Mississippi State's Quincy Ballard, Jayden Epps and Ja'Borri McGhee talk summer practices

Summer practices inside Humphrey Coliseum resumed this week as Mississippi State continues its offseason work this summer. On Thursday, the media was able to talk with the majority of the new transfers on campus, as well.

Taking to the podium was five of Mississippi State’s new transfers, including these interviews with guards Jayden Epps and Ja’Borri McGhee along with center Quincy Ballard:

Q: How different is this summer with workouts compared to previous schools?
Ballard: I’ve been at two other schools. I feel like this summer with the workouts, we are working to be in elite shape for the fall and the winter. We’ve been running more, obviously on the track, and I think that is good for us.

McGhee: I also think the pace is much faster. The endurance level has got to be a bit better. Overall, just playing a lot faster than I did last year. We don’t like walking the ball up. We do a lot of skipping ahead. That is just different.

Epps: I think the workouts have been good. But as far as comparing this summer to my last school, I think every school is different. They go about certain things different ways. My last school went about it at a different way and my first school went about it a different way. Each school is different. I feel like all coaches and schools are different and do things a different way. I think we do it a great way here.

Q: What made you think Mississippi State was the right fit for you?
Epps: Just the people. That is something I am big on, being around good people, people that care about me on and off the court. My teammates, getting to know these guys, it just all made me feel like it was the right place to be.

Q: What was it that the State coaching staff told you in recruiting that made you think this would be a place you would want to consider?
Epps: I would say Coach told me that I was going to have to come in here and work, and that I was going to have to earn my spot and everything I got. But he said he was going to fight for me and he is going to be there for me all the time. Hearing that from a coach and knowing he is going to be there for me but he is going to push me every day to be the best that I can be, you can’t turn that down.

McGhee: Coach was talking about making us better than we were before. I just think the standard we got here is something that everyone wants to be a part of.

Ballard: I was at Wichita State and obviously, Coach Jans is familiar (with that school) having been there about a decade before I was there. It was a good process. We all met up and had a talk. He made us feel like family.

Q: Quincy, what do you feel like you bring to this team?
Ballard: I feel like I bring a force on both sides. I know where I am on defense and then working on my offense every day and all summer. I think that is going to be a big factor by the time the season starts.

Q: Jayden and Ja’Borri, you guys are expected to log a lot of minutes in the backcourt and are versatile players. How do you expect to feed off of Josh Hubbard?
McGhee: To answer your question, I think me, Jayden and Hubb all do different things. I think we do them at a high rate. When we are on the court we are competing and it is iron sharpening iron, just trying to make the best plays at the right moments and stuff like that.

Epps: We can all do different things. We can all score the ball and we can all be point guards. In practice iron sharpens iron. We don’t know how the season will play out but we are trying to get better every day, focusing on the team’s success. Us three in the backcourt is definitely going to be scary.

Q: Quincy, Coach Jans said he needs a lot from you at center. How do you handle that kind of pressure going into the season?
Ballard: I’ve done it before and have to guard (the rim) until the guards get back (on their man). Obviously, with Coach Jans, I am pretty much familiar with what we are doing in practice as far as ball-screen defense and protecting the rim. So I feel like it’s not too much to worry about.