STARKVILLE — Noxubee County superstar guard Tootie Lockett made headlines in the summer after she announced she was transferring to Starkville.
At the same time, she was making a statement to the rest of Mississippi, moving up from a Class 3A school to the newly formed 7A classification to play for the Yellow Jackets.
Starkville head coach Kristie Williams, entering her final season as head coach of the program, knew the kind of player she was inheriting in Lockett and immediately knew the role she would play on her team.
“She’s been a leader for all of the years I’ve known her to play basketball,” Williams said. “It was just an added blessing for us to have her added to our roster. … When you have a player with an elite mindset and an elite skill set, there’s not much more you can ask of that player other than ‘Go out and do what you do.’”
For anyone who might have doubted her, those doubters were silenced as Lockett has become the focal point of Starkville girls basketball this season, guiding the Jackets to a 22-4 record with hopes for a deep postseason run.
Her efforts so far this season were recognized by the Mississippi High School Activities Association, naming her Miss Basketball for 7A, the first Starkville player, regardless of classification, ever to receive the award.
“I was excited,” Lockett said. “I said that I wanted to go out there and win it, so I put in the work and it paid off. … My teammates were happy and excited for me too.”.
In addition to her skillset, which has made her one of the best guards in the state, Lockett’s love for the game has been apparent all season.
“We’ve been able to achieve a lot of great things because she has been that quarterback for us out there,” Williams said. “Her leadership and her experience at that point guard position has been vital for us. … She loves the game and it’s obvious when she’s on the court how much she loves it.”
Though she will soon leave the floor in a Starkville uniform for the last time, her career will continue at Itawamba Community College.
Lockett could be spending the next two years playing in Fulton, and she’ll bring her successes from the Jackets and Noxubee County with her to the next level.
“It’s been pretty fun,” Lockett said. “I’ve enjoyed every moment here and I’m feeling confident as ever. My confidence has always been high.”
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