STARKVILLE — Nikki McCray-Penson is rounding out her inaugural roster at Mississippi State.
Thursday, MSU announced the additions of Bowling Green graduate transfer Caterrion Thompson and German-born center Charlotte Kohl.
“Both Caterrion and Charlotte are pieces l believe that fit into the championship puzzle that we are building at MSU,” McCray-Penson said in a news release. “We are thrilled to have Caterrion join our Bulldog family. She has high character and a great work ethic. She fills an immediate need with her experience and ability to consistently knock down open shots. I am excited about the development potential of Charlotte. She also has a high character. Her size, length and skill put her in a position to have a bright future.”
Thompson joins the Bulldogs after a standout junior season in which she averaged 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. A prolific 3-point shooter, she also tallied 115 makes from behind the arch in her three seasons at Bowling Green and led the Mid-American Conference with a 42-percent conversion rate in 2018-19.
Thompson’s 23 double-digit scoring outputs last season — including eight 20-plus point games — led the Falcons.
As for Kohl, she comes to MSU after stints with the U16, U18 and 3×3 U18 German national teams in recent years. At 6-foot-4, she’ll give MSU some added length in the interior alongside senior center Yemiyah Morris and second-team all-SEC forward Jessika Carter.
Joining McDonald’s All-American and Tennessee native Madison Hayes, Kohl and Thompson bring MSU’s total number of scholarship players up to 12 following the graduation of senior guard Jordan Danberry and the offseason transfers of freshman guard Jayla Hemingway (West Virginia) and junior forward Chloe Bibby (Maryland).
MSU should enter next season as a favorite to win the Southeastern Conference alongside reigning champion South Carolina. The Bulldogs welcome back second team all-SEC performer Rickea Jackson, starting point guard Myah Taylor and Carter, among others, to a roster that finished last year’s COVID-19-shortened campaign 27-6 with an appearance in the SEC women’s basketball tournament championship game.
Earlier this offseason, ESPN ranked the Bulldogs as the No. 3 team in the nation in its Way-Too-Early Top 25.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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