STARKVILLE — Nikki McCray-Penson is hitting the recruiting trail.
Virtually, that is.
With the COVID-19 pandemic leaving coaches in a holding pattern in terms of on-campus visits, McCray-Penson has spent her first week as the head coach at Mississippi State monitoring potential options for the Bulldogs both for next year and in the years to come.
Most notably, the former Old Dominion head coach handed out her first few offers in the 2021 class to Whitehaven (Tennessee) guard Se’Quoia Allmond and Texas guard Jasmine Shavers.
“For me, the 2021 class is going to be huge,” McCray-Penson told The Dispatch Monday. “I do think that we have some pieces that we could fill this year and that’s something we’re figuring out every single day.”
While Shavers was a re-up of an offer McCray-Penson handed out while she was still coaching in Norfolk, Allmond represents a return to her previous roots. A West Tennessee native herself, McCray-Penson was enshrined in the National High School Hall of Fame after a decorated career at Collierville High School just outside of Memphis.
For Allmond, the local connection is one that has landed MSU among her primary suitors and a school she believes should find itself in her top three whenever she decides to cut down her offers list — one that includes Louisville, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Memphis.
“It was kind of shocking because I was like, ‘Dang, she just got here and I was one of the first people for her to offer,'” Allmond recalled excitedly. “It was shocking but it was a good feeling because we’ve been in quarantine and I’ve been thinking ‘Oh man, I’m not going to get any more offers since we can’t play.'”
Allmond is also friends with MSU standout Rickea Jackson after the pair played against one another in the Overtime Takeover 3-on-3 event in Brooklyn last May. Just a sophomore at the time, Allmond was joined at the showcase by South Carolina’s Zia Cooke, Auburn’s Lauren Hansen and Tennessee’s Jordan Horston, among others.
“It was a great feeling, it was a confidence booster,” she said of playing in the event. “I think that I could kind of play with them. I’ve got little stuff to work on but I’m doing something right because I was able to hang with them and keep up with them in the game.”
As for the on-court fit, Allmond and Shavers’ offers represent a need for MSU heading into next year’s class. Speaking with The Dispatch Monday, McCray-Penson wouldn’t put a number on how many players she’ll take in her inaugural recruiting cycle, but the Bulldogs could have as many as five scholarships open with a pressing need at point guard.
Forecasting the 2021 roster, stalwart Myah Taylor would be entering her senior year while rising sophomore JaMya Mingo-Young would be a junior. And though both are plenty capable of running the point down the line, MSU needs a ball handler of the future.
Allmond — who was previously recruited by Vic Schaefer’s staff before he departed for Texas — would give MSU a player in the vein of Taylor. A pass-first athlete who can get to the rim when needed, the 5-foot-6 junior is speedy in the open court and possesses top-flight vision for her age.
As for Shavers, she’s received ample attention nationally with offers from North Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Northwestern, Kentucky and Arizona and ranks as the No. 19 guard in the class according to ESPN. At 5-foot-10, she’s longer than Allmond and likely has a higher offensive upside.
“I think point guard is key for any team that’s winning a national championship,” McCray-Penson said. “It’s a huge piece, because they’re an extension of your head coach, your staff, and that has to be portrayed on the court.”
It remains to be seen when Shavers or Allmond will announce any kind of decision given the uncertain state of affairs in high school and college athletics. That said, Allmond said she’s excitedly awaiting a chance to enjoy an in-person signing day should she get the chance.
“Things are changing,” McCray-Penson said of the recruiting landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The transfer portal is real. Kids are committing left and right. (We) may not have a summer AAU basketball. So, the dynamics of recruiting are changing. For us, yes we have scholarships, but we want to make sure we got the right pieces that can help us win.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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