Josh Hubbard and Jerkaila Jordan named Finalists for state's top basketball trophies

From Mississippi State Media Relations

Two of Mississippi State’s premiere student-athletes, Jerkaila Jordan and Josh Hubbard, were named finalists for the Gillom and Howell Trophies on Thursday, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced.

The Gillom Trophy is awarded annually to the best female college basketball player in Mississippi, while the Howell trophy goes to the top male college basketball player in the State. Along with Jordan, Madison Scott of Ole Miss and Taleah Dilworth of Jackson State University were named as finalists for the Gillom Trophy. On the men’s side, Ole Miss’ Sean Pedulla and Jackson State’s Daeshun Ruffin were named finalists alongside Hubbard.

Jordan looks to continue Mississippi State’s dominance in winning the Gillom trophy, as State has won the award 10 of the 17 times it has been presented, including seven of the last 10 years. The graduate student from New Orleans, Louisiana, is wrapping up her fourth and final season as a Bulldog. In those four years, Jordan has inserted herself among some of the top names in Bulldog women’s basketball history.

Jordan has scored 1,806 points during her time in the Maroon and White, which ranks fifth among program history. Joining Jordan in the top five are Bulldog legends LaToya Thomas (2,981), Victoria Vivians (2,527), Tan White (2,421) and Teaira McCowan (1,942). All four of these players were selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft in their respective draft classes.

Along with her scoring, Jordan has etched her name in the record books in numerous other categories. She ranks second in program history in steals, as she has collected 258 over her time in Starkville, and trails only the aforementioned White, who collected 372 over her collegiate career.

Jordan has also knocked down 169 threes during her time in Starkville, which is currently best for sixth in program history. She has gained all of these in 125 games at Mississippi State, starting every one of those games, which gives her the second most starts in program history and makes her one of 11 players to start 100 or more games as a Bulldog.  

Hubbard enjoying solid sophomore campaign

Hubbard, a 2024-25 John R. Wooden and Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List recipient, is looking to become State’s third two-time winner of the Howell Trophy which would enable him to join program greats Jarvis Varnado (2008-09, 2009-10) and Quinndary Weatherspoon (2017-18, 2018-19). It also would stretch the Bulldogs dominant run to seven of the last eight Howell Trophy winners going back to 2017-18.

Hubbard is the first player in State history to surpass 500+ points during his freshmen and sophomore seasons. He has amassed 1101 career points which is the third-most in program history through 63 games trailing only Howell (1957-58-59) and Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75).

Hubbard ranks among the SEC leaders in points (17.96 – 4th), assist-turnover ratio (3.03 – 2nd), free throw percentage (87.5 – 4th), three-point field goal percentage (35.5 – 8th), assists (3.36 – 15th) and field goal percentage (39.7 – 15th). He is on the verge of becoming State’s sixth player to dial up 500+ points and 100+ assists during the same season. The list features Howell Trophy winners Jamont Gordon (2007-08), Weatherspoon (2017-18) and Iverson Molinar (2021-22).

Recently, Hubbard eclipsed Darryl Wilson’s school record and has canned a three-pointer in 41 consecutive games. He has drained 197 treys which already sits tied for sixth in program history.

Hubbard has posted 14 of his 23 career efforts of 20-plus points versus SEC competition. He exploded for a career-best 38 points against No. 4 Alabama (01/29). The 38 points are the most for a State player during the 2000s, and the most points in program history versus a ranked opponent.

Hubbard, an ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career at Madison-Ridgeland Academy under Richard Duease as the state of Mississippi’s all-time leading scorer with 4,367 career points. The previous record stood for 37 years and was held by Mississippi State’s Robert Woodard.

Also representing Mississippi State will be Victoria Vivians, who is a featured speaker at the event, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced earlier in the month. The current women’s basketball assistant coach remains the only four time winner of the Gillom Trophy.

The awards luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the VIP Room of the Golden Moon at Pearl River Resort. Tickets for the event are available online at msfame.com or at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame business office.