Some of the best and brightest talent the Magnolia State has to offer took to the gridiron one more time for 2024 this past weekend at the Magnolia Sports Association All-Star Weekend games in Philadelphia.
Seven out of the top 10 recruits in Mississippi in the 2025 cycle played in the event at some point in their prep careers, and a new group joined their ranks on Sunday.
In the fourth edition of the event, players from around the state participated in a celebratory game in hopes of launching their athletic careers to the collegiate level. Three games were played over the course of the event at East Central Community College – Rising freshmen, rising juniors, and outgoing seniors.
Team Murphy won the rising freshman game on Dec. 28 on the back of several passing touchdowns from a plethora of quarterbacks. Rostered players included Edward Baggett III of Mount Olive, Bryson Burns of Jackson Academy, Reece Robinson of Parklane, Tony Harris of Cleveland Central and Terrance Roberts of Magnolia Middle School.
In the sophomore game, Kosciusko quarterback Caiden Wade decided to put everyone on notice about just what the Whippets are returning in 2025. The sophomore finished the first half of the Super Sophomore All-Star game with one touchdown through the air on 65 yards passing and another score on the ground with 50 yards rushing. Wade’s squad, dubbed team DeBerry and coached by RaSheed DeBerry of Charleston, took a 27-0 lead into halftime and never looked back. Team DeBerry won the matchup 33-0.
After the game, Wade said that since the end of Kosciusko’s regular season, his workload only picked up.
“After football season it was really about just not stopping,” said Wade. “You know, keep being consistent, putting in the work, going to the field, keep grinding, knowing that you can get better and all that you can improve. Just stuff like that.”
Wade said that the goal for him and the Whippets in 2025 is nothing short of a shot at a state title.
In the seniors game, Houston commit and former Hartfield Academy Wide Receiver Kenzy West took matters into his own hands early on. The future Cougar finished the first half with two touchdowns on 110 receiving yards for the Gold Squad, but it was the consistent offense of the Platinum Squad that proved fruitful in the end. Team Platinum, head coached by Dedric McDonald of Morton, took home the win via a 37-20 final score.
Leake County quarterback Todd Edmond tossed multiple scores on the night and earned himself the game’s MVP award. Edmond was a late addition to the team after a roster reshuffle, and spoke about how he embraced the challenge of coming in on short notice.
“I mean, it’s just being an underdog,” said Edmond. “When you get this opportunity, you have to go out and put on. Some people didn’t believe, but the ones that did believe are here. Just having the support from my team, people back home, the family, and then just the team. They loved me from day one, man. When I got here, it was just love, so I was comfortable. I feel like I’ve known them and been around them, and it feels like we’ve been playing together. It’s just a comfortable, great feeling.”
MSA President Kiery Stribling first held this event four years ago, and since then, it’s only grown. Stribling attributed this growth to the players that he’s seen return and play through the MSA All-Star system since its inception.
“I looked at the rosters right before we got here, and I was like ‘this is going to be the best senior game that we’ve ever had, because we’ve never had this much talent,'” said Stribling. “And it played out just like I knew it would.”
Specifically, Stribling mentioned that players like West have helped his organization as much as anything else.
“He was one of the kids that, when we started the super sophomore game, came in and was trying to jump off to get exposure,” said Stribling. “And after he got it, he was one of those kids that never turned his back. He came right back and brought the exposure back to what gave it to him to start with.”
Stribling said that the next step for the MSA is adding eight grade games to both the basketball and baseball All-Star Weekend. This year’s rendition of those games will take place later in the spring at a date that’s yet to be announced.
