Sophomore Standing, Veteran Presence
November 03, 2023 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE - There's more to Debreasha Powe than meets the eye.
It's evident to anyone who watches that the rising star is a dominant force on the basketball court. A powerful guard and forward for Mississippi State, she was a consistent starter and helped lead her team to victory often last year. Powe averaged 8.2 points and five rebounds per game in her rookie season and was named to the 2023 All-SEC Freshman Team as a result.
The Meridian, Mississippi, native's court presence and work ethic from the very beginning quickly caught the eye of head coach Sam Purcell.
"She didn't care that she came in as a freshman, she listened to me, and most importantly she put in the work night in and night out," Purcell said. "Boy, did she have a year that we'll never forget."
But inside the locker room, Powe's tough and aggressive nature fades, and a different side of her shines through. The sophomore takes on a motherly role for newcomers, helping them adjust to life in the Maroon and White from the moment they step through the doors at Humphrey Coliseum.
"I told them when they came in, 'I've got y'all, whatever y'all need,'" Powe said.
One special freshman standout can attest to that. Mjracle Sheppard, a newcomer originally from Kent, Washington, described how Powe helped her and other members of her signing class adjust easily to their new environment.
"She just brings you under her wing, and she knows we're new so she just helps us, guides us through," Sheppard said.
As much as Powe leads her teammates, it seems as if she reaps just as many benefits from their presence around her. They've formed a tight-knit sisterhood that extends beyond the court, one that is filled with a mixture of fun, games and unconditional support.
"It's just really cool to see how we've grown so close," Powe said. "I love them so much, they know if they need me I'm literally one call away."
The 2022 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and former four-star recruit continued.
"Basketball is good, it's important, we love the sport," Powe said. "There's more to it than that. It's good to have those people around you, people that you can lean on."
Reflecting on her freshman season — something that feels like a distant memory but only ended a few months ago — Powe shared that she once felt the way that many of the young teammates that she guides feel now.
"Last summer I came in nervous, I just didn't know what to expect," Powe said.
Now, the acclaimed student-athlete has a different mindset. Powe is starting another highly-anticipated season on the right foot, with a clear understanding of what she needed to do from the moment that summer practices began.
"I've only been here for two years, but Lord knows it feels like I've been here forever," Powe said, laughing. "It's been good, just knowing what to expect and what you need to get better at instead of coming in not knowing what to expect."
It's hard to find much to critique about Powe's game, but she's picked up on areas that she'd like to improve on to help lead MSU to success this year. Among those are her ability to sink 3-pointers and her relentless efforts on defense. The 6-foot-1 ball of energy hopes that by making these slight changes, she will play a huge rule in helping to lead the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament after their historic postseason run last season.
"This year, we want it more," Powe said. "We know we've done it already, we know we can get there, so now what can we do to stay there?"
All in all, Powe is a shining spot on Mississippi State's roster that is geared up for another incredible year. She's got the endless support of teammates, fans and a coach who is not shy in sharing just how much she means to the program.
"I love everything about her off the court, and I love everything on the court," Purcell said.
Powe and her fellow Bulldogs will take to the court in front of their biggest supporters on Monday at 6:30 p.m. as they open the season against Alcorn State in the newly-renovated Hump.
