Bulldogs Shine: Jerkaila Jordan and Josh Hubbard Named Finalists for Gillom and Howell Trophies

Two standout student-athletes from Mississippi State, Jerkaila Jordan, and Josh Hubbard, have been named finalists for the prestigious Gillom and Howell Trophies, as announced by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday.

The Gillom Trophy is presented annually to the top female college basketball player in Mississippi, while the Howell Trophy is awarded to the best male college basketball player in the state. Alongside Jordan, Madison Scott from Ole Miss and Taleah Dilworth from Jackson State University are finalists for the Gillom Trophy. On the men’s side, Ole Miss’ Sean Pedulla and Jackson State’s Daeshun Ruffin join Hubbard as finalists.

Jordan aims to continue Mississippi State’s legacy of excellence in the Gillom Trophy race, with the Bulldogs having claimed the award 10 times in 17 years, including seven of the past 10. The New Orleans native is finishing her fourth and final season with Mississippi State, where she has firmly established herself as one of the top players in the program’s history.

Jordan has scored 1,806 points in her career, ranking fifth in Mississippi State history. She joins Bulldog legends LaToya Thomas (2,981), Victoria Vivians (2,527), Tan White (2,421), and Teaira McCowan (1,942) in the program’s top five. All of these players were first-round picks in the WNBA Draft.

In addition to her scoring, Jordan ranks second in program history with 258 steals, trailing only Tan White, who holds the record with 372. She has also hit 169 three-pointers, placing her sixth all-time at Mississippi State. Jordan has started every game in her Bulldog career, with 125 starts, ranking second in program history and making her one of only 11 players in school history to start 100 or more games.

Hubbard, a 2024-25 John R. Wooden and Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List honoree, is vying to become Mississippi State’s third two-time Howell Trophy winner. Should he win, he would join program legends Jarvis Varnado (2008-09, 2009-10) and Quinndary Weatherspoon (2017-18, 2018-19), extending the Bulldogs’ dominance to seven of the last eight Howell winners dating back to 2017-18.

Hubbard is the first player in Mississippi State history to score over 500 points in his freshman and sophomore seasons. With 1,101 career points, he ranks third in the program’s history, behind only Howell (1957-58-59) and Jerry Jenkins (1973-74-75).

Among the SEC leaders, Hubbard ranks fourth in points per game (17.96), second in assist-turnover ratio (3.03), fourth in free throw percentage (87.5%), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (35.5%), 15th in assists (3.36), and 15th in field goal percentage (39.7%). He is on track to become the sixth player in Mississippi State history to record 500+ points and 100+ assists in the same season, joining Howell Trophy winners Jamont Gordon (2007-08), Weatherspoon (2017-18), and Iverson Molinar (2021-22).

Hubbard recently set a new school record by hitting a three-pointer in 41 consecutive games. With 197 career three-pointers, he is tied for sixth in program history. He has also posted 14 games of 20 or more points, including a career-high 38 points against No. 4 Alabama (01/29), the most points by a Mississippi State player in the 2000s, and the most against a ranked opponent.

A former ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, Hubbard finished his high school career as Mississippi’s all-time leading scorer, with 4,367 points, breaking a 37-year-old record previously held by Mississippi State’s Robert Woodard.

Also representing Mississippi State is Victoria Vivians, a current assistant coach for the women’s basketball team and a featured speaker at the event. Vivians remains the only player to have won the Gillom Trophy four times.

The awards luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m. in the VIP Room of the Golden Moon at Pearl River Resort. Tickets for the event are available online at msfame.com or through the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame business office.

Author administrator Corinne Ellington