The returning players had a combined total
of seven starts last year for Mississippi State. The returning
leading scorer averaged 4.8 points. The returning leading rebounder averaged just 2.1 rebounds a year ago. Inexperienced
will be used many times to describe Rick Stansbury’s squad, but
there are still plenty of quality athletes in Starkville. And
not all of them will be playing football this fall.
Who’s Out:
Lawrence Roberts, Winsome Frazier, Gary Ervin, Shane Power,
Marcus Campbell and Ontario Harper all started at least 15 games
their final season at Mississippi State. Roberts averaged a team
high 16.9 points and 11.0 rebounds. Frazier added 12.3 points.
Ervin averaged 4.7 assists per game and will sit out next season
before playing at Arkansas. Power did a little bit of everything
scoring 11.1 points, grabbing 4.1 rebounds and dishing out 2.4
assists per contest. Campbell was a big body under the basket
who averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. Harper tacked on 8.7
points and 4.9 rebounds. The final departure is little used
guard Seth Cannon. The status of returning power forward Walter
Sharpe is still unknown. Sharpe averaged 2.3 points and 1.8
rebounds last year and could compete for a starting job if he is
academically eligible.
Who’s In: It
needs to be a heck of a list to replace those departing players
and it is definitely a pretty good one that will turn out to be
great in a few years. Shooting guard Jamont Gordon might be
getting the starting nod immediately. The lefty is a great
scorer who averaged 18.9 points last year at the famed Oak Hill
Academy in Virginia. The Delk twins will add some talented depth
to the backcourt. Reginald is a great shooter, while brother
Richard is more of a point guard who can also play on the wing.
Point guard Jeremy Wise would add more depth to the position,
but his eligibility is still in question due to academics.
Vernon Goodridge is a talented big man who will learn behind
returning center Wesley Morgan. Goodridge can run the floor
quite well for a 6-9, 220 pounder but could stand to develop
some more low post moves. Forward Bernard Rimmer will battle
redshirt freshman Jerrell Houston for the starting small forward
gig.
Who to Watch:
Jamall Edmondson’s first year at MSU wasn’t
memorable, but the former junior college transfer will need to
have a stellar senior campaign. The starting point guard job
fell into his lap when Gary Ervin opted to transfer. Last year
Edmondson averaged a modest 4.8 points and 1.2 assists. Those
numbers will go up with more playing time, but more importantly
the 5-9, Montgomery, Alabama product will need to prove he can
run a team in a major conference.
Projected Conference Rank:
Coming off the success of recent years, an 8th
place overall finish in the SEC won’t be satisfying for Bulldog
fans. The good news is, with the young talent that has come in
the last two years, it won’t be long until Mississippi State is
competing for an SEC championship once again.
Projected Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected Starting Five:
Jamall Edmondson, Senior, Guard, 4.8 points per game
Jamont Gordon, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Jerrell Houston, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Charles Rhodes, Sophomore, Forward, 2.9 points per game
Wesley Morgan, Junior, Center, 1.9 points per game
