Mississippi State’s basketball programs recently made significant additions via the transfer portal, securing key commits for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The MSU men, under fourth-year coach Chris Jans, landed another commitment through the transfer portal on Wednesday when Utah transfer forward Kendyl Sanders announced his decision on social media.
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward was an effective three-point shooter, averaging 40.3% from beyond the arc on 77 attempts during the 2025-26 season at Utah. In 32 games with no starts for the Utes, Sanders averaged 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game. Sanders is one of two players committed to the Bulldogs from the transfer portal so far, joining RJ Johnson
Mississippi State women’s basketball team secured a major transfer portal commitment on Monday with the addition of Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Aryss Macktoon. Macktoon is transferring from La Salle to join head coach Sam Purcell’s team for the 2026-27 roster, becoming the fourth transfer portal commitment for the squad. The news of her commitment was first announced by Robbie Faulk from State 1878.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Macktoon, a 5-foot-11 redshirt sophomore, started all 34 games for the Explorers, where she earned recognition for her defensive prowess with 109 steals and 15 blocks. She averaged 14.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 2.0 assists per game in her starting role. In her two full seasons with the Explorers, she averaged 13 points and 1.7 assists per game. Macktoon recorded a career-high 28 points on 12-21 shooting against VCU in February, leading La Salle to a 71-54 victory in Richmond. The Explorers finished the season 19-14, ranking fifth in the A10 conference standings.
Macktoon previously played against Mississippi State on December 20, 2025, in Philadelphia, a matchup La Salle lost, 85-37, where she scored nine points with four rebounds and three steals against her future team. The Baltimore, Maryland, native was also a multi-sport athlete at La Salle and St. Timothy’s High School, where she competed for the track and field team and qualified for nationals in high jump and long jump. Macktoon is part of a transfer class designed to address key departures, joining Cali Smallwood, Reese Beaty, and New Albany native Macie Phifer.
Philip Poe is sports editor.
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