Mississippi State basketball: Sam Purcell thrilled Jessika Carter, JerKaila Jordan returned

As second-year Mississippi State basketball head coach Sam Purcell looks to build momentum, he’s thrilled to have Jessika Carter and JerKaila Jordan back.

The Mississippi State women’s basketball team had a really impressive first season under the guidance and direction of Sam Purcell. And while things weren’t perfect, the Mississippi State Bulldogs managed to go 22-11 and make the NCAA Tournament in Purcell’s head coaching debut.

Now as the Bulldogs look to further improve upon what they accomplished a season ago, Purcell seems pretty happy to have talented veterans in Jessika Carter and JerKaila Jordan returning to Starkville for another Mississippi State basketball season.

During SEC Media Days, when asked about Carter and Jordan staying committed to the Miss. State Bulldogs, Purcell made it clear that this felt like an accomplishment.

“It’s a statement,” Purcell said, according to ASAP Sports’ transcript of SEC Media Days. “That’s what I said in year one. How many positive statements can my program make?”

Mississippi State basketball’s Sam Purcell proud to have Jessika Carter and JerKaila Jordan return for another season with the Miss. State Bulldogs

Carter and Jordan being back in Starkville is a crucial aspect of the the Bulldogs’ path to success. And their return to Starkville displays a belief in Purcell’s vision for the program.

“You know what, I actually believe in the vision,” Purcell remarked about what Carter and Jordan’s return signifies. “Last year, like I said, they let us in, so we’ve got a taste about us that, you know what, we’re hungry for more.”

Bringing back players of this sort of caliber speaks a lot about the sort of culture that Purcell is aiming to establish in Starkville. And it’s clear that having two players return can help further build that culture moving forward.

Because it’s not just what they bring on the court that matters. There are intangible aspects to their return that is a big deal. It helps fortify belief within the program, but also Carter and Jordan returning to MSU helps make Purcell’s job on the recruiting trail a bit easier as well.

“For my two top players to believe in that, it’s going to help me in recruiting right now. That’s a big thing going on in the country,” Purcell explained.

With stars like Carter and Jordan playing a key role in the development of this program, Mississippi State is able to take a step towards the sort of program it was in 2017 and 2018. The Bulldogs may not be there yet, but they’re making progress and that should make it harder on other successful SEC programs like Tennessee, South Carolina, and LSU.

“If you stay in the top of the top of the SEC, the stats prove, all right, you got a chance to compete in Final Fours and win national championships,” Purcell stated.

And right now, it looks like the Bulldogs will be able to continue to build momentum to that sort of status. Purcell believes he’s got a recipe for success.

“So right now I’ve got the attendance. I’ve got the coaching staff to develop the players. Now I’m trying to stack another top 25 so we can stay at the top of the top in the SEC,” Purcell explained.