STARKVILLE — Zion Campbell wants to be much more than a solitary figure.
Although she is in her fourth year with the Mississippi State women’s basketball program, Campbell is the lone junior — albeit a redshirt — on the 2018-19 roster. With depth in the senior class and plenty of contributors in classes below her, Campbell is primed to play a bigger role behind senior center Teaira McCowan.
“She has really improved,” MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. “She is going to be a great player for us as far as being able to play a five (center) if T(eaira) happens to need a blow or gets in foul trouble.”
Campbell could get an opportunity to see more minutes at 7 p.m. Thursday when No. 6 MSU (2-0) plays host to Lamar (3-0) at Humphrey Coliseum.
Earlier this season, Schaefer praised Campbell for her mental and physical maturation since her redshirt season of 2015-16. As a redshirt freshman in 2016-17, Campbell appeared in 16 games and averaged 0.6 points and 0.8 rebounds.
Last season, Campbell averaged 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game. She shot 64.7 percent from the field and blocked 15 shots, which was second on the team.
Through two games, Campbell has scored two points and has three rebounds in 14 minutes. The departure of freshman center Daphane White in the preseason means Campbell and freshman Jessika Carter likely will be the primary substitutes off the bench for McCowan. That could change if and when the NCAA makes a ruling on the eligibility of Ole Miss transfer Promise Taylor, a 6-5 sophomore. As of Tuesday, Schaefer said the Bulldogs hadn’t received word about Taylor’s status.
“She’s long. She gets her hands on a lot of shots,” Schaefer said of Campbell. “She rebounds it, so my thing for her is let’s get in the best shape you’ve ever been in so you can get up and down the floor more than two or three times without having to come out.”
Campbell was pleased to hear Schaefer’s statement about her development on and off the court. She said her biggest struggles at MSU have been with communication and talking because she referred to herself as a “reserved” person. When asked if she thought she had made a bigger improvement in the mental or physical parts of the game, Campbell said she is finding her voice because she has more confidence.
“Knowing I can do it and not doubting myself (is my biggest thing),” Campbell said. “I think I have doubted myself a lot (in the last year or so). I think I have kind of looked at it like I am not where I need to be, so it has caused me to be inside of myself and start thinking about everything. Now, I am more confident in myself.”
That being said, Campbell recognizes the opportunities for playing time that could arise if Schaefer wants to go with a bigger lineup or when McCowan isn’t in the game. She feels she is ready to answer the call when she is needed.
“It is a good challenge,” Campbell said. “I have been preparing for it for three years, so I am ready. I think it is my time to help more and do more stuff and be out there more and try to think less and just help as much as I can.”
NOTES: An “A” gets free admission to watch No. 6 MSU against Lamar on “Report Card Night.” Children age 12 and under will be admitted free when they show a report card with an A. Fans can purchase tickets at HailState.com/Tickets up to four hours before tip at the price of $5 for adults and $3 for youth age 17 and under. Walk-up general admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. … Reserved ticket books for the 2019 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, will go on sale on Thursday. Tickets for the tournament are $120 for a reserved book. A ticket book contains seven tickets, one for each session, which allows one person to attend all 13 games. All tickets prices are subject to additional taxes and fees and can be purchased at www.SECSports.com. Single session tickets will go on sale at a later date.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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