Danberry returning for ’Dogs

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. — Mississippi State Coach Vic Schaefer had been talking with Jordan Danberry a couple of times a week to see how she was doing while waiting to hear if the NCAA would grant her a fifth season of eligibility.

So Danberry didn’t think anything was up when Schaefer called her in August and asked her to stop by his office.

“Coach Schaefer said he wanted to check on me and see how I was doing,” Danberry said Thursday at SEC media days. “He asked, ‘Do you still want to play? Do you still want to get your year back?’

“And I was like, ‘Yeah, of course I do.’ He said, ‘Well, you got it.’ Then the whole coaching staff started ringing cowbells and cheering.”

The NCAA ruled Danberry, a 5-8 guard from Conway, deserved to have another season with the Bulldogs after she played in six games at the University of Arkansas as a sophomore during the 2016-17 season before transferring to Mississippi State.

“I think we were both in tears,” said Schaefer, a former Razorbacks assistant coach. “It was a special day for us. It’s exciting to have Jordan back.”

Danberry averaged 13.1 points, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season while starting all 36 games for the 33-3 Bulldogs.

“I think my all-around game is really focused on playmaking, whether it’s making a play on defense or on offense or making a pass or a shot or getting a steal or a rebound,” Danberry said. “My energy all over the court is a good asset to have.”

Danberry is the only senior for the Bulldogs, whose roster includes four freshmen and four sophomores.

“It means a lot to me to be able to get out there on the court again,” she said. “I’m just glad I get to lead this young group.”

Schaefer said Danberry will play both point guard and shooting guard.

“I’m expecting a lot from her,” he said. “She’s someone that’s grown so much. She understands what it takes to win and that you have to pay a price for success.

“What she’s done in practice, setting a standard for our freshmen to see every day, you can’t put a price on it. She’s a kid that goes hard every day, all day. She’s going to have a tremendous season.”

Schaefer said it was a disappointment Danberry wasn’t included on the 10-player All-SEC first and second teams that were voted on by the media.

“Jordan’s not one of the 10 best players in our conference?” Schafer said. “You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s a player that’s really hard for the opposing team to deal with, and it’s her competitiveness as much as her skill set.”

Danberry, who graduated from Mississippi State last year with a degree in business economics, is set to complete her master’s in business administration this spring.

“I think it was definitely