MSU adds juco forward Johnny Zuppardo

Mississippi State added some much-needed big man depth Wednesday morning.

Johnny Zuppardo, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward from Jones County Community College, signed with the Bulldogs over scholarship offers from Washington, Wichita State and Tulane. Zuppardo initially signed with Arkansas State out of high school, then transferred to Southern Miss before landing at Jones County.

Zuppardo led Jones County to a national junior college championship, averaging 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season. He shot 62. 7 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three-point range.

"I think Mississippi State is getting a real steal," said former Jones County coach Jay Ladner, who recently left for Southeastern Louisiana. "He's a pleasure to coach, and he gives you everything you want from an athlete. He's a 6-9 player that can handle the ball and step out and shoot the three. And he's skilled enough that he can score with his back to the basket. He's going to be a tough matchup problem for opposing bigs. I'm just tickled to death a Mississippi boy is staying at home."

Zuppardo is the fourth member of MSU's class of 2014 class, joining Amanda Elzy guard Maurice Dunlap, IMG Academy forward Oliver Black and Central School (Ala.) forward Demetrius Houston. Zuppardo should give the Bulldogs a nice combination of a post presence and shooting threat.

"His shooting percentages are off the chart," MSU coach Rick Ray said in a statement. "We needed a shooter in our program, but we got even more. We got a shooter that is a legitimate big who possesses a back-to-the-basket game and is tough. But more importantly, he is a proven winner. With the addition of Johnny, for the first time in my career here, we have an SEC front line that features size, length, strength, and what we sorely needed, depth."