2023-24 Women's Basketball Roster
Jersey Number 4
Jessika Carter
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 6-5
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Waverly Hall, Ga.
- High School:
- Harris County HS
Bio
CAREER HONORS
2024 All-SEC Second Team
2024 Gillom Trophy Recipient
2023-24 Wooden Award Watch List
2023-24 Preseason All-SEC Second Team
2023 All-SEC Second Team
2023 SEC All-Defensive Team
2020 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches)
2020 WBCA All-America Team Honorable Mention
2020 WBCA All-Region II Team
2019 Duel in the Desert All-Tournament Team
4x SEC Player of the Week (Jan. 16, 2024, Dec. 19, 2023, Dec. 28, 2022, Nov. 19, 2019)
2023-24 • GRADUATE STUDENT
Drafted No. 23 overall pick, the 11th pick of the second round, by the New York Liberty in 2024 WNBA Draft … She is the first player since both Teaira McCowan and Anriel Howard in 2019 to be drafted from Mississippi State since 2019. … Played in 32 games with 31 starts … Passed Teaira McCowan’s 149 games for the career program record for most games played with 151 … Averaged a near double-double with 14.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 52.8 percent from the field in 31.4 minutes per game … Named to the 2024 All-SEC Second Team for the second time in her career after recording career-high season averages in points, rebounds and minutes … Joined Teaira McCowan and LaToya Thomas as one of three players in program history to eclipse 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds … Her 1,120 career rebounds rank second and her 1,750 are sixth in program history … Awarded the 2024 C Spire Gillom Trophy, which is presented annually to the best women’s college basketball player in Mississippi, and concluded her career as a three-time finalist for the honor … Led the team in total blocks, rebounds, field-goal percentage, while finishing second in points, field goals made and attempted … Led the team in points in 11 games, rebounds in 19, steals in eight, blocks in 20 and minutes in nine and assists in one … Her 9.9 rebounds per game ranked fifth in the SEC and were the seventh-best single-season mark in program history … Carter recorded 41 carer double-doubles which ranked third in program history, her 13 double-doubles this season eclipsed her previous best total of 10 in 2022-23 and she was one of six SEC players to record 10-plus this season … Earned SEC Co-Player of the Week honors two times this season on Dec. 19 and Jan. 16, matching her career total entering the season, she was one of four players in the SEC with multiple POTW honors this season … Was named one of USBWA Players of the Week on Dec. 19 … Finished with 10-plus points in 26 games and seven games … Recorded five 20-plus point and 10-plus rebound performances, four in SEC play to finish with a career total of 14 … Totaled the program’s first 20-20 game since Teaira McCowan on Jan. 17, 2019 with 20 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks against Kentucky (Feb. 22) … Posted a career-high 31 points on 14-19 from the field with 13 rebounds in 30 minutes against Kennesaw State (Dec. 11).
2022-23 • REDSHIRT SENIOR
Earned Second Team All-SEC honors and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team … Played in 31 of the team's 33 games, making 30 starts … Named a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award (nation's best center) … Became the 28th member of the 1,000-point club at MSU on Dec. 29, 2022, vs Vanderbilt … Averaged a career-best, 14.8 points per game, had a career-high 65 blocked shots and dished out a career-high 42 assists … Led the team in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage … On the year Jessika scored 458 points (14.8 ppg) grabbed 240 rebounds (7.7 rpg), blocked 65 shots (2.1 bpg), had 42 assists (1.4 apg) and 19 steals (0.6 spg) while shooting 57% from the field and 61% from the free throw line … Her 42 assists were 26 more than her previous high of 16 set during the 2020-21 season … Her 458 points scored were 29 more than her previous high of 429 that she scored during the 2019-20 season … Scored 20+ points in six games, including tying her career-high with 29 points vs New Mexico (12/21/22) … Had back-to-back 20+ point games twice for just the third time in her career (vs New Mexico and Vanderbilt and then again vs Auburn and Kentucky) … Scored in double-digits in 25 of the 31 games she played … Recorded 10 double-doubles, including three in SEC play and one in the NCAA Tournament vs Creighton … Recorded a blocked shot in 26 games and recorded at least two in 20 of those games … Had a stretch of 14-straight games with at least two blocked shots (longest streak of her career) … Had a season-high 14 rebounds vs Grambling (12/4/22) … Led MSU during the NCAA Tournament in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (8.3 rpg) and blocks (7) … Ranked 21st nationally (3rd in the SEC) in blocked shots, ranked 20th nationally (2nd in the SEC) in blocks per game, ranked 23rd nationally (1st in the SEC) in field goal percentage and ranked 7th in the SEC total field goals made (188), Ranked 6th in the SEC in rebounds (125th nationally) and scored the 14th most points in the SEC … At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Jess had earned 184 career blocks which ranks 3rd on the all-time list at MSU, passing Chanel Mokango … Her 65 blocks rank 9th all-time at MSU for a single-season … Her 2.1 blocks per game are tied for 8th in the single-season list at MSU.
2021-22 • SENIOR
Did not see any game action ... Redshirted.
2020-21 • JUNIOR
Averaged 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game … Started all 19 games for the Bulldogs … Named a top-10 finalist for the Katrina McClain Award … Team leader in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and blocks (1.4 bpg); Second in scoring (14.3 ppg) … Nearly averaged a double-double during SEC play with 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game … Her .502 field goal percentage ranked fifth in the SEC and 60th in the nation … Posted seven double-doubles on the year … Scored 20-plus points during three games and finished with double-digit scoring in 15 contests … Led the team in rebounding 12 times, blocks 12 times and scoring seven times … Recorded multiple blocks in eight games … Ranked seventh in the SEC in blocks (27) … Recorded 14 points, nine boards, two blocks, two steals and one assist in win at LSU (2/25/21) … Notched 17 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists in win vs. Auburn (2/23/21) … Posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards at Alabama (2/21/21) … Finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against South Carolina (1/28/21) … Narrowly missed a double-double with 19 points and nine boards in win vs. Ole Miss (1/10/21) … Went off at Florida (1/7/21), recording 25 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and one assist in the win … Notched a double-double behind 14 points and 13 boards against Kentucky (1/3/21) … Posted a career high in scoring with 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting against Central Arkansas (12/20/20); also had 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals … Tallied 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 10 boards and three assists vs. New Orleans (12/2/20).
2019-20 • SOPHOMORE
Named Second Team All-SEC after leading State in rebounding (8.7 rpg), blocks (1.8 bpg), field goal percentage (.585) and double-doubles (11) and was second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) ... Ranked 13th in Division I in field goal percentage (.585) and 28th in offensive rebounds per game (3.8) ... Her .585 field goal percentage ranked fourth for a single season in program history, while her 287 rebounds and 60 blocks both ranked ninth ... Among MSU sophomores all time, she ranked second in blocks (60), third in rebounds (287) and fourth in points (429) ... Averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during SEC Play; Shot a league-best 65 percent from the field ... Significantly increased her scoring (9.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg) during her sophomore campaign compared to her freshman year ... Scored in double figures 22 times this year, including 13 games with 15 or more points ... 37 percent of her scoring this season has come on second-chance opportunities (159 of 429) ... Posted 19 games with multiple blocks ... Earned Duel in the Desert all-tournament honors after recording 13 points, 15 boards, two assists and two blocks against Virginia in the championship game ... Named SEC Player of the Week after back-to-back double-doubles against Murray State and Troy, averaging 22.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game ... Recorded her first career double-double with 25 points and 18 rebounds in win over Murray State (11/15).
Summer 2019 • USA BASKETBALL
Helped USA Team win the silver medal at the World University Games … Including the friendly against Japan, led the team in field-goal percentage (.618), rebounding (8.4 rpg) and blocks (0.7 bpg) while ranking second in scoring (11.7 ppg) … She ranked third in offensive rebounding (3.7 orpg) and sixth in rebounding (8.5 rpg) amongst all players during the official games … Knocked down the go-ahead free throw as part an and-one with 4.5 seconds left to lift the U.S. over Japan (7/1/19) in a friendly; finished with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting … Dominated the paint with an incredible 26 points and 22 rebounds against Chinese Taipei (7/4/19) … Posted her second double-double of the event with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Slovakia (7/5/19) to help the U.S. win Pool C.
2018-19 • FRESHMAN
Ranked 11th in SEC in blocks per game (1.03) during the regular season … Collected 5 points, 4 rebounds in her Bulldog debut against Southeast Missouri … Had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks against Lamar … Went 7-of-9 from the field for 16 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 5 shots against Coppin State … Added 4 blocks and a season-high 9 rebounds in State’s win against Furman … Rejected a personal-best 6 shots against Jackson State … Totaled 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting at Washington … Grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds to go along with 6 points against Louisiana … Was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line for 14 points and 6 rebounds at Auburn … Dished out 2 assists at LSU along with 1 block and 2 steals.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated five stars by espnW HoopGurlz, ranking 46th nationally and 7th at the post position … Averaged 18.9 ppg, 14.2 rpg and 5.5 bpg in a heralded prep career for Harris County HS … Tallied 20.5 ppg, 14.1 rpg and 4.5 bpg as a senior, leading her squad to a 28-3 record, 9-0 district mark and appearance in the Georgia Class AAAAA semifinals … Garnered Atlanta Journal-Constitution First Team Class AAAAA and GHSA All-State Second Team accolades along with being named to the 2017-18 All-USA Georgia Girls Basketball Team … Tabbed to the GHSA Class AAAAA All-State First Team … Paced Harris County to a 19-7 record with 18.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg and 6.3 bpg as a junior, earning a place on the AJC Class AAAAA Second Team and the GHSA All-State First Team … Put in 17.1 ppg, 15.2 rpg and 5.3 bpg her sophomore season … Invited to USA Basketball 16 and under national team camp after her standout sophomore season … Started her varsity career averaging 19.9 ppg, 13.6 rpg and 6.2 bpg as a freshman, claiming All Bi-City Girls Player of the Year honors.
PERSONAL
Full name is Jessika Tyneisha Carter ... Her preferred name is Jess ... Born Dec. 7, 1999 in Columbus, Ga. ... Daughter of Patrick Ransom and Angelia Carter-Ransom ... She has one brother, Kenavez Bryd and five sisters, Lvvie, Jherni, Zi, Nyazjha and Molly.
2024 All-SEC Second Team
2024 Gillom Trophy Recipient
2023-24 Wooden Award Watch List
2023-24 Preseason All-SEC Second Team
2023 All-SEC Second Team
2023 SEC All-Defensive Team
2020 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches)
2020 WBCA All-America Team Honorable Mention
2020 WBCA All-Region II Team
2019 Duel in the Desert All-Tournament Team
4x SEC Player of the Week (Jan. 16, 2024, Dec. 19, 2023, Dec. 28, 2022, Nov. 19, 2019)
2023-24 • GRADUATE STUDENT
Drafted No. 23 overall pick, the 11th pick of the second round, by the New York Liberty in 2024 WNBA Draft … She is the first player since both Teaira McCowan and Anriel Howard in 2019 to be drafted from Mississippi State since 2019. … Played in 32 games with 31 starts … Passed Teaira McCowan’s 149 games for the career program record for most games played with 151 … Averaged a near double-double with 14.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 52.8 percent from the field in 31.4 minutes per game … Named to the 2024 All-SEC Second Team for the second time in her career after recording career-high season averages in points, rebounds and minutes … Joined Teaira McCowan and LaToya Thomas as one of three players in program history to eclipse 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds … Her 1,120 career rebounds rank second and her 1,750 are sixth in program history … Awarded the 2024 C Spire Gillom Trophy, which is presented annually to the best women’s college basketball player in Mississippi, and concluded her career as a three-time finalist for the honor … Led the team in total blocks, rebounds, field-goal percentage, while finishing second in points, field goals made and attempted … Led the team in points in 11 games, rebounds in 19, steals in eight, blocks in 20 and minutes in nine and assists in one … Her 9.9 rebounds per game ranked fifth in the SEC and were the seventh-best single-season mark in program history … Carter recorded 41 carer double-doubles which ranked third in program history, her 13 double-doubles this season eclipsed her previous best total of 10 in 2022-23 and she was one of six SEC players to record 10-plus this season … Earned SEC Co-Player of the Week honors two times this season on Dec. 19 and Jan. 16, matching her career total entering the season, she was one of four players in the SEC with multiple POTW honors this season … Was named one of USBWA Players of the Week on Dec. 19 … Finished with 10-plus points in 26 games and seven games … Recorded five 20-plus point and 10-plus rebound performances, four in SEC play to finish with a career total of 14 … Totaled the program’s first 20-20 game since Teaira McCowan on Jan. 17, 2019 with 20 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks against Kentucky (Feb. 22) … Posted a career-high 31 points on 14-19 from the field with 13 rebounds in 30 minutes against Kennesaw State (Dec. 11).
2022-23 • REDSHIRT SENIOR
Earned Second Team All-SEC honors and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team … Played in 31 of the team's 33 games, making 30 starts … Named a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award (nation's best center) … Became the 28th member of the 1,000-point club at MSU on Dec. 29, 2022, vs Vanderbilt … Averaged a career-best, 14.8 points per game, had a career-high 65 blocked shots and dished out a career-high 42 assists … Led the team in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage … On the year Jessika scored 458 points (14.8 ppg) grabbed 240 rebounds (7.7 rpg), blocked 65 shots (2.1 bpg), had 42 assists (1.4 apg) and 19 steals (0.6 spg) while shooting 57% from the field and 61% from the free throw line … Her 42 assists were 26 more than her previous high of 16 set during the 2020-21 season … Her 458 points scored were 29 more than her previous high of 429 that she scored during the 2019-20 season … Scored 20+ points in six games, including tying her career-high with 29 points vs New Mexico (12/21/22) … Had back-to-back 20+ point games twice for just the third time in her career (vs New Mexico and Vanderbilt and then again vs Auburn and Kentucky) … Scored in double-digits in 25 of the 31 games she played … Recorded 10 double-doubles, including three in SEC play and one in the NCAA Tournament vs Creighton … Recorded a blocked shot in 26 games and recorded at least two in 20 of those games … Had a stretch of 14-straight games with at least two blocked shots (longest streak of her career) … Had a season-high 14 rebounds vs Grambling (12/4/22) … Led MSU during the NCAA Tournament in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (8.3 rpg) and blocks (7) … Ranked 21st nationally (3rd in the SEC) in blocked shots, ranked 20th nationally (2nd in the SEC) in blocks per game, ranked 23rd nationally (1st in the SEC) in field goal percentage and ranked 7th in the SEC total field goals made (188), Ranked 6th in the SEC in rebounds (125th nationally) and scored the 14th most points in the SEC … At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Jess had earned 184 career blocks which ranks 3rd on the all-time list at MSU, passing Chanel Mokango … Her 65 blocks rank 9th all-time at MSU for a single-season … Her 2.1 blocks per game are tied for 8th in the single-season list at MSU.
2021-22 • SENIOR
Did not see any game action ... Redshirted.
2020-21 • JUNIOR
Averaged 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game … Started all 19 games for the Bulldogs … Named a top-10 finalist for the Katrina McClain Award … Team leader in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and blocks (1.4 bpg); Second in scoring (14.3 ppg) … Nearly averaged a double-double during SEC play with 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game … Her .502 field goal percentage ranked fifth in the SEC and 60th in the nation … Posted seven double-doubles on the year … Scored 20-plus points during three games and finished with double-digit scoring in 15 contests … Led the team in rebounding 12 times, blocks 12 times and scoring seven times … Recorded multiple blocks in eight games … Ranked seventh in the SEC in blocks (27) … Recorded 14 points, nine boards, two blocks, two steals and one assist in win at LSU (2/25/21) … Notched 17 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists in win vs. Auburn (2/23/21) … Posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards at Alabama (2/21/21) … Finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against South Carolina (1/28/21) … Narrowly missed a double-double with 19 points and nine boards in win vs. Ole Miss (1/10/21) … Went off at Florida (1/7/21), recording 25 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and one assist in the win … Notched a double-double behind 14 points and 13 boards against Kentucky (1/3/21) … Posted a career high in scoring with 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting against Central Arkansas (12/20/20); also had 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals … Tallied 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 10 boards and three assists vs. New Orleans (12/2/20).
2019-20 • SOPHOMORE
Named Second Team All-SEC after leading State in rebounding (8.7 rpg), blocks (1.8 bpg), field goal percentage (.585) and double-doubles (11) and was second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) ... Ranked 13th in Division I in field goal percentage (.585) and 28th in offensive rebounds per game (3.8) ... Her .585 field goal percentage ranked fourth for a single season in program history, while her 287 rebounds and 60 blocks both ranked ninth ... Among MSU sophomores all time, she ranked second in blocks (60), third in rebounds (287) and fourth in points (429) ... Averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during SEC Play; Shot a league-best 65 percent from the field ... Significantly increased her scoring (9.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg) during her sophomore campaign compared to her freshman year ... Scored in double figures 22 times this year, including 13 games with 15 or more points ... 37 percent of her scoring this season has come on second-chance opportunities (159 of 429) ... Posted 19 games with multiple blocks ... Earned Duel in the Desert all-tournament honors after recording 13 points, 15 boards, two assists and two blocks against Virginia in the championship game ... Named SEC Player of the Week after back-to-back double-doubles against Murray State and Troy, averaging 22.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game ... Recorded her first career double-double with 25 points and 18 rebounds in win over Murray State (11/15).
Summer 2019 • USA BASKETBALL
Helped USA Team win the silver medal at the World University Games … Including the friendly against Japan, led the team in field-goal percentage (.618), rebounding (8.4 rpg) and blocks (0.7 bpg) while ranking second in scoring (11.7 ppg) … She ranked third in offensive rebounding (3.7 orpg) and sixth in rebounding (8.5 rpg) amongst all players during the official games … Knocked down the go-ahead free throw as part an and-one with 4.5 seconds left to lift the U.S. over Japan (7/1/19) in a friendly; finished with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting … Dominated the paint with an incredible 26 points and 22 rebounds against Chinese Taipei (7/4/19) … Posted her second double-double of the event with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Slovakia (7/5/19) to help the U.S. win Pool C.
2018-19 • FRESHMAN
Ranked 11th in SEC in blocks per game (1.03) during the regular season … Collected 5 points, 4 rebounds in her Bulldog debut against Southeast Missouri … Had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks against Lamar … Went 7-of-9 from the field for 16 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 5 shots against Coppin State … Added 4 blocks and a season-high 9 rebounds in State’s win against Furman … Rejected a personal-best 6 shots against Jackson State … Totaled 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting at Washington … Grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds to go along with 6 points against Louisiana … Was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line for 14 points and 6 rebounds at Auburn … Dished out 2 assists at LSU along with 1 block and 2 steals.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated five stars by espnW HoopGurlz, ranking 46th nationally and 7th at the post position … Averaged 18.9 ppg, 14.2 rpg and 5.5 bpg in a heralded prep career for Harris County HS … Tallied 20.5 ppg, 14.1 rpg and 4.5 bpg as a senior, leading her squad to a 28-3 record, 9-0 district mark and appearance in the Georgia Class AAAAA semifinals … Garnered Atlanta Journal-Constitution First Team Class AAAAA and GHSA All-State Second Team accolades along with being named to the 2017-18 All-USA Georgia Girls Basketball Team … Tabbed to the GHSA Class AAAAA All-State First Team … Paced Harris County to a 19-7 record with 18.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg and 6.3 bpg as a junior, earning a place on the AJC Class AAAAA Second Team and the GHSA All-State First Team … Put in 17.1 ppg, 15.2 rpg and 5.3 bpg her sophomore season … Invited to USA Basketball 16 and under national team camp after her standout sophomore season … Started her varsity career averaging 19.9 ppg, 13.6 rpg and 6.2 bpg as a freshman, claiming All Bi-City Girls Player of the Year honors.
PERSONAL
Full name is Jessika Tyneisha Carter ... Her preferred name is Jess ... Born Dec. 7, 1999 in Columbus, Ga. ... Daughter of Patrick Ransom and Angelia Carter-Ransom ... She has one brother, Kenavez Bryd and five sisters, Lvvie, Jherni, Zi, Nyazjha and Molly.