MSU’S Perry enters NBA Draft
Reggie Perry has decided to pursue his dreams of being a professional basketball player.
The Mississippi State forward announced on Sunday that he has entered his name for the 2020 National Basketball Association Draft.
“After much prayer and meditation and talking to my parents, my siblings and (head coach Ben Howland), it is time for me to continue my life on to the next level of basketball as a professional,” Perry said in a video posted to his Twitter account on Sunday. “Thank you Mississippi State fans for embracing me as soon as I decided to be a Bulldog. Thank you to the student section that chanted my name at the home games, not only for inspiring me to work hard, but making me a thorn in our opponents’ side. A special thanks to my teammates that have loved me through thick and thin and believed in me and pushed me, and the brotherhood we have established through these two years that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you Coach (Ben) Howland for pushing me places I never knew I’d be able to go and always telling me the truth.”
Perry is looking to make it two NBA drafts in a row in which a Bulldog is selected. Last year, Quinndary Weatherspoon was picked by the San Antonio Spurs.
Perry seemingly
has
a good chance to hear his name called after what was a tremendous sophomore season. He, along with winning other awards, was honored as Southeastern Conference Co-player of the Year by The Associated Press. Perry ranked among the SEC’S top 10 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage in 2019-20. He was only the eighth SEC player over the last decade to average a season double-double as he averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 boards per game.
For his MSU career, Perry has scored 868 points and brought down 557 rebounds. Only Jamont Gordon, Ray White and Rickey Brown scored more points over their freshman and sophomore seasons at Mississippi
State. Meanwhile Perry’s 557 rebounds are the highest two-year total for a Bulldog since Jarvis Varnado in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
It remains to be seen if any other Bulldogs might join Perry in beginning a pursuit of a professional career. Perhaps the most likely player to join Perry in entering the NBA Draft would be guard Robert Woodard II, though Woodard hasn’t made his intentions known as of yet.
Perry, however, is full speed ahead toward playing basketball on the highest of levels. However he insists he’ll always keep to his MSU ties.
“Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog,” Perry said. “I only hope and pray I make you all proud of me as I pursue what I love doing. Hail State.”