Opportunities Abound For Powe
October 16, 2024 | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., - Debreasha Powe is accustomed to working the net.
The Mississippi State sharpshooter has swished 108 3-pointers and made 207 shots total during her first two seasons in Starkville.
On Wednesday, however, Powe was doing a much different type of networking. While representing the Bulldogs at #SECTipoff25, the junior communication/broadcast and digital journalism major took full advantage of the opportunity to learn more about her chosen career path and connect with those currently working in it.
"I just talked about what I want to do and got to know people that can help me get there," Powe said. "It was just great. I was able to get some phone numbers and now I've got to make sure I follow back up with them and talk with them after I leave here. I've really enjoyed my time here."
One of the biggest highlights of the day was being handed a microphone during her interview with analyst Brooke Weisbrod to do her own spot live on SEC Network.
And just as she does when opponents leave her wide open for a 3-pointer, Powe nailed it.
"She's just going to take my job for the rest of the day," Weisbrod, a former college basketball player herself, told the viewing audience.
When Powe's TV time was completed, she stood off to the side observing her head coach Sam Purcell and teammate Jerkaila Jordan doing their own interview at the SEC Network desk. She took that time to also chat up SEC Network employees about all the roles behind the scenes and how she can prepare herself to be on that side of things in the future."I got to meet a lot of great people and just saw how the production was done," Powe said. "With me just being on the side watching, it just made me realize this is what I want to do after (basketball). It was just great."
However, her networking was not limited to just television. During an interview with SiriusXM SEC Radio, Powe mentioned that part of her current college curriculum is teaching her to do what they do.
"I just happened to bring up that I have a radio show in one of my classes," Powe said. "The lady asked if I was interested in sports broadcasting, and I said am and she told me that they do internships."
Following the interview, the two swapped contact information opening another potential door of opportunity for the Meridian native.
Powe has already started gaining experience in radio should she decide to pursue that path. On Sept. 27, she served as a sideline reporter for Jason Crowder at WFCA 107.9 FM during a high school football game between French Camp Academy and Central Holmes Christian and did "an excellent job!" according to Crowder.
"It was a rush," Powe said. "I was a little nervous, but Jason helped me through it and just really trusted in the work that I'd put in. I was able to utilize some of the things that I've learned from my classes. I really just stepped into it and embraced it all.
"I was excited. And just being there in that moment, I took a picture of myself because my eyes had almost started to water because it was amazing how God had made everything start to come together. It was everything that I'd worked so hard for, staying up late at night trying to get those assignments in to get to where I'm at now and I'm only going to go further."
Before departing for Birmingham on Wednesday morning, Powe received some advice about SEC Media Day from Jordan, who attended the event last year as well. But after Powe made her rounds inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel, even Jordan was impressed with how she made instant connections at seemingly every stop she made during the day.
"I just told her to go out there, be yourself and give it your all," Jordan said. "She did a great job networking today and I'm proud of her. I'm excited for her and I think she kind of got herself a job today. She did her networking and she'll be back next year."
