Mississippi State Basketball Lands a Commitment from 2026 4-Star

Ladarius Givan has committed to the Mississippi State Bulldogs, becoming the first pledge for the 2026 class. MSU head coach Chris Jans has done a tremendous job in his first two seasons in Starkville, leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and recruiting well.

However, most of Jans’s recruiting prowess has been shown in the transfer portal, which is understandable given the veteran team he inherited. Givan, a 4-star prospect, is the highest-ranked high school recruit Jans has secured a commitment from thus far.

The Montgomery, Ala. native had an impressive sophomore campaign at Jefferson Davis High School, averaging 13 points, eight rebounds, a block, and a steal per game. Despite being a rising junior, the forward has impressive size at 6-8, 215 pounds.

Givan visited Starkville last October and also holds offers from Alabama, Ole Miss, and Troy. Jans has done well developing forwards, with the latest example being Cam Matthews, who has always been an elite defender but took a massive leap forward offensively this past season.

Givan is a tremendous first addition to the 2026 class, and it is encouraging to see the Bulldogs replicate their success in the portal into the high school ranks. Opening night for MSU hoops is about four months away, but the program continues to gain steam in the offseason.