Elias King recently put on a show at the Phenom National Showcase and proved why he was one of the most sought after recruits in the Southeast. King will be taking his talents to Starkville Mississippi, to join the Mississippi State Bulldogs, a team currently ranked 15th in the nation according to ESPN, that features several upperclassmen.
Suwannee, Georgia- King is the type of high level scorer that can make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs next year as they could be faced with a rebuild. King showed capability to completely take over the game offensively for Lincoln Academy (GA),, he has that killer instinct we all look for in highly touted recruits.
King was locked in during the second half of a intense matchup with Liberty Heights, led by Alabama commit Juwan Gary someone King is very familiar with. The two dueled it out for four quarters and after a slow start in the first half, King really got cooking in the second. King found his stroke from deep he connected on several three balls, King filled the lane in transition, he flashed big time athleticism on a couple rim rocking jams as well.
' I basically got hard on myself in the locker room of the second half I came in lackadaisical laughing, and I don't normally do that before games. In the second half I picked it up I started talking to myself and was like alright you have to come out and have a big second half.' King told Phenom Hoops.
' Man I've been going at it with him (Gary), we went at it back in 15U and he got the best of me, but we got it today (he grins), we got the win and that's all that really matters, we came out here and luckily I had a good game. He's a really good player so going at it with him gets your game like ready for situations in the SEC, because he will be playing at Alabama.'
King will come in with big hype as a four star recruit according to 247Sports, King is one of several high profile freshmen currently set to invade the SEC next season. These are two guys that could have an immediate impact for Alabama and Mississippi St, both King and Gary were priority recruits for their respective programs.
King spoke highly of the overall atmosphere of Mississippi State and the community energy around the campus. Head Coach Ben Howland has steadily been improving this program, after two rough first seasons, the Bulldogs finished (25-12, 9-9), last season. The Bulldogs also made a postseason tournament run in the NIT, but this season could be the year they go dancing. Recruits have taken notice of the culture change going on recently within Mississippi State hoops under Howland.
' It's great they have like 40,000 kids on campus, it's a great mood and great people they're very respectful people. It was just perfect the gym sales out a lot, most of their games are sold out so you know you got to bring it. I want to come in with toughness because that's what they're known for, they're known to be dogs they're the bulldogs for a reason, so I got to go in there and hit the weight room and do whatever I have to do. I definitely have to bring that toughness because that’s what they're know for.
' We're going to bring our hot stuff, scoring and shooting, defense because you have to play defense to stay on the court or you won't play. Places like Mississippi St and Alabama they're known for that and their intensity, so we have to bring what we bring.'
' The biggest thing the coach, first off whenever I got off the plane he himself came and picked me up, and took me on my official visit. They showed a lot of love and he treats others how others want to be treated so I noticed that, and then style of play I fit Mississippi St perfectly. They see me playing the; one, two, and three, some point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. Mainly trying to score because the guards that are leaving they're probably going to the NBA. I know I'm going to have a big role and big shoes to fill, so I'm going to be humble and ready to work.'
Before next season in the SEC King has big expectations for his senior year at Lincoln Academy, the school is only in its second season but King believes they’re ready to win now, they currently sit at (2-0), on the year.
'We're trying to put Lincoln on the map that's all it's about, it's the second year of the program and we're just trying to put it on the map and go to Dicks Nationals.' King told Phenom Hoops.