Starkville Native Tootie Lockett Returns Home To Bulldogs
April 27, 2026 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball added their sixth transfer to the 2026-27 roster when they signed Starkville native Tookie Lockett on Monday.
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Lockett, a 5-9 guard and graduate of Starkville High School, started her collegiate career an hour and a half away at Itawamba Community College in Fulton under former Bulldog Robin Porter. Lockett started all 30 games and averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game during her sophomore season.
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Lockett finished with double-digit points in 25 of Itawamba's 30 games during the 2025-26 season, including six 20+ point performances. She collected her season high of 29 points against Holmes CC, where she shot 12-16 from the floor and 3-5 from distance. She recorded three double-doubles during the season as well.
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Lockett earned a plethora of honors in the state of Mississippi and on the national stage. After her freshman campaign, Lockett earned First Team All-MACCC and NJCAA All-Region 23 honors while helping lead the Lady Indians to their first NJCAA National Tournament. Most recently after her sophomore season, she was named the MACCC Women's Basketball Player of the Year and earned First Team All-MACCC, NJCAA All-Region 23 and NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention honors.
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Lockett is the sixth transfer portal addition for the Bulldogs, as she joins Reese Beaty, Arianny Francisco de Oliveira, Aryss Macktoon, Cali Smallwood and Macie Phifer as those who have entered the portal to Starkville. In addition to those six, the Bulldogs return their two top scorers from last season in the form of SEC All-Defensive and All-Freshman team member Madison Francis and Favour Nwaedozi, who finished as one of the four players in the SEC to average a double-double last season.
State also returns midseason addition Melissa Guillet and will see two incoming freshmen: Alabama's Gatorade Girl's Player of the Year, Lani Smallwood, and Tennessee's Miss Basketball, Andrea Flores.
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Visit HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's basketball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWBK' on X, Facebook and Instagram.Â
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Lockett, a 5-9 guard and graduate of Starkville High School, started her collegiate career an hour and a half away at Itawamba Community College in Fulton under former Bulldog Robin Porter. Lockett started all 30 games and averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game during her sophomore season.
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Lockett finished with double-digit points in 25 of Itawamba's 30 games during the 2025-26 season, including six 20+ point performances. She collected her season high of 29 points against Holmes CC, where she shot 12-16 from the floor and 3-5 from distance. She recorded three double-doubles during the season as well.
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Lockett earned a plethora of honors in the state of Mississippi and on the national stage. After her freshman campaign, Lockett earned First Team All-MACCC and NJCAA All-Region 23 honors while helping lead the Lady Indians to their first NJCAA National Tournament. Most recently after her sophomore season, she was named the MACCC Women's Basketball Player of the Year and earned First Team All-MACCC, NJCAA All-Region 23 and NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention honors.
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Lockett is the sixth transfer portal addition for the Bulldogs, as she joins Reese Beaty, Arianny Francisco de Oliveira, Aryss Macktoon, Cali Smallwood and Macie Phifer as those who have entered the portal to Starkville. In addition to those six, the Bulldogs return their two top scorers from last season in the form of SEC All-Defensive and All-Freshman team member Madison Francis and Favour Nwaedozi, who finished as one of the four players in the SEC to average a double-double last season.
State also returns midseason addition Melissa Guillet and will see two incoming freshmen: Alabama's Gatorade Girl's Player of the Year, Lani Smallwood, and Tennessee's Miss Basketball, Andrea Flores.
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Visit HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's basketball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWBK' on X, Facebook and Instagram.Â
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Players Mentioned
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