Shakeel Moore brings an infusion of youth to Mississippi State basketball

Incoming Mississippi State guard Shakeel Moore has just one season of college basketball under his belt, but that’s all he needed to be a sought-after prospect in the transfer portal.

Moore was a key piece for the North Carolina State Wolfpack at his previous stop, averaging 6.8 points per game on 43.8% shooting from the field.

Moore, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, was recruited by the Bulldogs out of high school, so his decision to come to Starkville, Mississippi, is partly attributed to those leftover connections.

Mississippi State’s roster is undergoing a massive retool, and Moore has as much chance at a starting role as any other member of the roster.

Expect to hear Moore’s name regularly over the next couple of seasons as he finds his fit with the Bulldogs.

In addition to Garrison Brooks, D.J. Jeffries and Rocket Watts, Moore completes the quartet of talented prospects from the transfer portal that head coach Ben Howland has pieced together this offseason.

Moore could have a huge impact on how long it takes for this built-on-the-fly roster to develop chemistry given his experience as a ball handler running the floor from the point guard position.

Regardless of your thoughts on the current state of the men’s basketball program, this much interest from players in the transfer portal is huge for Mississippi State. An offseason like the one the Bulldogs have just had should entice fans to buy in.

This is as good an opportunity for optimism as any.