Miss Magnolia: Debreasha Powe speaks on what it means to represent Mississippi Hoops

Last season, Mississippi State women’s basketball fans were treated to the emergence of the latest showcasing of talent that the Mississippi women’s prep scene had to offer in Meridian’s own Debreasha Powe.

That freshman, who turned in numerous exciting performances grew her game over the course of last offseason, and now averages 11.4 points per game through the first half of her sophomore campaign while shooting 40% from behind the arc.

“I just feel so honored…”

Powe is the lone member of this year’s team that hails from the Magnolia State, and that’s something that’s typically unusual for Mississippi State. When fans think back to team like the 2017 and 2018 teams, they’re reminded of players like Victoria Vivians, Jazzmun Holmes or Myah Taylor. Those teams were filled with home grown talent.

To Powe, being that home grown talent for this team means almost too much to put into words.

“It means a lot,” said Powe of putting on for her home state. “It can bring you to tears. I just feel so honored, because it could have been anybody, but I’m blessed to be able to come (to Mississippi State) and play the game. There’s just so many opportunities to show just what I have and what I’ve been working on here in Mississippi.”

Every game night, countless young girls wait with baited breath to get a photo with the Mississippi hooper. She serves as an inspiration and role model to young women within Mississippi’s borders and beyond, and that’s not something she takes lightly.

“I always thank God first, because he’s allowing me to be in this situation to be a role model for these younger girls,” said Powe, “because I know, growing up, I always used to look up to Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan, so to be able to just sit there and be like ‘wow, these young girls actually want to be where I am,’ I want to be great for them.”

The Magnolia State mountaintop

When Powe was being recruited, it’s no secret that when it came to decision time, it was between Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Nikki McCray-Penson and her staff eventually won out, but it wasn’t easy. For Powe, though, she said Mississippi State simply felt like home.

“When I came here, it just felt like home,” said Powe. “That’s all that I can say. I wanted to always feel that homely feeling, and I felt like I could develop here and also stay home and represent Mississippi. I didn’t feel like I needed to go away. I can do great things here.”

The hoops mountain top in Mississippi is a steep one. Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Jackson State and several others all have put together an impressive amount of wins over the course of their history. Between the six Division I women’s basketball programs in Mississippi, the teams have put together a total of 44 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Mississippi women’s basketball head coach Sam Purcell, though, still thinks that the women’s hoops scene in Mississippi is far too often slept on.

“I think that the state of Mississippi is slept on,” said Purcell in a recent press conference. “I really do, in women’s basketball. I talked about it earlier, that’s why I’ve tried to pick some of these women’s basketball programs from the state of Mississippi (to play), like Jackson State. They’re good, and sometimes the narrative across the country is ‘it’s just Mississippi.’ I think (Debreasha Powe) is pretty good. I think she could have gotten a lot more coverage and recognition in high school that she just necessarily didn’t.”

When Mississippi State plays host to Ole Miss on Sunday, the eyes of many young women across the Magnolia State will be on the respective teams. The game will be heated. The rivalry can’t be understated. But for Powe, Purcell and the rest of the Bulldogs, there’s another factor at play.

“For Ole Miss to be good, I think it’s great for the state,” Purcell said. “I think it’s great for the high school programs, and then obviously, like me, I’ve got three little kids where they want young women to look up to, so it’s more than just Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss, it’s also the platform and the opportunity to put two great programs against each other.”

Powe, with a much more competitive edge in her voice, hinted at how much she looks forward to it.

“I mean, (Coach Purcell) pretty much said it all. It’s an amazing opportunity. You know, with me being from Mississippi, I’m just honored and excited for the game,” said Powe.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State tip off from Humphrey Coliseum at 4 p.m. this Sunday. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.