It didn’t take long for new Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Sam Purcell to get things rolling after arriving in Starkville a couple of weeks ago. 

The former Lousville assistant had plenty to keep up with as he finished out his duties with the Cardinals in their run to the Final Four, and his team building is already paying off as he’s filled out his coaching staff and added a couple of transfers for next season.

Earlier this week, Mississippi State lost the commitment of Michigan State transfer Alyza Winston, who committed to the program while Doug Novak was acting as interim head coach.

The Bulldogs moved quickly, securing the services of Florida State graduate transfer Kourtney Weber, and on Thursday they added sophomore forward Ramani Parker, who announced that she will follow Purcell to Starkville from Louisville.

Weber, a 5-foot, 10-inch guard, will add experience and depth to the Bulldogs backcourt as they look to replace Myah Taylor’s production, while Parker provides some much-needed size for the Bulldogs and at least two more years of eligibility. 

Standing at 6-4, Parker becomes the third-tallest Bulldog behind Jessika Carter and Charlotte Kohl, both 6-5. Her knowledge of Purcell’s system and ability down low will be a welcome addition to the program. 

“I have had the chance to get to know Ramani since she was in high school,” Purcell said. “I had the pleasure of helping recruit her to Louisville and then watched her put in the work to become a very skilled basketball player. 

“Ramani has the size, skill and winning mentality that I am looking for here at Mississippi State. I’ve recruited many special players in my career, and Ramani is one of those special players, and I’m excited for her to get to Starkville and show the world what she can do.”

Forward quickly became a need for the Bulldogs last season, made worse by the departure of star scorer Rickea Jackson, who transferred to Tennessee. Parker has only averaged a few minutes per game so far in her college career but is likely to get the chance to add to that next season.