Kegler signs with Mississippi State

Ben Howland's dedication to landing top in-state talent was further demonstrated on National Signing Day.

On Wednesday afternoon, four-star small forward Mario Kegler, the No. 1 ranked player from Mississippi, committed and signed with the Bulldogs.

"I mean, it's home," Kegler said. "Every time I go there I feel like that's where I need to be. Deep down in my heart I knew that's where I wanted to go."

Kegler, who is rated as a five-star by 247Sports, is the second top-ranked Mississippian to commit to the first-year Mississippi State coach in a span of eight months. In the past 15 days, Mississippi State added three 4-star prospects to its 2016 class and jumped in the 247Sports recruiting class rankings to No. 6.

"As far as recruiting goes, it's incredible," 247Sports director of basketball scouting Jerry Meyer said. "I cannot tell you the last time Mississippi State has had that kind of recruiting success. Mississippi State has had some very good players ... but to put together a whole class like this that's ranked that high is really impressive."

Kegler, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound small forward, committed and signed during a ceremony at Oak Hill Academy (Va.), where he is playing his senior season. The former Callaway standout chose Mississippi State over his finalists of Indiana and Maryland, a decision that came down to the wire.

"We kind of got there (on Wednesday)," Kegler's guardian Omhar Carter said. "Mississippi State was leading, and then Indiana jumped up. Finally, we took all the things off the table. You're dealing with three outstanding coaches. All of them are historic coaches or at historic programs. When you 'x' those factors out, it came out to who has the team coming in you fit the best with. Who has the greatest need for you to come in, play and do what you do best — score. We felt like Mississippi State had the players coming in and the surrounding cast to make him as successful as he wants to be and the team to be. He wants to go far in the NCAA Tournament, and he feels like he can do that at Mississippi State."

In addition to being the No. 1 player from Mississippi, Kegler is the No. 6 small forward nationally and ranked No. 32 overall in 2016, according to the 247Sports composite. He joins a Bulldog class that consists of four other four-star prospects: point guards Tyson Carter and Lamar Peters, shooting guard Eli Wright and center Schnider Herard.

Surrounding himself with talent he's familiar with was critical. The small forward knows most of the members of the Bulldogs' 2016 class (and heavy MSU targets De'Ron Davis and Abdul Ado) from his time on the AAU circuit.

"That factored in a lot," Kegler said. "I know how good they all are and how good I am. I want a good group of players around me, and I know we can get it done."

He also has a close relationship with current freshman point guard Malik Newman, his former teammate from Callaway who hosted him on his official visit for Maroon Madness.

"The other night when I tweeted out (about when I would be committing), Malik tweeted, 'Make daddy proud,'" Kegler said laughing.

Added Carter: "Ben did a great job recruiting kids who could get together fast. These guys all have knowledge of one another and a great respect for them. When Schnider committed, Mario asked for him to send a video so he could study the way he played. Schnider called me (Tuesday) and spent 30 minutes on the phone talking a pitch to get Mario to come play with him. It's just a respect factor."

Kegler has evolved into an elite combo forward with a heavy presence on the wing. His ability to knock down shots from the perimeter, attack along the baseline and finish at the rim make him a versatile addition to Mississippi State's roster.

"There are no obstacles in the way at the three position," Carter said. "They do have talent there with (La. Tech transfer Xavian Stapleton), and Mario will be ready to come to practice every day and compete. He wants to get better."

Carter said Howland has compared Kegler to former UCLA guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad, and he plans to capitalize on Kegler's physical profile to create looks in the paint along with continuing to develop his outside shot.

"Ben talked all the recruiting stuff at first and after about their third meeting, that's when things really kicked in and Mario got an understanding of what Ben's expectations are," Carter said. "That's Mario's thing. He wants to know what's expected of him. (Howland) wants Mario to come in and be the dominant scorer he is and put the ball in the hole."

Carter believes that will help further develop Kegler into an NBA player.

"No school has him in school past two years," Carter said. "Ben feels like he has the opportunity to get out in one. Mario is the type of person who is very competitive. Even if he has the chance to get out in one, if he feels like they have a chance to go for a national title in the second year, he'll come back."

Throughout his recruitment, which began when he started receiving national attention as an eighth-grader, Kegler has visited Starkville more than any other school. While his guardian was vocal about wanting Kegler to stay closer to home, it took the four-star prospect longer to get there.

"It was always a factor, but the one thing that was scary for me was that he was never afraid to go to another school," Carter said. "He was never afraid to go to IU, Maryland. He felt like he could start at those places. In the end, we had a lot of opportunities to spend time with him on these visits and give him that family aspect that he's been missing. He has the opportunity to be back closer to his mother and have the people that supported him along the way see him play."

Contact Courtney Cronin at (601) 961-7091 or ccronin@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @CourtneyRCronin on Twitter.