Miss. State WBB

[jdelta02]

- 6-4 freshman power forward Kira Reynolds just reported as entering the transfer portal out of UT Arlington. She's another very good shot blocker.

- Tianna Thompson, 5-10 guard Ole Miss...transfer portal (41.6 percent 3 point percentage.)

[jdelta02]

Miss. State was one of the first power 5 programs to recruit Alabama transfer Naomi Jones out of high school. I read where she had indicated that she kept in contact with Miss. State back before signing with Alabama though they hadn't offered at the time. Also, she indicated back then that she felt that Miss. State was a good program. My opinion, this is definitely a player that could help this program in atleast a couple of key areas of need. Also she has that needed size and defensive toughness. This is one of the transfer portal players that I (me personally) like as a possible good fit for this team.

[jdelta02]

Faith Wylder announced as having officially entered the transfer portal. Had been reported in.previous weeks that she was transferring but these reports today indicate that she has actually entered the portal. An athletic post player that I've posted several times regarding her potential.

[jdelta02]

6-5 junior Yakiya Milton announced as in the transfer portal out of USC. Appears a still developing player offensively but is long. has good foot work and defends well. She formerly played at Auburn.
2025-26 season at USC
- played in 16 games
- 7 minutes per game
- 2.3 points
- 2.9 rebounds

She's very athletic, moves well. Check out this dunk...
https://x.com/i/status/2035155980443427239

[jdelta02]

Cali Smallwood...visitor

[NCMSTFAN]

Saniyah King in the portal.

[jdelta02]

Saniyah King in the portal.

She's a good point guard. Projected as the starter in preseason but ankle injuries held her back early. Coaching staff went with Trayanna Crisp as a repacement and decided to keep going with her though King played well off the bench, especially as she got more playing time, more comfortable.

[NCMSTFAN]

She's a good point guard. Projected as the starter in preseason but ankle injuries held her back early. Coaching staff went with Trayanna Crisp as a repacement and decided to keep going with her though King played well off the bench, especially as she got more playing time, more comfortable.

Oh I agree, not a huge loss from a production standpoint, I just thought she had a chance to be solid once she got healthy.

Sam has alot of holes to fill but most coaches in America will.. the only good thing is we bring back our best 2 players in Nwaedozi and Francis... we also had Cali Smallwood on campus recently and her Sister Lani is a signed incoming Freshman so I like our chances getting her. 14 ppg at UAB which led the team but more importantly, she can really shoot and thats something we've lacked

[Pancho]

Maybe Sam heard that the Vols lost all their players.

[captaindog]

Cali Smallwood...visitor

She committed. This commitment is big for multiple reasons. First, she has a much needed skill set as she is a very good three point shooter, overall shooter and free throw shooter. Both F Nwaedozi and M Francis are going to draw double teams and have the ability to find perimeter shooters.

Second, her mother is a coach, an excellent coach, so she understands the game and from what I’ve seen so far she is mentally and emotionally tough.

Third, and almost as important as the first two factors, the fan base has consistently been advocating her as a needed portal transfer. The only other potential transfer that has been referenced as much as her is Macie Phifer from Middle Tennessee State. Also, she just entered the transfer portal.

[jdelta02]

Need a big time point guard. Even a good scoring combo guard that is good at playmaking. Either these types or move Madison Francis to the point and bring in some help. Need atleast 1 really good scorer in the backcourt..player (1 or 2 spot) that can take over games. This is a good shooter but still need a good bit more help on that perimeter both offensively, defensively, and rebounding is needed to compete at a high level in the SEC. Also, the only guard left on the team at this point is Melissa Guillet. Need to get her ready to play, need a big freshman to sophomore jump out of her....only been with the team for part of 1 semester. Need more help on the frontcourt as well.

[jdelta02]

New Mexico Junor College point guard Jada Graves stands only a little taller than the Texas A&M point guard Pryor but she's really good. Led her team a to the NJCAA D1 Championship Game. Also, selected as WBCA- 2 Year National Player Of The Year. Career leader at NMJC in assists, had a school record 41 points in a game back in January, also 31 points in a game in the NJCAA Tourney while hovering around 7 assists per game.

[jdelta02]

2 post players that I like in the tranfer portal, not bug scorers but players that I feel could help this team defend the rim.
- 6-4 Naomi Jones - Alabama transfer
- 6-5 Yahiya Milton- USC transfer

Also, could consider asking Faith Wylder if she's willing to pull her name out of the transfer portal and return to Miss. State. or go back to checking out the Nigerian players playing in Japan. Both Miss. State and Syracuse landed really good post players out Japan last year. Some more over there.


My #1 optoon for defensive post help is Naomi Jones from Alabama though at the same time no telling what the coaching staff could find playing over in Japan or elsewhere.

[jdelta02]

Coach Fred Castro has yet to prove himself away from Mike Neighbors. Basically hired off of his being offensive coach under Neighbors at Washington. Couldn't get it done (not even close) at E Michigan, still Coach Purcell gave him an opportunity. Without a dominant scorer like he had at Washington with Kelsey Plum he couldn't do much in his system. Still could stepup, needs to make fundamental adjustments in his approach to the game, including going small ball agaist these SEC teams, lack of defense, and not protecting the rim. Also, Coaching staff making promises to players and family like point guard Saniyah King about her coming in being the point guard and giving the spot for good to another player while she was injured, then tell her that the new plan is just a delay of the first plan. Young lady worked hard. Coaching staff, still didn't stand on this none of it. How would any of the posters on this board feel if it was them or their family. Coach Schaefer did stand by his plans for players. Players like Jazzmun Holmes, Myah Taylor put in hard work and were rewarded with bigger roles, at the same time the team played really well as a result.

Another thing with this staff is that even if what they are doing is continously not working. especially in SEC play...they mostly keep doing the same things...few exceptions...because Coach Purcell has atleast tried a few things differently. He does appear to try his best

[jdelta02]

Also, see if Zac Selmon can address the situation with the boosters and nil. Will this university sign any more black female basketball players. Or do they not want to pay these players. No black players in the 2026 women's signing class as it is nor bringing out of the transfer portal at this point. Not seeing any visits set for them at this point. All of the players that they have even been.mentioning bringing in...all non black. Nothing wrong with bringing in white and hispanic players (good players, prospects)....BUT, NO BLACKS . In my opinion part of it is that these booster don't want to.pay these young black women the type money being paid these days and if they just have to pay..pay it to non blacks. But in football..they need these blacks to compete in the SEC...so they pay it regardless. Coach Purcell should definitey no better than to this. Last time this type of recruiting was going on at Miss. State was the 1960's. Will they pay any more of these young so called black young ladies to.come in and play...we shall see. Yes..these are SERIOUS accusations.

[Thick]

Does it matter? Really, bc if you going to say that then you have to back it up with what have we done with black players since Sam took over, and why haven’t we signed any non blacks. Also how many high school kids get screwed bc of the portal. To be honest with you, I don’t care what color they are, but we have always signed a very high percentage of blacks. That door swings both ways in my opinion. If boosters are investing in our programs, and they have a say in where and to who their money goes…..what are you going to do about it? If you challenge them, they can easily keep their money then what do you? Being held hostage by 18-21 year old spoiled no accountability players or being held hostage by boosters/donors/alumni? How many of those players will turn into boosters….exactly!