calling, but she still remained a member of the Girls’ Track & Field and Softball teams during her time at Latin. As a player on the Girls’ Basketball team, Tonya earned the following achievements:

• Two-time state champion (1995, 1997)
• One-time state runner-up (1996)
• Two-time All-State
• Four-time All-Conference
• Four-time Charlotte Observer All-Mecklenburg
• Charlotte Observer Player of the Year
• Mecklenburg County Player of the Year
• Averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 steals as a senior at Latin
• Averaged 19.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.1 steals as a junior at Latin
• Career-high 34 points and 12 rebounds vs. Hammond School in 1997 conference championship game
• Key member of the 1996-1997 CLS Team: Conference Champs, State Champs, and Sweet 16 Champions for Charlotte Observer

After graduating from Latin, Tonya continued her athletic career at UNC Charlotte. There, she further distinguished herself:

• Four-year starter
• Conference USA Newcomer of the Year (1997-1998)
• Total career statistics: 1,500 points (the fourth-most in school history when she ended her career), 381 rebounds, 345 assists, 200 steals
• Preseason First Team All-Conference USA (first player so named for the 49ers since the school joined the conference in 1995)
• Only the fourth player in school history to score more than 1,000 points by the end of her junior year
• As a junior, finished second on the team in scoring with 13.0 points per game and led the team in assists and steals for the second straight year with 114 and 55
• As a senior, led the team in scoring and assists

Tonya remained in Charlotte after her graduation from UNCC; she is now the President and Senior Investigator at JPPI, a full-service investigative business where she specializes in criminal defense investigations, insurance fraud investigations, background checks, and due diligence. Tonya also remains committed to developing the game of basketball. She is currently an Assistant Coach at Team Curry, where she helps train and mentor young female basketball players to develop their skills, confidence, and teamwork.