STARKVILLE — Nikki McCray-Penson continued her recent run on the recruiting trail Monday night as top-100 point guard Mia Moore announced her commitment to Mississippi State via Twitter.
“Thank you to all the college coaches that have recruited me and spent time getting to know me and my family,” Moore wrote. “With that being said I would like to announce that I will be continuing my education and basketball career under the guidance of the coaching staff at Mississippi State University.”
Rated the No. 87 over player and No. 22 point guard in the 2021 class by ESPN, Moore becomes the second commit for the Bulldogs in the past two weeks after Florida guard KN’isha Godfrey pledged to McCray-Penson and the Bulldogs on May 29.
MSU also announced the additions of Bowling Green graduate transfer Caterrion Thompson and freshman German center Charlotte Kohl.
Thompson will be immediately eligible this season after averaging 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game last year. She also notched 115 makes from behind the arch in her three seasons at Bowling Green and led the Mid-American Conference with a 42-percent clip in 2018-19.
Kohl comes to MSU following stints with the U16, U18 and 3×3 U18 German national teams. At 6-foot-4, she’ll also afford the Bulldogs added length on the interior alongside senior center Yemiyah Morris and second-team All-SEC forward Jessika Carter.
“Both Caterrion and Charlotte are pieces l believe that fit into the championship puzzle that we are building at MSU,” McCray-Penson said in a news release last week. “We are thrilled to have Caterrion join our Bulldog family. She has high character and a great work ethic. She fills an immediate need with her experience and ability to consistently knock down open shots. I am excited about the development potential of Charlotte. She also has a high character. Her size, length and skill put her in a position to have a bright future.”
While Moore and Godfrey won’t arrive in Starkville for another year, MSU should enter next season as a favorite to win the Southeastern Conference behind reigning champion South Carolina. The Bulldogs return second-team all-SEC performer Rickea Jackson, starting point guard Myah Taylor and Carter, among others, to a roster that concluded last year’s COVID-19-shortened campaign 27-6.
The Bulldogs were also ranked the No. 3 team in the nation in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 earlier this offseason.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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