Danberry set for game competition with Bulldogs

Depth at the guard position is very good for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.

It’s about to get even better. Sophomore Jordan Danberry will be eligible for the first time Sunday when the Bulldogs take on the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

After transferring from Arkansas last December, Danberry.sat out to meet academic requirements.

MSU head coach

Vic Schaefer has been pleased with Danberry’s progress to get to this point.

“She’s been working hard for a year,” Schaefer said. “She really adds a lot to our team on and off the court.

It’s really been fun to have her with us for the last year. Her energy in practice has really made us better. She was a very big part of our success last year even though she didn’t play in a game. She got us ready every day and brings it every day. We’re excited to start playing her. She’s ready.”

Danberry got experience as a guard in the Southeastern Conference during her days at Arkansas. She played in all 30 games of her freshman season in 2015-16 with 13 starts and averaged 6.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Before her transfer to the Bulldogs in 2017, Danberry played in six more games with the Razorbacks in 2016 and averaged 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds during that time.

Schaefer uses one word to describe Danberry’s game and that’s explosive.

“She is explosive with her quickness and explosive to the rim,” Schaefer said. “I think she is an explosive rebounder. She’s probably the best athlete on our team.”

Senior point guard Morgan William can agree with her coach on that.

She is happy about sharing the court with

Danberry during games instead of going against her in practice.

“I don’t like it when she guards me or when I have to guard her in practice,” William said. “It’s very hard because she is very fast. Her defense turns to offense and she’s just that type of player. It’s a great piece to add to our team so I’m excited.”

It’s not easy to be a student-athlete at a Division I

institution and the demands on their time are great.

Danberry knew academics was something that had to be a priority right off the bat at MSU.

“I’ve learned that I need to take care of my schoolwork,” Danberry said. “Being at Mississippi State, we have no choice. We have mandatory study hall every week. It allows me to get my work done. I realize that if I can get my work done early, I won’t have any problems in the end.”

Schaefer said Danberry

was a great student at Conway High School in Arkansas and has made great strides in the classroom since joining the Bulldogs.

“She dropped off (with grades) when she left high school,” Schaefer said. “When she came here, I wanted her to get back to being that really good student. She is going to make one B this semester and she’s not taking easy classes. She has a really good GPA (grade point average). She’s really smart and I’m proud she’s back to where she should

have been when she left high school.”

Danberry said the choice to attend Mississippi State “just felt right,” and saw the successful program that Schaefer has build in Starkville.

She looks forward to playing her first game Sunday.

“I’ve been anxious to play,” Danberry said. “I’m always playing on the black team with the practice guys and now I get to wear a jersey. It’s kind of bittersweet at the same time. I think I’m ready for it.”