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Mississippi State

Purcell turning to Saniyah King to run Bulldog point

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk10/15/25RobbieFaulkOn3
saniyah king
Saniyah King (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

A leap of faith is being taken by Saniyah King this year.

The Washington, D.C. native played her first college season at Howard and had great success. In 32 games, King started 31 and averaged 32.0 minutes with 11.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds with her 145 assists ranking second nationally among freshmen.

The MEAC Rookie of the Year was enjoying life at a college where 11 members of her family had attended prior, but she felt the urge to challenge herself. In the offseason, she decided to enter the transfer portal.

Coincidentally, Mississippi State was in the market for a point guard and Sam Purcell and his staff made the pitch. In the end, Starkville would be the place she’d feel was best for her next season of college ball.

“I just know that I’m one of the hardest workers so no matter what level I’m at, I’m going to put in my all,” King said. “Coach Sam and the staff believed in me so I couldn’t ask for much better.

“I love our staff. Coach Sam is a bottle of energy, and he never turns off. That honestly just rubs off on us.”

A lot will be put on the shoulders of King this season in year one with the Bulldogs. State is replacing almost the entire roster from last season and roles are having to be mended quickly by Purcell.

Guards Destiney McPhaul and Chandler Prater return for leadership, but the Bulldogs are replacing Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell from graduation as well as former point guard Denim DeShields and Wing Debreasha Powe who transferred to Ole Miss.

In the post, King will try to get the ball down to aggressive bigs like Ole Miss transfer Kharyssa Richardson and Nigerian newcomer Favour Nwaedozi. The latter is an intriguing pickup for Purcell a year after he and his staff found Madina Okot and turned her into one of the best post players in the league before she transferred to South Carolina.

King has seen plenty out of the 6’3 forward Nwaedozi and is expecting some fireworks in the post from here. From dunking the basketball to blocking shots and stepping out and hitting jumpers, she brings a different element.

“Favour is a dog. Y’all are going to see some amazing stuff from her this season,” King said. “For her to be coming over here, her growth gap, she’s made it so small. She’s picked up right with us and I don’t see a drop off with her at all. Favour can run the floor. She’s 6’3 and beats me in sprints sometimes. She’s fast, can jump and is strong and physical.”

With all the new faces, there’s plenty of question marks, but there’s also opportunity ahead.

Players like King are looking to rise to the occasion with new opportunities inside the SEC. The early returns are that they’re taking full advantage and ready to show it.

“It’s been amazing coming here and seeing how everybody is working as hard as I am,” King said. “For us to be a new team, I feel like our chemistry is coming along quickly. I love playing with them. We find each other’s strong suits and weaknesses and bettering each other.”

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