Moultrie named Howell Trophy winner
JACKSON, Miss. - Arnett Moultrie joined an elite group of Mississippi State players to win the Howell Trophy on Monday, an annual award presented by C Spire to the top male collegiate basketball player in the state of Mississippi and named after former MSU great, Bailey Howell.
Moultrie is the first Bulldog to win the prestigious award since Jarvis Varnado won in both 2009 and 2010. Other former MSU winners include Lawrence Roberts (2005) and Jamont Gordon (2008).
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"Bailey Howell is the greatest player ever to play at Mississippi State, and to have my name associated with his is quite the honor," said the Memphis native, who is fourth in the SEC in scoring with his 16.1 clip. "I have to give a lot of credit to my coaches and teammates."
Moultrie, in his first year at MSU after transferring from UTEP, currently leads the SEC in rebounding (10.7) and double-doubles (18), while his minutes average of 35.2 is second behind Dee Bost, a three-time finalist for the Howell Trophy.
Joining Moultrie and Bost as finalists at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum on Monday was Southern Mississippi's Neil Watson.
"If I couldn't win it, I'm glad Arnett could," Bost said. "It's hard to argue his numbers. He's averaging a double-double. I'm proud for him."
The Gillom Trophy, presented to the women's top collegiate player, was awarded to Delta State's Veronica Walker for the second-straight year. Mississippi State senior Diamber Johnson, who led her team in scoring at 14.7 points, was a finalist along with Ole Miss' Valencia McFarland.
Mississippi State, which closed out the regular season on Saturday with an impressive 79-59 win against Arkansas, returns to action at 9 p.m. Thursday against Georgia in the opening round of the SEC Tournament in New Orleans.