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State freshman forward Eric Paymon enters transfer portal

Paul Jones Mississippi State Bulldogsby:Paul Jones•about 10 hours•

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Syndication: The Clarion-Ledger
Raymond's Eric Paymon (12) handles the ball during play against Richland in Richland, Miss., Friday, Jan. 5, 2023.

The transfer portal in college basketball officially closed on Tuesday. But Mississippi State had one late entry that was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

Per sources within the Bulldogs’ program, freshman forward Eric Paymon has entered the transfer portal. As long as a player submitted the proper paperwork or given the proper notification to school before Tuesday’s deadline, then the player is still allowed to enter the transfer portal after the deadline passed.

The 6-foot-9 and 230-poound Paymon redshirted this past season for Mississippi State and will have four years left to play. Paymon, a former Raymond High School standout, was rated as the nation’s No. 21 power forward and the state’s top prospect by On3 in the Class of 2024.

Paymon was a highly-successful performer on the prep scene, helping lead Raymond High School to a trio of Class 4A state championships from 2022-2024. In his senior season, Paymon averaged 23.4 points and 9.7 rebounds while being tabbed the 2023-24 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball in the Magnolia State’s Class 4A classification.

With his departure, Paymon becomes the sixth member of last year’s roster to enter the transfer portal. Thus far, the Bulldogs have also added four transfers from the portal for the 2025-26 roster.

Mississippi State’s departing transfers

Junior point guard Kanye Clary (Oklahoma State)
Sophomore center Michael Nwoko (LSU)
Sophomore guard Martavious Russell (Louisiana-Monroe)
Redshirt freshman wing Adrian Myers
Junior forward/center KeShawn Murphy (Auburn)
Freshman forward Eric Paymon

Mississippi State’s incoming transfers

Wichita State center Quincy Ballard
UAB guard Ja’Borri McGhee
Arizona State guard Amier Ali
Kansas State forward Achor Achor

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