Bulldogs add to 2014 basketball class

June 27, 2012

With the 2012 class in the rearview mirror and 2013 well in hand, Mississippi State has landed a commitment for the 2014 class with the potential services of Maurice Dunlap. 

“In talking to the coaches, they we really focused on my education and that is important to me,” said Dunlap, who became State’s first commitment for the 2014 class. “They seemed to really care about me as a person and that’s what made me feel like committing.” 

The Amanda Elzy point guard averaged 16.1 points per game last season for the Panthers who finished with a 23-5 record.

While he works between point and shooting guard currently, Dunlap knows men's basketball coach Rick Ray has a plan for him at Mississippi State. 

“They want to make me a premiere scorer,” said Dunlap. “They will use me as more of a shooting guard. I’m a jump shooter most of the time.”

Some consider an early commitment a mistake for athletes but Dunlap and his family didn’t see it that way at all. 

“You don’t always get second opportunities at a chance like this,” said Patricia Dunlap, Maurice’s mother. “We let him make his decision because he is the one that has to go to school and he’s the one that has to play. We wanted him to be happy with where he is going.”