Anriel Howard transferring from Texas A&M to Mississippi State[url=https://www.theeagle.com/aggie_sports/texas-a-m-s-williams-exploring-options-visits-uconn-with/article_1d5727fa-3f59-11e8-860b-cb408d9ead97.html#tncms-source=article-nav-prev][/url]
Anriel Howard still will wear maroon and play women's college basketball at Reed Arena in 2019, but she'll be doing it for Mississippi State.
Howard announced Thursday that she is transferring from Texas A&M to Southeastern Conference rival MSU. She originally announced that she would explore her options for transferring for her senior season after A&M's Sweet 16 run in the NCAA tournament.
"Honestly, I just feel that's the best place to go for me personally as far as everything on and off the court," Howard said. "It's everything I want in a program."
MSU, the national runner-up in back-to-back seasons, is losing four starters from the team that posted a program-best 37-2 record. Howard will be playing for Vic Schaefer, who was an assistant at A&M from 2003-12 and helped his alma mater win the 2011 national championship.
Howard joins an incoming recruiting class at MSU that was ranked 11th by espnW HoopGurlz. Howard, who is from Atlanta, had a record-setting three seasons with the Aggies, holding school records for rebounds in a game (27), a season (439) and a career (1,002). She averaged a career-best 12.1 points per game last season. The telecommunications major who wants to be a broadcaster also worked as an intern at 12th Man Productions.
"I feel A&M helped me a lot in becoming a bit of who I am," Howard said. "And I'm very grateful for all the things that they have done these past three years. But it's time for me to move on and do what's best for me."
At MSU, Howard will team up with 6-foot-7 Teaira McCowan to form one of the nation's most formidable front lines. McCowan, who is from Brenham, led the SEC with 13.9 rebounds per game last season en route to earning third-team All-America honors. Howard was next at 12.2.
"I'm honored to be able to play next to her," Howard told 247Sports.com, which first reported her transfer. "I think that together we can be more dominant that we ever have. I think that we will dominate the paint on any court we go to. I don't think that anybody can prepare for us. I've played against Tea, so I know how good she is in a game, but I hear she's even better in a practice setting, so I'm ready to get to work."
A&M fans will have one more chance to watch Howard up close. MSU will come to Reed Arena for the 2018-19 season at a date still to be announced.
"I don't think it will be weird," Howard said. "I'm excited. I'll get to see my former teammates and coaches, probably not before the game. We probably won't meet and greet until after, but I'm definitely excited to play [at Reed Arena again].
"I don't know how the fans will react, but I know the majority of them have been very supportive through this whole process. You know, I really appreciate the 12th Man. But I don't know how they'll react when I'm actually playing at Reed for a different team."
Howard is finishing up classes at A&M that will allow her to be a graduate transfer.
"I graduate next Friday," said Howard, who has one more in-class exam, then a final paper to turn in Tuesday. "Then I'll be done."
Howard is the second returning starter from A&M to transfer this offseason. Shooting guard Danni Williams transferred to Texas, which coincidentally will play MSU in the 2018 SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Howard and the Bulldogs will be at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin on Dec. 2.
A&M head coach Gary Blair had no comment on Howard's transfer, adding that all his focus is on the players who are in the program and he's been pleased with their progress.
Howard and Williams helped A&M go 26-10 last season, which ended in a 90-84 loss to eventual national champion Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.
Sophomore guard Chennedy Carter is now A&M's only returning starter. She averaged 22.7 points per game and 4.9 assists per game to be named the consensus national freshman of the year.
A&M will have two transfers who sat out last season in 6-4 sophomore center Ciera Johnson (Louisville) and 5-11 sophomore guard Aaliyah Wilson (Arkansas).
