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BREAKING: Anriel Howard transfers to Mississippi State

By Blake DuDonis

KKNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 01: Texas A&M Aggies head coach Gary Blair greets forward Anriel Howard (5) as she walks off the court after fouling out during a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Tennessee Lady Volunteers on February 1, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Tennessee defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 82-67. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KKNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 01: Texas A&M Aggies head coach Gary Blair greets forward Anriel Howard (5) as she walks off the court after fouling out during a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Tennessee Lady Volunteers on February 1, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Tennessee defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 82-67. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Anriel Howard has transferred from Texas A&M to SEC rival Mississippi State, according to multiple sources close to the situation. Howard chose Mississippi State over UConn, Florida State and South Carolina.

Howard averaged 12.1 points per game last season for the Aggies along with 12.2 rebounds per game, the 7th most in the country. During her three seasons at A&M, Howard pulled down a program record 1,002 rebounds becoming the only player in program history with 1000+ career rebounds.

The departure of Howard was one of several for the Aggies, as former shooting guard Danni Williams elected to transfer to Texas and center Emer Nichols headed to Florida.

SEC presidents voted in June that SEC grad transfers no longer have to sit out when transferring to another conference school, meaning Howard will be immediately eligible presuming that she finished her coursework at Texas A&M this summer.

After losing four senior starters to graduation, the back-to-back national runner-up Bulldogs are now a threat to make another deep run with the addition of Howard. The team won it’s first ever SEC regular season championship last season, the first SEC championship by any women’s team in the school’s long history.

Were they to maintain their averages from a season ago, Howard and current Bulldog center Teaira McCowan would combine for over 25 rebounds per game, by far the most between teammates in the country.

Mississippi State went 37-2 last season, falling to Notre Dame in the national championship in a now classic game. The Bulldog’s successful run since the arrival of head coach Vic Schaefer resulted in a 4-year contract extension for the veteran coach through the 2021-2022 season.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M will be relying on Freshman of the Year Chennedy Carter to carry them for the upcoming year as they themselves will look to replace four starters from last season’s Sweet Sixteen squad.

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