With the loss of Michael Nwoko and the potential loss of KeShawn Murphy to the transfer portal, the Mississippi State men’s basketball team had a much-needed post player commit to the program on Wednesday.
Quincy Ballard, who split the past five seasons at Florida State and Wichita State, is heading to Starkville, per a report from 247Sports. The 6-foot-11 center averaged 10 points and 9.2 rebounds this past season for the Shockers. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
NEWS: Wichita State transfer Quincy Ballard has committed to Mississippi State his agent Brandon Grier of Equity Sports, told @247SportsPortal
The 6-11 big man averaged 10 points and 9.2 rebounds this season. https://t.co/cDDX35yU8P pic.twitter.com/G1ixsd4MuD
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) April 10, 2025
Ballard, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., started all 33 games he was available for Wichita State this past season. He set the program’s single-season records for dunks (62) and field goal percentage (75.1%) while helping lead the Shockers to an NIT appearance.
His commitment comes as Mississippi State is set to lose a large sum of production from this past season, including outgoing graduates Cam Matthews, Claudell Harris Jr., and RJ Melendez. Nwoko recently committed to LSU and guard Kanye Clary to Oklahoma State. Fellow guard Riley Kugel is heading back to Florida, this time to suit up for UCF.
Ballard joins UAB guard Ja’Borri McGhee to commit to the Bulldogs. Mississippi State, which has made three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, is waiting to hear if star point guard Josh Hubbard will return after declaring for the NBA Draft while retaining his college eligibility.
