Meet the Bulldogs: E.J. Datcher

E.J. Datcher was the last player added to the 2016 Mississippi St. Bulldogs Men’s Basketball Recruiting Class. According to 247 Sports, he’s the lowest rated player in the class, but his signing still has plenty of importance.

Datcher is the only player who signed with the Bulldogs in 2016 who was rated outside the National Top 120. He was the 290th rated prospect, and 71st player at his position.

But Datcher was signed to give the Bulldogs something the team sorely needed, front court depth. Coach Ben Howland knew they were going to have a difficult time getting Abdul Ado cleared because much of his high school course work was completed while he was living in his native homeland of Nigeria. As of this writing, Ado still has yet to be cleared.

Datcher is needed to help the low post. He’s likely to play both the four and the five since he is 6’9” and 240 pounds. Schnider Herard is likely to start at center, and Datcher will serve as his primary backup. If Howland ever needs to go big, he could easily put both players on the floor at the same time.

Dathcer has played well and shined in his senior season of high school. He averaged a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and he was named First Team All-State. But Vincent Middle High plays in the second smallest division in Alabama and we don’t know what quality of opponents he played in while at VMHS.

Datcher has a ceiling, but he is going to likely take time to get there. If he can develop his skills under Howland, then he could be a solid contributor and possibly more to the Bulldogs over the next few years.