Top 2025 recruit Nataliyah Gray commits to Mississippi State

Highly-recruited 2025 prospect Nataliyah Gray has committed to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, she told On3. The 6-foot-3 power forward from Houston (TX) Alief Taylor High School chose Mississippi State over Alabama, Saint Louis, Memphis, James Madison, Houston and Georgia. 

“I’m very spiritual and I’m big on God and I’ve been praying,” Gray told On3. “I was like, ‘God, when I go on these visits, just give me a sign. Give me something. Give me a feeling. I felt that feeling at Mississippi State.” 

The coaching staff was crucial in Gray’s decision to commit to the Bulldogs. 

“Coach [Sam] Purcell is an amazing person outside of the basketball court,” Gray said. “He’s just an amazing person with a positive attitude and he just brings so much love to the sport and so much passion, so much energy. I love basketball, so having a head coach that loves it just as much as you, maybe even a little bit more, that can pour it into you – it’s a no brainer.”

But it wasn’t just Purcell that Gray is excited to play for in college.

“He has his coaching staff, who are all good people that also love basketball,” Gray said. “You can’t forget that he has Victoria Vivians on his coaching staff, who is actually in the WNBA…It’s amazing just having a coach that’s already where you want to be. She knows what it takes and she’s pouring into the girls. She’s taking the time to just help women’s basketball in general, so it definitely did play a part.” 

Another aspect that convinced Gray is the versatility Purcell invites and embraces on his team. He doesn’t restrict his players to one position – he lets them explore their versatility on the court. 

“This is what I really, honestly just sticks out from Coach Purcell,” Gray said. “He is not afraid of versatility and he’s not afraid of playing his players at multiple positions…He just grows your game. He understands that some of his players want to go pro, including me, and he puts us in those positions to where, when we do make that transfer over to the next level, there won’t be anything on the court that we won’t know how to do because he’s allowing me to do that. I’m a very versatile player, so it fits me so perfectly that he’s not scared of putting me at multiple positions and helping me grow my game in certain ways.”

But what Gray is excited for most – the opportunity to make history and reach new heights with the Bulldogs. 

“I watched the team and I know that I can definitely bring something to it,” Gray said. “I’m just excited to prove people wrong and we’re gonna go on a run when I get there. I know that for a fact. I know they’re gonna do really great this season coming up, and I can’t wait until it’s my turn. I know for me, I’m just looking forward to making history in general.”