JACKSON — Whether he opts for the NBA or comes back for his senior season at Mississippi State remains a question mark for Jarvis Varnado. Being the best male collegiate player in Mississippi is not.

Varnado, the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, added another trophy to his mantle Monday night when he was named the Cellular South Bailey Howell Trophy winner at an awards ceremony at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He was joined by fellow Mississippi State player Alexis Rack, who won the Peggy Gillom Trophy, given to the state’s top female player.

“I still haven’t decided about the draft,” Varnado said while holding the nearly two-foot trophy. “It just feels good to win this. Next week, I’ll sit down with coach (Rick Stansberry) and decide what’s best and go from there. Right now, I’m just proud to be a part of the best team from the SEC Tournament.”

Varnado led the Bulldogs to the SEC Tournament title, helping State win four games in four days, including a championship game win over Tennessee. The tournament title, State’s first since 2002, landed the Bulldogs a berth in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to Washington.

Stansberry said Varnado will be able to make informed decision.

“We listen to all the people who have knowledge about the draft and we’ll present him with the information he’ll need,” Stansberry said. “The thing I would tell him is to look at the growth he’s made from last year to now. Last year, it was Jamont (Gordon) and Charles’ (Rhodes) team. This year, he came in with the mind set that this is my team.”

As a first-team All-SEC pick, Varnado improved on the offensive end, averaging 13.8 points per game and he was named the SEC Tournament MVP. But it is shot blocking that is the 6-foot-9 star’s forte.

“In his freshman year, Jarvis was a great defender for eight minutes, then he get five fouls and be sitting by me as an assistant coach,” Stansberry said. “Last year against Kentucky, he came out and finished with a triple-double, including 12 blocks. Then this year, in the SEC title game, he changed that game around. When Tennessee’s Hopson came down baseline, Swat (Varnado) got him in.”

That block is one of 394 Varnado has accumulated in three seasons in Starkville. He is already second in SEC history behind Shaquille O’Neal’s mark of 412. He is 141 away from the all-time NCAA record.

“He could be a part of history both in the SEC and the NCAA. That’s amazing considering all the great big men who have played this game,” Stansberry said.

Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy, who had two Howell finalists in guards David Huertas and Terrico White, wouldn’t mind Varnado going on to the NBA.

“He is such a dominating presence. I just hope next year when we go to Starkville, his jersey is his hanging in the rafters instead of him being in it,” Kennedy said.

Alexis Rack led coach Sharon Fanning’s Lady Bulldogs to the second round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. The junior was a first-team All-SEC pick, averaging 15 points per game.

“She is just a great all around player and very integral to our success. Not only did she lead us in scoring, but she led the SEC in 3-point field goals made while also having 4.3 assists,” Fanning said.

“It’s an amazing award to win,” said Rack. “This just shows how hard we have to work for next season.”

*

Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.