DALLAS – Texas is well known as a basketball hotbed, and two of the state’s many talented high school players – King Grace, a 6-foot-5 guard from Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy in Dallas, and Cameren Paul, a 6-7 forward/guard from DeSoto – both committed to Mississippi State in November 2024.
Grace is playing his senior year at Oak Cliff Faith Family, an open-enrollment charter school which had won the last three Class 4A state titles before leaving the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) after its girls’ program was banned from the playoffs and its coaches suspended.
And Grace, a four-star recruit ranked as the ninth-best off guard in the class of 2025, said his decision to head to Starkville was easy.
“It’s everything really – the atmosphere, the coaches, I just loved it all,” he said. “The coaches are great. They recruited me great. Getting to know them, they felt like family. That’s why I think it’s perfect for me.”
Paul also was instantly impressed with the State coaching staff and the family-like vibes surrounding the program.
“It was a really good team showing me the most interest. Coaching-wise, they have a lot of experience,” Paul said. “I love the brotherhood and know when I get there, they’re going to push me to my limits and make me a better player on and off the court.”
Grace and Paul have become friends since committing and are looking forward to being roommates in the fall.
“It’s just great, having somebody from your same city that you can go down there and relate to. You have some little part of home, which I think it’s great,” Grace said. “We have gotten closer. I’ve been to a couple of his games, and he’s been to a couple of mine.”
Not surprisingly, MSU head coach Chris Jans is excited to see this Texas duo arrive in Starkville in a few months.
“King is a really good young person, lots of upside. He is a two-way player from the jump,” Jans said. “He already defends at a high level, and he’s very, very coachable. (Paul’s) upside just oozes with potential. He’s got length and size. He’s a big wing. I don’t think he understands how good he can be right now. “
Like Grace, Paul also changed schools prior to his senior year. After growing up in DeSoto, which is a perennial Class 6A powerhouse in basketball and football in the Dallas area, he played his first three seasons at South Grand Prairie before returning home to DeSoto for his senior year.
He idolizes Shai-Gilgeous Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards because they are his size and have similar skill sets. When asked what he brings to the Bulldogs, he used one word: “Just a lot of energy. I know I’m going there as a freshman and have a lot to learn, but you can’t coach energy. If I have the right energy and play with a chip on my shoulder, I’ll be straight.”
As for Grace, he comes to Starkville as someone already recognized as a strong two-way player.
“Just hopefully immediate impact with my work and my size, immediate impact on offense, defense and energy, being a good leader. Anything coach needs from me, I’ll give it to him,” he said.
That work ethic this young talent speaks of also just happens to be what he loves most about the game.
“It’s the work, constantly staying in the gym and working (that I love most),” Grace said. “I love working. I love seeing my work on the court. That’s the best part for me.”
Coach speak
But what do their current coaches say about this dynamic duo? Well, plenty of good things.
“He (Paul) is a great kid, real disciplined, outgoing,” said DeSoto head coach Rob Wright, who has been a collegiate assistant with Texas, Texas A&M, George Washington and TCU. “I never have any issues with him. He takes care of his business on and off the court.”
Faith and Family Academy assistant coach Maurius Miles speaks equally highly of Grace.
“Yeah, (he’s) a great kid. Hard worker, very respectful, and knows the game,” Miles said. “He plays extremely hard. I think he’s going to play (early). He’s strong enough, big enough, knows the game. He can play.”
Both future Bulldogs have entrepreneurial interests and plan on majoring in business. Grace and Paul also believe they can both make an impact as true freshmen.
“It’s really just about confidence,” Paul said. “I think I can play in any league there is. It’s (about) me having the right mindset going into the game, being a leader on and off the court, and just leading by example. I know I can fit into any situation. I feel I am going to fit in really well.”
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.
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