2024 Mississippi Juco Trail Observations
By
EV the Geeker
It is that time of year where we go from the outside stadiums to the indoor gymnasiums. From the pigskin to the leather balls. This year I wanted to do a Special Preview of the Mississippi Women JUCO basketball team. I decided to do this because a lot of times the MS JUCOS especially the ladies don’t get a lot of love from the local media. Although I am the Head Women’s basketball coach at Mississippi University for Women aka “The W”, I also wear dual hats as a media person for The Geeker Report as well.
What is the Geeker Report? I’m glad you asked. The Geeker Report is a sports media and entertainment organization that uses an online presence and local events to mentor and provide positive recognition for teens and young adults. We are NOT in no shape or form a SCOUTING or RECRUITING service.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Over the next month or so I will share a few observations from what I saw as I traveled the state and watched every team except for Jones JUCO, and before I forget let me shoutout to all the 4-year colleges who attended the MS JUCO trail this year, especially the ones from our great state of Mississippi.
I will give you my opinion on where they will finish at the end of the year. Before I do that, I want to say as someone who has watched MS JUCO Women basketball since 2020, this year may have the most parity out of any of the previous years. TBH number 3 through 11 can go either way. Every night is going to be a dog fight. With that being said, here are 2024-25 my preseason rankings. Side note I will not have Jones in my rankings because I have not seen them play this year.
I will start off my preseason rankings with the two top teams who just so happened to be nationally ranked by the NJCAA Miss Gulf Coast CC (17th in the nation) & Pearl River CC (19th in the nation).
Both teams are loaded with talent from top to bottom.
MGCCC Head Coach Hope Adams has this roster loaded with a lot of talented freshmen.
Starting with 6’2 wing and JSU transfer Katelyn Brinkley. Former Clinton HS player and 3-time Dandy Dozen recipient Taelar Felton locks down the PG position. Former Holmes central County player and former Dandy Dozen Angel Mitchell will be on a wing doing what she does, along with former Lewisburg HS player Allison Irby and former Tupelo HS player Lamarah Cleaves who will see time at the forward spots. 5’11 sophomore Jacilyn Houston formerly of Louisville who is arguably their best player and 6’4 South Alabama transfer Cheyenne Pearson didn’t participate in the event due to injury.
Pearl River might be changing their mascot from the Wildcats to the TRANSFERS. Head Coach Scotty Fletcher loaded this team with a bunch of top-notch transfers. Let’s start with former Tupelo HS player Peyton Hearvey who transferred back in state from McLennan CC out of Texas. Another former Tupelo HS player Ganae Mcalllister came in from Coahoma CC. Natasha Barnes came in from Missouri State, Jazmine Jackson (Charleston Southern), Paris Gilmore (Detroit Mercy), former Desoto Central player Thailan Payne came in from Arkansas Monticello. If that wasn’t enough, they also bring back 2 All Conference and All-American prospects in 6’2 Roge’Ne Hillard and 5’10 Mikayla Riley. Their freshman class isn’t bad either lead by former 4A Miss Basketball Mattison Bell from Choctaw Central.
This is going to be a great overall year in our state when it comes to women basketball at every level. I know some of yall coaches going to feel some kind of way. I’m just trying to get our young ladies some more added exposure that they normally wouldn’t have gotten. Hey, I understand completely our team (MUW) is ranked 8th in our conference preseason rankings. I’m excited myself to prove them wrong. I hope you prove me wrong as well. I know, I know, you keep receipts and so do I. Be Blessed!!