According to Bill Blackwell, the MSHOF executive director, the vote was overwhelmingly voted for by media voters across the state. This is the closest poll in recent years. Ole Miss was 23-8 overall, 10-6 in Southeastern Conference and the best women’s basketball team in the state. Austin was the Lady Rebels best player, scoring 15.4 points per game and nine rebounds per game. Mississippi State was 17-14 overall, 8-10 in SEC and was the best men’s team in the state. Molinar, who will undoubtedly be named to Tuesday’s All-SEC team, was by far the Bulldogs’ most outstanding player. There was clearly a symmetry between the two awards. Before we get into the details, Ben Howland spoke about Howell’s history. Howland said that Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe averaged 15.3 rebounds per match this season, and commentators have called him the greatest college rebounder for decades. How impressive is that, Howland said, “Bailey Howell averaged 17.3 rebounds per games for his entire career!” Howland could also have mentioned Vanderbilt’s Scottie Pieppen Jr. leading the SEC scorers with 20.5 points per match. Howell’s career average was 27 points per game. It is important to note that Howell played in an era without a shot clock and that coaches such as Babe McCarthy, who held the ball for extended periods (“freezes” it), were not able to stop the clock. It is impossible to imagine what Bailey Howell would have achieved at today’s faster pace. He was second in the overall 1959 picks behind Wilt Chamberlain, a fairly skilled player. Austin beat out fellow finalists Anastasia Hayes from Mississippi State and Amyshya Williamsholliday of Jackson State. Williams-Holliday began her college career at State. She led JSU to an 18-0 record within the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and overall, a 20-6 record. With 19.8 points per match, she was also the Lady Tigers’ leader in rebounding and scoring. Hayes averaged 18.6 State points per game. The close vote was likely between Austin and Williams Holliday who had both enjoyed outstanding seasons with their teams. They did however go head to head in November, with Austin scoring 24 points while grabbing 10 rebounds to help Ole Miss win 79-66. Jackson State was led by Williams-Holliday with 16 points and 10 boards. Austin and Williams Holliday both have more basketball to play. Ole Miss should be a 6-seed or even a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament. In Wednesday’s SWAC Women’s Tournament in Birmingham, Jackson State will face Arkansas-Pine Bluff. State’s point guard Molinar averaged 17.8 points per game and 3.6 assists per contest. He saved some of his best performances to compete against the strongest competitors. In an overtime loss to Kentucky, Molinar scored 30 points. This season, he has scored in the double figures in every State match. Howland described Molinar as “as good as he is a player, he takes his studies as seriously as his basketball,” Howland stated. “As great a player as he’s a student, he’s an even better person.” Howell is a six-time NBA All-Star and still closely follows State basketball. He believes Molinar has both the talent and the game to succeed at the NBA level. Howell described Molinar as “he doesn’t have any weaknesses in his game.” He can handle it, pass and is a very skilled defensive player. His long-range shooting is an area that he could improve upon. The NBA places a lot of emphasis on three-point shooting.” Molinar won over Jarkell Joiner from Ole Miss and Tyler Stevenson from Southern Miss. This season, Joiner averaged 13.4 point per game, despite suffering from injuries. Stevenson was the Golden Eagles’ leading scorer (14.7) as well as rebounder (7.7).