Affectionately known as “Big Z” to the Jacket faithful, Zariyah Edwards has a heart and personality that are just as big as her presence on the basketball court. I found that out from the moment I sat down with the senior Starkville High School power forward. And now, she’s added to her list of accolades, taking a big statewide honor into the start of this season’s division play.
In early December, Zariyah was named to the annual girls basketball “Dandy Dozen” list for the 2024-2025 season. The Dandy Dozen is a recruitment-centered list of the top 12 high school players in Mississippi presented by the Clarion Ledger, the state’s largest newspaper. Honorees are selected based on input from sports media and basketball recruiting reporters, along with player stats, in-game observations and individual performance. Most who have followed “Z” over the last four years agree the honor has been a long time coming, and I wanted to find out her reaction.
Juggling class exemptions for “senior privilege” and a hefty practice schedule, Zariyah rushed into the Starkville High Gym with a big smile for our interview and ushered me downstairs to the girls locker room.
Over the next half-hour, we talked about the Dandy Dozen honor, her mindset for basketball and how she feels about her experiences at Starkville High School. The infectious laughter that punctuated our talk let me know that Z’s larger-than-life personality squarely matches her 6-foot frame on the court. I asked her what being named to the Dandy Dozen means to her.
“People walk up to me saying, ‘Hey Dandy,’ but I’ve only been a ‘Dandy’ for a day!” Zariyah shrugged and laughed with a combination of charm, humility and self-aware enthusiasm that draws people in. It’s not hard to understand why her coach describes Z as someone who makes everyone around her better – both on and off the court.
“She’s a joy to be around,” said Matt Wilbanks, head coach for the Lady Jackets, now halfway through his first season in Starkville. “I’m extremely happy for and proud of Zariyah for making the Dandy Dozen list. It is a prestigious honor that she will always be able to have her name a part of. She is the first Dandy Dozen player I have ever coached, and it is a huge blessing and honor to be able to coach a player of her caliber each day.”
On Dec. 5, when the 2024-2025 list was released, Zariyah got a call at 7 a.m. from her grandmother, who shared the news.
The shift in mindset, and the expectations that come from such an honor are not lost on the Starkville senior.
“It was kind of like an everyone was counting me out kind of thing,” Zariyah shared about not making the Dozen last season. “And it’s easy to question yourself. But teams make plays just to stop me, so I had to be some type of threat, you know?”
Now that she has been named into the elite Dandy Dozen club, Z said she can feel the target on her back from other teams. In the Starkville locker room, the coaching staff designs defensive or offensive approaches based on what they know about opposing players – the best players. With an almost apologetic resignation, Zariyah told me she’s that player in other locker rooms.
The realization isn’t bravado. It’s a fact. Through 15 games this season, Zariyah has averaged more than 15 points and 9 rebounds per game, plus at least one assist and one block. She credits her leadership role as a senior on the team as part of what motivated her to improve multiple areas of her game. While in past years she could look up to older players as a way to inspire changes in her own game, this year, she’s the senior. And, the responsibility of her role as a four-year starter is a daily reality for Zariyah.
“I’ve been a varsity starter since I was a freshman,” she said. “So I’ve always considered starting as a leader type of role.”
Getting up for practice after our time of smiles, laughter and basketball talk, Z had one more thought to share.
“I’m grateful for everybody who has helped me get to the position I’m in now,” she said. “I’m just really thankful and blessed to have all these accomplishments coming and the recognition I’m getting.”
Indeed. As the remainder of the basketball season looms along with decisions about college and more than 13 offers to play at the next level, with “Big Z” and her big heart, it’s good to see this Starkville “Dandy” finally get her due.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 48 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
