With basketball season looming on the horizon, Fred Castro, an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Mississippi State University’s women’s basketball team, spoke with excitement Monday at the Starkville Rotary Club about some of the new and returning players who will be leading the charge for the Bulldogs this season as they try to build upon last season’s finish in the second round of the NCAA Tournament – and there may be some slam dunks involved.

That’s right. Lancaster, New York, native Madison Francis is one of State’s three new freshmen and brings highlight athleticism to Starkville as a part of the team’s top-10 recruiting class. Despite being only 6-foot-2, Francis notched two in-game dunks last year in high school.

“If you really want to really check the highlights, (look up) ‘Madison Francis YouTube dunk’ and you’ll see somebody you’re going to get to see for the next four years in about 20 days live and in person,” Castro said. “ (She is an) unbelievable young lady (who) played for USA Basketball, a top-20 recruit and (head) coach Sam (Purcell’s) highest-rated recruit since he’s been here.”

Another freshman for the Bulldogs is Jaylah Lampley, a 6-foot-1 guard from Fishers, Indiana, who was named the 2023-2034 Gatorade Player of the Year.

“(She) can shoot and defend. (Her) mom and dad are both high school coaches, so she’s cut from that cloth,” he said. “The first loose ball you see, she’s going to be the first one on the floor to go chase for it. She can shoot the 3 and is just hungry to be great.”

Nataliyah Gray is MSU’s final freshman. A 6-foot-3 forward from Houston, Texas, who brings an edge to the boards.

“She’s one of the best rebounders we’ve ever seen,” Castro said. “So, she’ll play a little bit at the five even though she is undersized. All three of those kids were top-100 recruits in the country, four star or higher, so we’re excited about those freshmen.”

Paired with the freshmen are five new transfers, who make up MSU’s top 10-ranked transfer class. Among them are Delta, Nigeria, native Favour Nwaedozi, a 6-foot-3 junior forward who transferred from Mukogawa Women’s University in Japan and Kharyssa Richardson, a 6-foot-2 junior forward from Ole Miss. Both bring some needed physicality and size to the paint.

“This team is much more athletic,” Castro said. “We have adjusted some of the things we are doing offensively and defensively. Ironically we are a little bit taller overall, but we don’t have the Madina (Okot) where you have that 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7 presence.”

Saniyah King is a 5-foot-7 sophomore transfer from Howard University where she was named last year’s MEAC Rookie of the Year after averaging 11.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 31 starts.

“This is one of those young ladies that sees the game and is a coach on the floor, finds all the angles, can shoot the 3, (is) a big strong guard,” Castro said. “You will see her on the floor a lot early. She just makes the game easy for everybody else.”

Trayanna Crisp is a 5-foot-8 senior guard from North Carolina who brings sharpshooting skills to the Bulldogs’ backcourt.

“She knows how to put the ball in the hole,” he said. “It’s one of those things where when she starts her shot, everybody is like, ‘OK, let’s get back on defense.’”

Another transfer guard is Awa Fane, a 5-foot-8 junior from Panola College, who was named a NJCAA First Team All-American.

The season tips off on Nov. 3 when the Bulldogs host Davidson College, which Castro said will be a tough way to begin the year.

“I don’t know how much ya’ll know about Davidson, but guys, we need you there,” he said. “Davidson is an NCAA Tournament team and they are returning everybody. They added two kids from Spain that were on the national team who can flat out play. Usually, Game 1, you are going to see a lot of SEC teams play Larry, Moe and Curly, but we’re not playing Larry, Moe and Curly. … This is going to be a high-level basketball game.”

He urged fans and supporters to keep bringing the energy every game, which he said really makes a difference in the win column.

“The home-court advantage that we have is second to none,” he said. “It is unbelievable what that support (does). I am convinced that it’s eight to 10 points a game. So, when we go up for the jump ball we’re already up and it’s just a matter of extending that lead. So, (I) can’t thank everybody enough for their support.”

Posted in College Sports

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