STARKVILLE — Every year Chris Jans has been Mississippi State’s head coach, the Bulldogs have landed the top recruit from the Magnolia State.
That continued Wednesday when Jamarion Davis-Fleming, a 6-foot, 9-inch center from Canton and a consensus four-star recruit, signed to play for MSU over offers from Alabama and LSU. The Bulldogs also inked two four-star prospects from Texas in shooting guard King Grace and small forward Cameren Paul.
Davis-Fleming is the younger brother of Javian Davis, who started his college career at Alabama and then spent the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons at MSU before playing his final year at UAB.
“I feel really good about the young men and their families who have joined our basketball family,” Jans said. “Our recruiting has gotten better and better since we’ve arrived. Certainly success has something to do with that, but at the same time, they’re getting familiar with us.”
Grace was the No. 50 overall player in the class of 2025, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and chose MSU over 10 other high-major offers including LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Paul, who like Grace is from the Dallas area, had offers from Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, among others.
With Davis-Fleming on board, the Bulldogs have secured the top Mississippi prospect for the fourth year in a row. Current freshman Eric Paymon Jr., last year’s top in-state recruit, has not entered a game yet, but the highest-ranked prospect from the state in 2023 was Josh Hubbard, who as a sophomore is now the face of the entire MSU athletic department.
Kimani Hamilton, Mississippi’s top recruit in 2022, played sparingly as a freshman for the Bulldogs before transferring to High Point, where he started every game last season and averaged nearly 15 points per game.
“It’s not something we talk about a ton,” Jans said. “But every coach talks about starting in your backyard and making sure you do an excellent job within driving distance or your state lines. Who knows what the future will hold, but it’s been so far, so good.”
Scouting Utah
MSU (3-0) leaves Humphrey Coliseum for the first time this year Sunday to battle Utah (3-0) at the Landers Center in Southaven. It will be the Bulldogs’ first game in Southaven since a 104-67 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 15, 2001.
The Utes have rolled over Alcorn State, Central Arkansas and Queens to start the season, putting up 100, 98 and 96 points, respectively. A 3-point barrage has been the key to Utah’s success, led by Gabe Madsen, who is averaging 25.3 points per game and is 17-for-35 from distance. Mike Sharavjamts, a native of Mongolia, leads the Utes in assists, while Ezra Ausar and sixth man Mason Madsen — Gabe’s twin brother — are each scoring 12 points per game.
“Early impressions are very impressive,” Jans said. “They’re playing great. They’ve had no adversity at all. They’ve breezed through their first three games and done it with some flair. They’re breaking all kinds of records for their program for 3-point shooting. We thought we’ve had some big nights coming out of the gate, and it pales in comparison to what they’ve done.”
Sunday’s game will be the closest thing to a homecoming for fifth-year senior forward Cameron Matthews, who grew up some 20 minutes from the Landers Center in Olive Branch. Matthews is the longest-tenured Bulldog and the only MSU player to start all 35 games last season.
“I’m excited for him to go home, if you will, and play in front of his family and friends who have supported him for five years,” Jans said. “There’s usually a contingent of Matthews (family members) who are supporting Cam. I’ve gotten to know his family and they’re a wonderful family. I’m sure it will be a special afternoon for Cam and his family.”
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