Hard Work Paying Off For Powe
December 08, 2022 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Debreasha Powe arrived at Mississippi State's practice an hour early last Saturday morning.
That extra time allowed the true freshman to get up an additional 100-150 shots prior to coach Sam Purcell's scheduled practice at 10 a.m.
However, this wasn't just a one-time occurrence. Powe has already earned a reputation among her teammates and coaches for logging long hours in the gym during his still brief tenure as a Bulldog.
"Success leaves breadcrumbs and her breadcrumbs are her work ethic," Purcell said.
The extra work Powe put in this past Saturday and throughout her first year are providing immediate results. She scored a career-high 19 points against Grambling on Sunday and currently ranks third on the team averaging 11 points per game.
"She's a gym rat and every one of my players would say it," Purcell said. "She deserves everything that has come her way so far. I couldn't be more happy because there's no greater form of success when you play basketball than putting in the work and seeing your work come to life."
The 6-foot-1 forward has started every game this season and is one of only four MSU freshmen since 2006-07 to score 80 or more points during their first eight career games joining Victoria Vivians, Morgan William and Rickea Jackson.
"I was here day-in and day-out during the summer making sure I put in the work so whenever my number was called, I would be ready," Powe said. "I feel like I'm getting better each game. It's a journey and I'm just excited to be on it."
Powe credits some of her passion and vigor to having a supportive coach like Purcell pushing her each day at practice.
 "With his energy and how he motivates us, I can tell that he wants better for us," Powe said. "He motivates me every single day to be better."
Powe's extraordinary work ethic has even caught the eye the veteran players on the Bulldogs' roster, including All-SEC redshirt senior center Jessika Carter.
"I've loved Breasha ever since Day 1," Carter said. "She came in not like a regular freshman. She's in the gym every day and doing everything that a senior would do. She's a leader as a freshman and I really appreciate Breasha being on this team. I like playing with her."
The former four-star recruit was ranked the No. 84 player in the nation last year and could've nearly named whichever college she wanted to attend. But the Meridian High School standout and Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year chose to stay close to home and play for the Bulldogs.
When Powe made her pledge prior to her senior season at Meridian, Nikki McCray-Penson was still coaching at State. She went on to sign her national letter of intent while Doug Novak was the program's interim head coach and kept her commitment through the hiring of Purcell.
"Coaches come and go so I didn't commit to a coach," Powe said. "I was committed to coming here and making a difference. I prayed about it and trusted in God that everything would be okay and it has been."
The thought of playing for a nationally renowned program so close to home was certainly alluring to Powe. But the WNBA players that Mississippi State has been able to produce in recent years also played a major factor in her decision.
"It was the culture honestly," Powe said. "I felt like I could thrive here. Greatness has already been made here like with Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan. Everybody that leaves from here learns and grows and their character is good."
Powe was able to experience the Bulldogs' rise to prominence firsthand as a seventh grader attending basketball camp in Starkville. She remembers looking on in awe that summer as Vivians worked with her and from that point the now star shooting guard for the Indiana Fever has served as one her biggest inspirations.
"When I met her in the seventh grade, I saw her confidence," Powe said. "That always just stuck with me, her personality. She always cheered us on. And seeing where she's at now, it makes me feel like I could do it too."
Now Powe finds herself in position to start motivating the next crop of girls' basketball players within the Magnolia State. Earlier this season, Meridian's Middle School girls' basketball team came to watch her play and there are plans for her old high school teammates to make the trek to Humphrey Coliseum as well.
"It was amazing and I was happy to have them here," Powe said of having Meridian's middle school team cheer her on. "When I saw them up there, it just made my heart."
It's moments like that when Powe has to pinch herself to make sure this all isn't a dream and that it really is her out there wearing Maroon and White and playing college basketball in front of one of the country's most supportive fan bases. Â
"I was nervous at first being on this stage," Powe said. "But the fans welcomed me. How they cheer for us and support us is beyond amazing. I really love it here and am excited to do big things in front of them."
