Mississippi State Basketball: Hubbard and Carter Named Mississippi's Best in 2024
Mississippi State basketball is home to both the best men's and women's basketball player in the state of Mississippi.
Two Mississippi State basketball stars took home major hardware on Monday. Josh Hubbard won the 2024 Howell Trophy, awarded to the state of Mississippi's top men's basketball player. Jessika Carter won the 2024 Gillom Trophy, awarded the to state of Mississippi's best women's basketball player.
Per the Clarion Ledger's Stefan Krajisnik, this was the first time since 2020 that Mississippi State took home both awards.
Gillom Trophy winner: Jessika Carter
β Stefan Krajisnik (@skrajisnik3) March 11, 2024
Howell Trophy winner: Josh Hubbard
First time since 2019-2020 that Mississippi State has swept the awards.
Josh Hubbard wins 2024 Howell Trophy
Mississippi State basketball Josh Hubbard took home the 2024 Howell Trophy, being named the best men's basketball player in Mississippi. He became the first freshman to ever win the award.
No one better in Mississippi π@jhubb_3 becomes the first freshman EVER to win the Howell Trophy! #HailStateπΆ pic.twitter.com/BwRoGKegUE
β Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) March 11, 2024
Hubbard has been a revelation for Bulldog basketball. The freshman guard leads the teams with 16.8 points per game. He scored at least 23 points in State's final five regular season games, with a season-high 34 in a home shootout against Kentucky.
He's already cemented himself in MSU's record books. His 521 points are the best ever by a Bulldog freshman, and his 98 made 3-pointers are a program single-season record. Hubbard also was named 2nd Team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Freshman team.
Josh Hubbard was the sixth Bulldog to take home the Howell Trophy in the last seven years.
Jessika Carter wins 2024 Gillom Trophy
Mississippi State women's basketball's Jessika Carter was named Mississippi's best, taking home the 2024 Gillom Trophy. Carter was a three-time finalist for the Gillom Trophy and finally won the award in her final season in Starkville.
Jessika Carter. Best in the πππππ. #HailStateπΆ pic.twitter.com/lbMYeyJy02
β Mississippi State Women's Basketball (@HailStateWBK) March 11, 2024
A four-year starter for the Bulldogs, Jessika Carter is just the third Mississippi State women's basketball player to amass 1500 points and 1000 rebounds in her career. This season, she's averaged a double-double with 14.7 points and a team-leading 10.1 rebounds per game.
Carter recorded 13 double-doubles this season. She had an incredible 20 points and 20 rebounds in State's late-season matchup with Kentucky. She was named 2nd Team All-SEC alongside teammate Jerkaila Jordan.
After Mississippi State took home the Gillom Trophy six-straight seasons from 2015-2020, Carter became the first Bulldog to win the award since that time.