Mississippi State Basketball: Bulldogs Land Big-Time Commitment

While Mississippi State basketball is in the process of getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year, Chris Jans and his staff are still hard at work at adding talent to the 2025 roster. The Bulldogs took a big step towards that goal on Wednesday.

Mississippi State landed the commitment of Four-star Forward Eric Paymon Jr. from Raymond, MS. The 6-9, 215 lb senior is rated as the top player in the state of Mississippi and 102nd nationally by On3 with a rating of 91. The Bulldogs beat out Ole Miss, TCU, and Jackson State for Paymon Jr.

With Eric Paymon Jr.'s commitment, it makes it three-straight years that the top men's basketball prospect in the state of Mississippi ended up at Mississippi State. In fact, nine of the last 10 #1 rated prospects in Mississippi have made it to Starkville, though DJ Jeffries obviously began his career at Memphis.

There's no question that when it comes to basketball, Mississippi's best go to Mississippi State.

Paymon Jr. adds a talented piece to a Mississippi State front court that will be experiencing major turnover following this season. Center Tolu Smith and wing DJ Jeffries will have both exhausted their eligibility. Senior foward Cam Matthews still has a COVID year available to him should he choose to use it, but it's impossible to know his intentions at this time.

Regardless, this team loses a lot of experience next season, and Paymon Jr. has to the opportunity to contribute right away. He has the size to win in the low post, and as shown in these highlights, can knock down shots on the perimeter as well.

Paymon Jr. joins three-star guard DellQuan Warren and three-star center Chol Machot in a Mississippi State high school signing class that's ranked 55th per On3. The expectation is for Chris Jans to once again hit the transfer portal heavy this offseason with so many pieces leaving after this year, but Paymon Jr. is a great piece to close out Mississippi State's high school class.