Jackson Free Press

Each year the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum hands out the Howell Trophy to the best men's college basketball player in Mississippi. And every year, I take my best guesses for which players should be the most important and best for their teams—and, thus, win the trophy. As usual, I'm just throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks.

This year, it should be easy to pick the winner. My best predictions are below.

Alcorn State University, Junior forward LeAntwan Luckett

The Braves' postseason hopes rest in the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year: LeAntwan Luckett, who currently averages 15.1 points per game.

Luckett had his best game with 23 points against Kennesaw State, and he even scored 18 points against California in the first game of the year. Alcorn State will go as far as Luckett can take it, and that should make him a Howell Award finalist.

University of Southern Mississippi, sophomore guard Matt Bingaya

The Golden Eagles lost a lot of talent from last year's squad, but Matt Bingaya is the best returning player. He will make or break Southern Miss' postseason chances with his play.

Bingaya averages 15.6 points per game, upping his scoring average from 5.5 points per game last season. His best game was when he dropped 25 points against Troy and he put up 19 points against Alabama.

Mississippi State, trio of players

The Bulldogs started the season without last year's leading scorer because Craig Sword injured his back. So far, Sword has yet to return to last season's form.

That leaves Mississippi State with a trio of players who score about the same. Gavin Ware leads the Bulldogs with 10.4 points per game but Fred Thomas closely follows him at 11.9 points per game and Roquez Johnson leads with 12.2 points per game.

If one of these players can break away from the rest as the proven offensive weapon and a go-to player down the stretch of games, then that player could be a Howell finalist.

Ware had his best game against Mississippi Valley State with 19 points and has scored in double digits in many games. Thomas had 17 points against MVSU but also scored 20 points against Arkansas. Johnson scored 20 against the Delta Devils and had a 16-point game against the Catamounts.

Both Thomas and Johnson both had four and three games, respectively, where they failed to score double digits.

University of Mississippi, junior guard Stefan Moody

Stefan Moody currently leads the Rebels in scoring with 14.6 points per game. He started his career at Florida Atlantic before transferring to Kilgore College in Texas and then to Ole Miss.

The guard has only been held to single digits twice this season. He scored 26 points against Cincinnati and 25 points against Western Kentucky. Moody was the highest scoring Rebel with 12 points in the loss to Texas Christian University.

University of Mississippi, senior guard Jarvis Summers

Last year's winner of the Howell Trophy has to be the favorite to win the award again this season. Jarvis Summers averaged 17.2 points last season and that was with Marshall Henderson screaming for the ball each time.

Right now, the senior guard averages 12.2 points per game but aids the Rebels in their offense and provides leadership on the floor. He also gets all the other players into the game. At press time, Summers has scored more than 20 points three times this season. He had 23 points against a ranked Creighton team, 22 against Northern Arizona and 21 points against Troy.

Ole Miss' tournament hopes rest with Summers. He will take the Rebels as far as they can go this season.