Purcell Adds Meloney Thames To 2023 Signing Class

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball head coach Sam Purcell announced the signing of Meloney Thames to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Thames joins a trio of ESPN Top-100 signees in Quanirah Cherry-Montague, Mjracle Sheppard and Jasmine Brown as part of the Bulldogs 2023 signing class that will join MSU for the 2023-24 season.

Meloney Thames | 5-8 | Guard | Choctaw, Miss.| Choctaw Central HS | Jones College
Get To Know Meloney
Meloney Thames comes to Mississippi State as an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention and NJCAA All-Star during the 2021-22 season. During her freshman campaign at Jones College, Thames started in 26 of the 27 games she played, averaging 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game. She shot 82% from the foul line and had eight 20-point games, including a 28-point season-high in the NJCAA Final Four. On her way to helping Jones College reach the NJCAA Final Four for the first time in program history, Thames was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team. Although her sophomore season has just started, in four games, Thames is averaging 26.3 points per game and 3.3 assists per game. She is currently shooting 49% from the floor (36-of-73) and 38% from 3-point range (20-of-28). Thames will have two years of eligibility remaining after the 2022-23 season.

Purcell on Thames
"Meloney is currently ranked second amongst junior college players in scoring at 26.3 points per game. She fits in perfect with our 2023 class because she brings so much balance. Meloney will really help us space the floor because she's an elite shooter. Most importantly though, is that she's a Mississippi kid, right from Choctow [Mississippi] and playing at Jones College. Meloney's dream school growing up was Mississippi State and it matters to me as the head coach here at Mississippi State that we take kids that have always dreamed of being here and really want to make an impact and help us get back this program back to where we want to go."

Missy Bilderback – Jones College Head Coach on Thames
"It's a privilege and joy to coach Mel every day. Her love for the game and competitive spirit is contagious. She has a scorer's mentality, can score at all three levels, and has a high basketball IQ. Her ability to come in clutch and consistently make big shots was a vital part in us reaching the first NJCAA Final Four in program history last season. But her intangibles and character are what separate her. Coach Purcell is definitely getting a winner but also an amazing person."

2023 Signing Class
Mjracle Sheppard
Jasmine Brown
Quanirah Cherry-Montague
Meloney Thames

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Mississippi State University Athletics

Purcell Adds Meloney Thames To 2023 Signing Class

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