Mississippi State Adds A10 Defensive Player of the Year Aryss Macktoon

Mississippi State has acquired Aryss Macktoon, the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, for the upcoming 2026-27 women’s basketball season, the school announced Thursday.

The 5-foot-11 guard is a rising redshirt junior who started all 33 games at La Salle last season. She averaged 15 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 steals and two assists per game, according to the university. Macktoon, a Baltimore native, totaled 105 steals last season, ranking 12th nationally and setting a La Salle single-season record.

She recorded three or more steals in 20 games, including seven with five or more. Her season-high in steals was eight against VCU on Nov. 11. On the offensive end, Macktoon scored in double figures in all but six games, with seven 20-point performances. Her top scoring game was 28 points on Feb. 25, along with 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals. She then posted a five-game double-double streak, the longest of her season.

Macktoon is the fourth transfer to join the Bulldogs’ roster. She follows Reese Beaty, Cali Smallwood and Macie Phifer. State also returns its top scorers from last season, including SEC All-Defensive and All-Freshman team member Madison Francis and Favour Nwaedozi, who averaged a double-double last year. The team will also welcome incoming freshmen Lani Smallwood, Alabama’s Gatorade Girls Player of the Year, and Tennessee’s Miss Basketball, Andrea Flores.

For more updates, fans can visit HailState.com or follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram under the handle ‘HailStateWBK.’

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