Jan 14, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs forward KeShawn Murphy (3) is pressured by Auburn Tigers forward Chaney Johnson (31) during the first half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images John Reed-Imagn Images

Former Mississippi State Basketball Player Picks Auburn

Originally posted on Mississippi State Bulldogs on SI
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 3:06 PM ET

The transfer portal keeps on rolling.

Mississippi State lost a slew of men's basketball players through the transfer portal - and is getting a few of its own - and now there's salt rubbed in the wound.

Not only is tough guy forward KeShawn Murphy leaving the Bulldogs, he's going to SEC rival Auburn.

In football you can't go from one SEC school to another without sitting a year. That's not the case in basketball, as Murphy heads east to become a key part of a Final Four program that has to replace a few big parts of its own.

Murphy, an Alabama native, played three seasons for Mississippi State, but it wasn't until last year when he popped through averaging clsoe to 12 points per game with 7.4 rebounds.

Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy has committed to transfer to Auburn, according to a report from On3.

Murphy is a 6-foot-10 Birmingham native, and averaged nearly 12 points and over 7 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs this season. #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/tY78ci7leb
— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) April 15, 2025

Physical, he's a banger on the boards with his 6-10 size, and an occasional tone-setter with his power on the offensive glass for second chance shots. That's exactly what Auburn needs.

The Tigers are losing star Johni Broome - who averaged close to 19 points and 11 rebounds per game - and 6-11 powerhouse Dylan Cardwell from the front. There's a gaping hole to fill, and that's where Murphy comes in.

Against Auburn, Murphy and Mississppi State were 0-4. He scored 11 points with eight rebounds in a blowout loss in January, and was stuffed in the other two games in March scoring just two points with four rebounds in the two games.

BREAKING: Mississippi State transfer big man KeShawn Murphy has committed to Auburn.

He averaged 11.7 points and 7.4 boards per game last season in the SEC. Important addition for the Tigers.

https://t.co/dGYYJc4StQ pic.twitter.com/IzuuvtvbTh
— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) April 15, 2025

Mississippi State is bringing in Quincy Ballard, a 6-11, 240-pound rebounding machine from Wichita State, but it still needs more big men.

They're coming.

This article first appeared on Mississippi State Bulldogs on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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