Breaking down Mississippi State's 2024-25 basketball roster
This past season Mississippi State’s roster featured a senior-laden group full of SEC experience. That featured the likes of Tolu Smith, DJ Jeffries and Rams Davis among others, and that group helped lead the Bulldogs to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the program’s first back-to-back trips to March Madness since 2008-09. State also reached the SEC Tournament semifinals last season, a first for the program since the 2010 season.
That being said, head coach Chris Jans knew this offseason would be an active one in the transfer portal, and it was just that. Mississippi State ended up signing six new transfers and all but one have Power 5 playing experience, including two former SEC players.
In the backcourt, Mississippi State upgraded the talent with the additions of former Penn State point guard Kanye Clary, former Boston College guard Claudell Harris along with former Florida guard Riley Kugel and former Georgia wing RJ Melendez.
Clary averaged over 17 points a game this past season in the Big 10 while Harris averaged just under 14 points a game. Kugel, a former State signee, also has the ability to play the wing position, if needed, while Melendez brings length and a solid offensive game, as well, to the program. Early on in summer practices, Kugel and Melendez have been mentioned often for their play on the court.
With the loss of Smith and Jimmy Bell in the post, State also inked a pair of centers in former Rhode Island transfer Jeremy Foumena and former Miami transfer Michael Nwoko. Foumena arrived in Starkville earlier this week after dealing with visa issues and will begin the second summer semester next week. Nwoko arrived on campus in late May and has collected good compliments from his new teammates so far.
Within the Class of 2024, in November Mississippi State also signed point guard Dellquan Warren and this past spring, the Bulldogs collected a commitment from On3 four-star forward Eric Paymon, who is expected to enroll at Mississippi State in August.
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On the other side of the transfer portal, senior guard Shakeel Moore (Kansas), junior guard Trey Fort (Samford) and junior forward Jaquan Scott (UTSA) are exiting State’s program.
Returnees
So. guard Josh Hubbard
Sr. forward Cameron Matthews
Jr. wing Shawn Jones
So. center Gai Chol
Jr. forward KeShawn Murphy
So. wing Adrian Myers
So. guard Martavious Russell
2024 signee/commitment
PG Dellquan Warren
PF Eric Paymon
Transferring in
Jr. guard Kanye Clary (Penn State transfer)
So. center Michael Nwoko (Miami transfer)
Sr. guard Claudell Harris (Boston College transfer)
Sr. wing RJ Melendez (Georgia transfer)
Jr. guard/wing Riley Kugel (Florida transfer)
So. center Jeremy Foumena (Rhode Island transfer)
Transferring out
Sr. guard Trey Fort (Samford)
Sr. forward Jaquan Scott (UTSA)
Sr. guard Shakeel Moore (Kansas)
