1 on 1 with Mississippi State guard Martavious Russell
It’s been an interesting process the past several months for Mississippi State freshman Martavious Russell. But in the end, the Alabama native has remained in Starkville to further his basketball career.
After playing limited minutes as a true freshman, the 6-foot-2 and 190-pound Russell briefly entered the transfer portal following the 2022-23 campaign. But after a few weeks, the Alabama native opted to return to Mississippi State’s program for his second season.
Russell is currently redshirting this season but he continues to work on his game in order to make his contributions next season as a redshirt sophomore. Recently, Maroon and White Daily interviewed Russell about the season among other topics:
Q: I noticed recently you had your hand taped up. Are you back practicing again after that injury?
Russell: Yes sir, I am back praticing. I had hit my wrist one day at practice I am good now.
Q: After your true freshman season you entered the transfer portal but then decided to remain at Mississippi State. How did that process play out?
Russell: Really, it was just the staff showing me love. When I made my decision to come back, I talked to the whole staff. They gave me a lot of input and told me what they thought about me. They talked to me about my future there. Those talks really touched me and it made me feel like I was at home. So I had to come back and I didn’t want to leave.
Q: You are redshirting this season so you will be a redshirt sophomore next year. How were those talks before the season about taking a redshirt year?
Russell: I had a talk with Coach (Chris) Jans. He told me I can be a phenomenal player as long as I keep working and as long as I have a high motor and a good attitude about it. Coach Jans wants me to use this year to become the player he thinks I can be. I really took that to heart and now I am making sure my guys get those wins while getting ready for next year.
Q: What is your role in practices?
Russell: I am all over the place. I am helping with scout work and learning about those scouting roles. I am pretty much all over the place.
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Q: Do they still have you practicing at the two guard or are you playing other positions?
Russell: I play the two. I switch off to the three now and then but it’s rare when I do that.
Q: With your redshirt season, what are you focused on the most with your game?
Russell: Really shooting. It is my shooting, training hard and being consistent.
Q: I spoke with Chris Jans a few weeks ago about you and your development this year. He said you probably have the best lead hand on your shooting technique. Is that something new for you that you just started doing?
Russell: I’ve been working on that pretty much all my life. But this past year I really started the concept of leaving my lead hand in the correct spot. So I’ve been bringing that along with my shooting.
Q: Over the past two seasons you have gone against veteran guards like Rams Davis and Shakeel Moore in practice. How does that competition help you to develop your game?
Russell: A lot. There will be multiple times where I will have individual talks with them so I can learn what they’ve been through. I am just in my second year so I have to grow, too, to develop as a player. So they tell me the heads up on what to expect early so I can mature and improve as I go.
Q: Once this season ends, what are you focused on going into next season and your return to game days?
Russell: Just getting ready for next year. I want to be ready so I can show out for Mississippi State.
