Mississippi State Bulldogs: 50 Greatest Athletes in School History

Oct 25, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Mississippi State Bulldog mascot before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

#3 Bailey Howell, Basketball Center (1957-59)

Bailey Howell led the Bulldogs during the best years of the sport for Mississippi State. His 2,030 points is still second on the all-time scoring list for Mississippi State, and his 1,277 rebounds are still the most ever. Bailey was one of the best basketball players in college basketball when he played in Starkville. He was the first Consensus First Team All-American in Mississippi State history. Howell was also First Team All-SEC in each of his three varsity seasons. His scoring average of 27.1 points per game is still the best for a career as a Bulldog. He also holds the career rebounding average of 17 a game. Bailey Howell was drafted second overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1959 NBA Draft. He played in the NBA for 12 years and was a six-time All Star. He won two NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics and was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

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