How I voted in the Howell and Gillom

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – FEBRUARY 02: Christeen Iwuala #12 of the Ole Miss Rebels and Leilani Kapinus #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores battle for the ball during the second half at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium on February 02, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

This will be a shortie. I believe in honesty and openness, so here is how I voted today in the Howell and Gillon trophies. That’s right. Somehow I have a vote in determining Mississippi’s best hoops players, and thank you goes to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame for that.

Here we go…

For the Bailey Trophy: 1. Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State. 2. AJ Storr, Ole Miss. 3. Malik Dia, Ole Miss.

See I am fair. Putting a Bulldog at the top of that list hurt my soul. But he is a native Mississippian and a dang great player.

For the Gillom Trophy: 1. Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss. 2. Christeen Iwuala, Ole Miss. 3. Favour Nwaedozi, Mississippi State.

See…I am fair.

McMahon has had an All-American season. Iwuala, in my opinion, is the most valuable player on the state’s best roster.

Ole Miss battles Minnesota on Friday at 2:30 p.m. CT in the NCAA Tournament.

David Johnson