Kimani Hamilton, a Jackson native who once starred at Clinton High School, is set to wear the maroon and white again as the Mississippi State Bulldogs prepare for the upcoming season.
A New Chapter for the Bulldogs
During his senior year at Clinton High, Hamilton posted averages of 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game, helping the team capture back‑to‑back state championships and earning a 91 rating from 247Sports that placed him among the nation’s top‑100 prospects.
After a brief freshman year at Mississippi State in which he logged just 12 appearances and averaged seven minutes per game, Hamilton transferred to High Point University, where over two seasons he started 71 games and refined his game, averaging double‑digit points and contributing rebounds and steals.
His second year at High Point saw him start every game, posting 13 points per contest while also recording a steal and 2.2 assists per game, numbers that caught the attention of NBA scouts and led him to declare for the draft, though he went undrafted and now benefits from recent court rulings that grant him an additional year of eligibility.
Now back with the Bulldogs under head coach Chris Jans, Hamilton hopes to translate his collegiate experience into a larger role that could help the program snap a one‑year postseason drought and chase a return to the NCAA Tournament, a goal that has eluded the team since its last three‑year stretch of March Madness appearances.