WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

STARKVILLE - Head coach Chris Jans held his weekly media session lon Thursday leading into Sunday's SEC-Big 12 matchup with Utah at the Landers Center in Southaven. Tip time is slated for 3 p.m. CT, and televised by ESPN2 along with being avaiable online courtesy of the ESPN app.

2024-25 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – November 14, 2024

Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: You dipped into Texas for a couple signees yesterday. Talk about those guys and your third signee who is the top player in the State of Mississippi.
CJ: "It was a fun day yesterday. I feel really good about the young men and their families that have joined our basketball family."

"You brought up Texas, so I'll start there. King Grace is someone that we identified early in the process. Got to know he and his wonderful family. At the end of the day, he had a lot of suitors. It was a pretty competitive recruiting situation. I think, in the end, his relationship with our staff and in particular Coach [David] Anwar put us over the top."

"King is a really good young person, lots of upside. What I like most about him is certainly he has tons of talent, but his intangibles I think separate him from a lot of people his age. He is a two-way player from the jump. He already defends at a high level, and he's very, very coachable. I watched him get coached hard, handle it and move on. I just think he's going to get better and better once he gets to college. He's got that kind of attitude and approach walking in the door, which will put him ahead of a lot of other people entering college."

"The other Dallas person is Cam [Cameren] Paul. Again, we've been recruiting him for quite some time. His upside just oozes with potential. He's got length and size. He's a big wing. I don't think he understands how good he can be right now. He can make shots, and he can get to the paint. He's a very nice kid. He and his family have been great to get to know through the course of the recruitment, and we're excited about him. He can be as good as he wants to be some day."

"Certainly, last but not least by any measure, is our Mississippi native Jamarion [Davis-Fleming]. Coach [George] Brooks, obviously did a wonderful job of cultivating a relationship. His brother [Javian Davis] had a stint here at Mississippi State. So, he and his mother were familiar with Mississippi State and a new staff that had recruited him. At least, I was new to the equation. Again, he's another player that just oozes upside. He's all arms and legs. He can run, and he make an impact from the jump defensively with his shot-blocking ability. Changing ends, both offensively and defensively. He's an emerging offensive player, and he's a wonderful kid."

"That's the thing that sticks out the most is the quality of people that we've got joining our family. It means a lot to me. You've heard me talk about the health of our locker room being at its best since I've arrived anyway, and maybe with any team that I've ever had. Now ,that we have a taste of that, we're trying to continue it with who we offer and who ends up ultimately chooses to be part of our basketball family."

Q: You have signed the state of Mississippi's every year since you have been here. What does that mean to you, and the importance of dominating recruiting here in the state?
CJ: "It's not something we talk about a ton, but every coach talks about recruiting inside out, starting in your backyard and making sure you do an excellent job within driving distance or your state lines if you will. Who knows what the future will hold, but it's been so far, so good."

Q: What are your early impressions of Utah watching the film?
CJ: "Early impressions are very impressive. Gosh, they're playing great. They've had no adversity at all. They've breezed through their first three games and did it with some flare. They're breaking all kinds of program records for their university and their program for three-point shooting. I think they've made 52 threes, if I'm not mistaken, in their first three games –19, 19 and 14. We thought we had some big nights coming out of the gate, but it pales in comparison to what they've done on the floor."

"It starts there. More importantly and more impressive is the fact of how they share the ball. Gosh, I don't know the percentage of baskets that are assisted, but it's as good as anyone in the country. I think it ranks in the top two or three in assist rate. It's not just one guy. They've got multiple guys that are knocking them down. When you're sharing the rock like that, they must like each other and feel really good about each other."

"I think we're both probably in the same boat in that the competition for both of us is going to go up a couple levels. I think their staff probably feels the same that they're as anxious as we are to play someone that is a power-five team and see where we are."

Q: Talk about playing a game in Southaven and bringing basketball across the state of Mississippi.
CJ: "We've been playing in different parts of our state since we've arrived. I think that it's important to be able to take the game to the fans if you will. We certainly ask and urge them to come support us all the time in Starkville. We know that our fan base is spread throughout the state, and a lot of our folks have to travel to and from Starkville to support and watch. It's nice to have the opportunity to move it around to different areas in the state. This year, with playing in three different locations in our state besides The Hump this year, it's putting words into actions. We're thrilled to be able to do it."

"I've never played in this arena, Landers Center. We will get up there on Saturday night and get a chance to be familiar with the surroundings, etcetera, before shootaround the morning of the game. So, we'll have a couple opportunities to get there before the game. I'm looking forward to it."

Q: Cameron Matthews is from the area in Olive Branch close to Southaven. How big is that for him to get a game in what is basically his hometown?
CJ: "I'm getting nervous about it already. I'm sure I'll get a text or a phone call from Miss Ruthie [Cameron's mom] here this week asking about tickets, etcetera. We'll see how that all plays out."

"I'm excited for him to go home if you will and play in front of his family and friends that have supported him for the last five years. I see them at almost every game, and there's not just one of them. There's usually a contingent of Matthews' that are supporting Cam. I've gotten to know his family, and they're wonderful family. The fact that we get to do that, I'm sure it'll be a special afternoon for Cam and his family."

Mississippi State University Athletics

WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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