STARKVILLE — Jazzmun Holmes didn’t intend to make a statement Sunday afternoon.
Surrounded by a sea of maroon, white, and black sneakers, the Mississippi State junior stood out in her pair of pink kicks. Holmes and former MSU standout Ketara Chapel, who was wearing a black practice jersey with “The Guys” on it, was the only other player on the court decked out in the sneakers that were a touch hotter than the regular shade of pink.
Turns out Holmes’ play in MSU’s first practice of the 2017-18 season helped her stand out a little more than she expected.
“It felt pretty good to get back,” said Holmes, a 5-foot-8 point guard from Gulfport. “We have a lot of newbies that came in and we’re trying to help them out and figure out things and how we do things at Mississippi State.”
Holmes first wore the sneakers for MSU’s annual “Think Pink” game Feb. 16, 2017, at Humphrey Coliseum. Holmes had four points and three assists in 20 minutes in then-No. 3 MSU’s 58-49 victory against Georgia. “Think Pink” is a phrase derived from the first known use of a pink ribbon in the fall of 1991, when the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. The pink ribbon since then has become the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.
While her teammates sported other colors of adidas footwear, Holmes looked in control in her hot pink kicks. She was most impressive in five-on-five action, which is called “Bulldog,” during the team’s 3-hour, 24-minute workout, which started in Mize Pavilion and moved to the Hump. A member of the white team with Teaira McCowan, Victoria Vivians, Jacaira “Iggy” Allen, and Jonika Garvin, Holmes had a steal and a layup in the first 26 seconds of the session against the maroon team of Morgan William, Chloe Bibby, Ameshya Williams, Blair Schaefer, and Roshunda Johnson.
Holmes laughed when asked if her aggressiveness was a result of the shoes.
“I am just trying to be explosive,” Holmes said. “It’s not the shoes.”
The white team shut out the maroon team in that period. It then beat the team of Myah Taylor, Nyah Tate, Zion Hamilton, Bre’Amber Scott, and Jordan Danberry in the next session.
Holmes was equally impressive in that action, jetting past the defense for a layup off the opening tip. She added an assist to Vivians on an easy basket and another aggressive take of Taylor for a short jump shot.
“I think it is just more of me knowing what coach (Vic) Schaefer wants from me and how he wants me to run his team,” Holmes said. “It also is the expectations coach (Dionnah) Jackson(-Durrett) has for me, and what my teammates expect from me and how they want me to get them the ball and where they want me to get them the ball.”
Holmes averaged 2.7 points and 2.6 assists in 11.7 minutes per game (38 games) last season. She played an integral role down the stretch in MSU’s run to the program’s first Final Four. She played 19 minutes in a victory against Troy in the first round of the NCAA tournament. She had a career-high 14 points in a season-high 25 minutes in a victory against DePaul in the second round. She also had six assists and two steals in the win at Humphrey Coliseum.
Holmes logged 12 of her 17 minutes against South Carolina in the national title game. She had six points in a 67-55 loss that capped a program-best 34-5 finish.
Holmes hopes to continue to play a role that saw her hand out 98 assists (second on the team) and commit only 43 turnovers last season. She improved her field goal shooting percentage from 28.6 percent as a freshman to 35.2 percent last season. This season, the addition of Taylor gives MSU another point guard who can run the team. Johnson, a senior, and Danberry, a transfer from Arkansas, also are experienced hands, so there should be plenty of competition in the backcourt.
Holmes said she also expects more from herself as she starts her third season in the program.
“I am going to try not to turn the ball over as much and try to get my teammates involved more,” Holmes said. “I (expect) to make more shots and when I get to the bucket I want to be able to finish every shot.”
Schaefer feels the Bulldogs’ depth at guard will enable him to alter lineups and keep opponents guessing. He also looks forward to seeing Holmes grow more comfortable in a leadership role.
“She’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Schaefer said. “She is practicing well. She is obviously more comfortable in the system. The kid ought to be real confident and comfortable with me. I played her in the fourth quarter of the biggest game the school has ever seen (referring to the national championship game against South Carolina). I need her to be good. We need her to be at the top of the game. I think it really gives us a one-two punch with Morgan.”
No decision on Danberry
Schaefer said a decision hasn’t made about Danberry, the former Arkansas guard who joined the program last season.
Danberry might have been the quickest player on the court Sunday. Her athleticism came through the most in open-court situations. She also showed deft ballhandling ability as she used a behind-the-back move to beat a double-team at three-quarter court. If it had been a game, Danberry was coiled to flick the switch and explode up court.
“She is a combo guard who can play one and two, which I really like,” Schaefer said of the point guard and off guard positions. “Her athleticism and quickness certainly set her apart. I need her to make shots. I need the ball to go in. I think she is going to be somebody who can play defense like we want her to and play in our system and be a great fit. I am anxious to see her become more comfortable with her shot and interested to see that shot go in.”
Danberry, a 5-8 redshirt sophomore from Conway, Arkansas, would be eligible to join the team late this year. As a transfer, she can still practice with the team. Schaefer said Danberry would have another full year of eligibility if the decision was made to have her join the team this season. He said she would have two years remaining if she waited to play until the 2018-19 campaign.
Schedule
MSU will play host to Arkansas-Fort Smith at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in an exhibition game at Humphrey Coliseum. It will open the season Nov. 10 against Virginia in the second half of a doubleheader with the men’s team. The game will tip at 8 p.m. Tickets to the twin bill are on sale at www.hailstate.com/tickets.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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