On February 14, 2024, the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) and the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) formally announced the male and female athletes who were chosen as winners of this year’s C Spire Mr. and Miss Basketball awards.
These students are only the second group of high school athletes receiving this prestigious recognition, with 2023 being the inauguration of the awards. Two student-athletes, a boy and a girl from each of the seven MHSAA classifications (1A-7A), were chosen by a committee of coaches and media representatives from across the state. (Of course, this was the first year for seven classifications of high schools in MHSAA.)
Mr. Basketball winners are:
- Class 7A – Trey Alexander, Clinton, Senior Guard
- Class 6A – Dorian McMillian, Pascagoula, Senior Forward
- Class 5A – Jamarion Davis-Fleming, Canton, Junior Center
- Class 4A – Eric Paymon Jr., Raymond, Senior Forward
- Class 3A – Kedrick Simmons, Booneville, Junior Guard
- Class 2A – Dalyn Pierce, Bay Springs, Junior Guard
- Class 1A – Stanford Spearman, Jr., Coffeeville, Junior Guard
At least four of the seven winners will be advancing to play Division 1 college basketball in the future. But Paymon, the 4A winner, is the only repeat recipient of Mr. Basketball, and he is also Mississippi’s highest-ranked high school basketball recruit, as well as an ESPN four-star prospect.
Miss Basketball winners are:
- Class 7A – Na’Kaiyla Tootie Lockett, Starkville, Senior Guard
- Class 6A – KaMiyah Griffin, South Panola, Senior Forward
- Class 5A – DeKyra Mitchell, Holmes County Central, Senior Guard
- Class 4A – Mattison Bell, Choctaw Central, Senior Guard
- Class 3A – Sa’Niyah Cook, Booneville, Junior Forward
- Class 2A – Macie Phifer, Ingomar, Junior Forward
- Class 1A – Keyauna Foote, Blue Mountain, Senior Guard
Two of this year’s Miss Basketball recipients, Sa’Niyah Cook and Macie Phifer, also won the inaugural basketball awards in 2023. In addition, Phifer was named the inaugural winner of the MHSAA Miss Volleyball award in 2023.
All winners of both 2024 Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball will be acknowledged during this year’s MHSAA state basketball championship games, which will take place February 29-March 2, at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. A few days later, on March 5, the 14 student-athletes will also be honored at a special rewards luncheon at the MHSAA Conference Center.
For more information on the remaining games in this year’s MHSAA Basketball Championship Schedule, click here.
