Mighty Mississippi

While most of the rest of the country is getting after it in live events, many of Mississippi's best players are on the sidelines for a few more days. The Magnolia State holds it's Annual Mississippi High School All Star Game in the early part of the evaluation period.  They'll practice for several days and then play the game this Saturday.

The Mississippi D1 Ambassadors will see their first action as a team at the Big Shots Mississippi Slam in Jackson, MS July 14-15th. When they make their debut, college coaches will see a three headed monster in the backcourt. 2012 PG Bryant Magee is as tough a defender and as explosive a high riser as most any guard on the circuit. His combo guard sidekick tandem of 2012 Alex Lacey and 2012 Avery Woodson both know how to win as they led Wayne County to the Mississippi 6A State Championship.  It's not hard to see why as both are superior shooters, and they're not afraid to pull it from way DOWNTOWN.

2012 Alex Lacey of Wayne County brings defense and perimeter shooting to the table

 

2012 Bryant Magee of West Marion, MS is a defensive dynamo and a high riser who will posterize you.

Woodson though needs to be mentioned with the best.  He has a smooth stroke and a hair trigger release.  Also, don't sleep on 2012 6'7" Laphonzo Smith who is skilled and projects out to be a nice wing player.  Sometimes the knock on Mississippi players is that their academics are spotty.  Not so with this bunch.  Coach James Cole has done a great job in instilling discipline.  They are all polite guys who will get after it on the court too.  It's a nice recruitable bunch.  D1 coaches, do not sleep on them!

2012 6'7" Wing Laphonzo Smith is athletic and skilled

2012 G Avery Woodson (right) has to be mentioned amongst the elite shooters in his class.

The Mississippi D1 Ambassadors Legacy

The summer of 2010 was the inaugural presence of the D1 Nation in that talent rich state. Under Coach Ted Hutchins the Mississippi D1 Ambassadors were anchored by Top 75 player nationally, Leantwan Luckett of Ridgeland. They had excellent showings in Orlando, FL and at the Real Deal in the Rock where they scorched my buddy Dinos Trigonis' highly regarded Belmont Shore team with Cesar Guerrero and Company and sent them back to Cali.  We had four D1 signees off that group:

2011 WG 6'5" Leantwan Luckett of Ridgeland, (MS)                Alcorn State

The high flying Luckett had lots of high major looks but ultimately the hometown boy decided on Alcorn State.  He wanted to play for former Jackson Provine Coach Luther Riley (a real up and comer in the coaching game) who was recently named Alcorn's new head man.  He is a STEAL at this level.

2011 SG 6'2" Jarron Mallory of Jackson Provine, (MS)             Alcorn State

An athletic shooting guard, Mallory decided to follow his high school coach to Alcorn and team up with Luckett.

2011 P Donovan Ross will add toughness to Southeast Louisiana 

 

2011 WG Leantwan Luckett will bring his taents to Alcorn State in what could be that program's single biggest signing ever.

2011 SG Josh Swan 6'2" of Atlanta Pace Academy (GA)            Southern Illinois

Swan is athletic, can shoot it and brings lot of energy to the game.

2011 P 6'6"  Donovan Ross of Ridgeland (MS)                            Southeast Louisiana

Ross brings toughness and a high motor to the Southland Conference