A legacy could be coming to Starkville, at least if Mississippi State head men’s basketball coach Chris Jans is able to reel in class of 2028 star Erick Dampier Jr. Over the weekend, the Bulldogs took the first step by offering the son of MSU great and former NBA player Erick Dampier.
The younger Dampier posted on social media Sunday that he had received an offer from his father’s alma mater. It joins others who have already made calls to the rising sophomore, including Purdue, Jackson State, and San Diego.
Blessed to receive a D1 offer from Mississippi State University. 🙏🏽 Thanks for believing in me Coach Jans. 💯 #offer #freshman #HailState pic.twitter.com/EiEkQuNCpD
— Erick Dampier Jr (@edampjr25) June 15, 2025
As a freshman power forward and center at Madison-Ridgeland Academy in 2024-25, Dampier Jr. averaged 13.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks across 30 games for the varsity team. He spent the first part of the summer break suiting up for Team USA, helping the team bring home gold at the FIBA U16 Men’s Americup.
🏀 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 🏅
MRA’s Erick Dampier Jr. brings home the GOLD with Team USA at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup in Juárez, Mexico!
Team USA defeated Team Canada 108-71 in the Gold Medal Game. Dampier started every game for Team USA.
A huge congratulations to EJ on… pic.twitter.com/qGAZCLKTEF
— 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 | 𝐌𝐑𝐀 (@MRAAthletics) June 11, 2025
Dampier Jr. is listed at 6’10” and 230 pounds but could still grow over his final three seasons of prep ball. His father, Erick Sr., stood at 6’11” and 265 pounds while playing 16 seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and Atlanta Hawks. The elder Dampier played for Mississippi State from 1993-96, earning All-SEC honors and helping lead the team to a Final Four in 1996. He was drafted by Indiana with the No. 10 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.
The younger Dampier is currently ranked by ESPN the No. 3 prospect in the class of 2028.
The Bulldogs have previously struck gold via the MRA recruiting pipeline, bringing along former Patriot point guard Josh Hubbard in 2023. In the two seasons since, Hubbard has averaged 18 points and been named winner of the Howell Trophy twice as Mississippi’s best college basketball player.
