From Gym Rat To SEC Star
December 10, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Iverson Molinar has developed into one of the best players in the country.
STARKVILLE – Iverson Molinar has never been scared of a little extra work.
When the Mississippi State guard feels there's some correcting to do, or if there's some part of his game he can improve, you better believe he's quick to get on it.
"I've always been a gym rat," Molinar said. "I've always been the one that wanted to better myself. I just better myself all the time. I push myself every day, and I just believe that anything can be possible if you have the right mindset and the right attitude towards stuff."
Laser-focused and willing to grind, it's unsurprising Molinar has found his way among the Southeastern Conference's and country's elite players.
When Mississippi State battles Colorado State at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Molinar enters in the beginning stages of what's shaping up to be his best year yet in Maroon and White. He's scoring 17.3 points per game. He's averaging 4.9 assists per contest. He's bringing down 3.9 rebounds per outing. All three of those figures would stand as single-season career bests if they hold throughout the year.
Molinar is third in the SEC in both points and assists per game. He's the only player in the league and one of only five players in the Power Five to rank inside their conference's top five in those two critical categories.
He's in the SEC's top 10 in field goal percentage (46.3). He leads the league in free throw percentage (92.9).
Molinar is special, no doubt about it. He's proving it night in and night out, and he seems to only be growing stronger.
Molinar is fresh off a single-game career-high 26 points against Minnesota. He's had seven straight games with 15 or more points. He's notched six or more assists in a contest five times in MSU's eight games this year.
The foundation of it all is the Molinar work ethic that defines him. But when did it start?
"Since I was a little kid," Molinar said. "I don't know if a lot of people know this, but at my first high school in Panama, I woke up every day at 5:30. I'd go to school. Then after school, I'd practice. After practice, I'd literally take public transportation back home and then I'd practice [some more] right after. It's something I've always done. I'd stay active always."
Molinar's attitude has helped him fit right in at Mississippi State. He didn't really need to have the importance of extra effort emphasized to him as he grew and developed. But if he had, there were examples all around.
"I feel like that's our culture that Mississippi State has been carrying since my freshman year," Molinar said. "I could see guys like [former MSU players] Tyson [Carter] or Reggie [Perry] getting shots up after the game. It's just a culture. People see it and the players see it and it's kind of carried along throughout the whole team."
So it was little surprise this past Sunday, following a tough loss to Minnesota, there was Molinar on the Humphrey Coliseum floor getting in some extra practice. Despite his huge scoring output, he'd been only 2-for-11 from three-point range. Opportunities had been missed, so less than an hour after the game, it was time for Molinar to go back to work.
"I felt like I needed to adjust something on my shot," Molinar said of his impromptu session.
Molinar's work ethic got him to the point where he is among the nation's elite. Now, it's keeping him there.
