Rocket Watts Signs

by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Rocket Watts has officially signed his Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) with the Mississippi State men's basketball program announced Thursday by head coach Ben Howland during the spring signing period.

Watts, a 6-2 guard from Detroit, Michigan, has amassed 460 points and 121 assists over his first two seasons at Michigan State, where he earned All-Big Ten Freshmen Team honors in 2019-20. He piled up 67.4 percent of his points and recorded 12 of his 18 games in double figures against Big Ten opponents. The Spartans were 16-2 when Watts scored 10 or more points and won all five decisions when Watts fired in 20-plus points.

Watts closed out his freshmen campaign with 10-plus points during five of his last seven outings – all five were against ranked opponents and all five resulted in Michigan State victories. He began the flurry with 21-point performances at No. 22 Illinois (02/11) and versus No. 18 Iowa (02/25). Then, Watts captured Big Ten Freshman of the Week (03/09) after he posted 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game at No. 20 Penn State (03/03) and against No. 19 Ohio State (03/08).

Three of Watts' top five scoring efforts were during victories over top 10 competition last season. He poured in 20 points at No. 6 Duke (12/01), added 13 points against No. 5 Illinois (02/23) and provided 21 points versus No. 2 Michigan (03/07).

Watts, a four-star prospect, was rated No. 33 nationally in the ESPN top 100 for the Class of 2019 out of high school. He began his prep career at Old Redford Academy in Detroit before he played at SPIRE Academy for his senior season in Ohio. Watts was a three-time Associated Press All-State First-Team pick and a two-time Detroit News All-Area selection. He won a gold medal for the USA U18 team at the 2018 FIBA Americas Championships.

COACH HOWLAND ON WATTS
"We're very thrilled about Rocket's commitment to our program. He's an outstanding player who works extremely hard on both ends of the floor. Rocket possesses a high-level of experience, is an excellent scorer and a tough defender. He'll be a great addition to our team from the first day he steps foot on our campus."

The Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office is on-sale with 2021-22 season tickets. New season ticket purchasers can call (662) 325-2600 or visit www.HailState.com for more information. Current season ticket holders will receive a renewal notice in late June from MSU's Athletic Ticket Office.

Mississippi State has signed paperwork for a trio of impact transfers in Garrison Brooks (North Carolina), D.J. Jeffries (Memphis) and Watts (Michigan State), coupled with a solid freshmen class which features ESPN top 100 recruit KeShawn Murphy, Alden Applewhite and Cam Carter.

The Bulldogs also return two of their top three scorers in Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith from 2020-21. Molinar ranked among the SEC's top 10 in points per game (16.7 – 4th), field goal percentage (47.8 – 5th) and 20-plus point games (8 – T-7th), while Smith was the SEC leader in rebounds per game (8.5) and double-doubles (8) last season.

Mississippi State captured a runner-up finish at the 2021 NIT as the Bulldogs earned a bid in postseason play for the third consecutive time when postseason tournament have been played. State won seven of its last 10 games, highlighted by a combined five NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories down the stretch.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Players Mentioned

Iverson Molinar

Tolu Smith III

Mississippi State University Athletics