Small forward Mario Kegler, the No. 32 player in the ESPN 100 for 2016, announced Wednesday that he will attend Mississippi State.
Kegler, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, and an Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) star, chose Ben Howland's program over Maryland and Indiana.
"Mario wanted to play close to home because he has gone to high school away from home the last few years," Omhar Carter, the coach of Kegler's travel team (MBA Select) and his legal guardian, told ESPN. "He wanted to play in front of family and friends."
Added Oak Hill coach Steve Smith to ESPN: "He likes Coach Howland and the success he's had at other programs he's been to. He feels they're going to win. He feels he can develop. He feels that Coach Howland is the type of coach that can help get him to the next level."
Before announcing his transfer to Oak Hill in June, Kegler starred for Arlington Country Day in Jacksonville, Florida, during the 2014-15 season, earning all-state honors. He began his career at Callaway High in Jackson.
Kegler averaged 17.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists at the Adidas Summer Championships in Las Vegas this year.
"He's a scoring 3-man," Smith said. "We play him at the 2, 3 and 4 here. I just look at him as a big guard, a wing player that can rebound, that can score. He's really a well-rounded player. He's going to bring a lot. And he's physically ready to play, unlike a lot of freshmen."
Arizona State, Baylor and LSU were also considered until Kegler recently trimmed his list.
"Mississippi State did a great job recruiting Mario, and they have done a terrific job of putting the right pieces around him with the current recruiting class," Carter said.
Kegler, a versatile wing scorer, is Howland's second ESPN 100 pledge for the 2016 class, joining four-star center Schnider Herard (No. 67). MSU also earned pledges from local point guard Tyson Carter and Lamar Peters, both three-star prospects who will provide great depth on the perimeter, along with shooting guard Eli Wright, an excellent scorer with tremendous upside.
The Bulldogs now have the No. 7 class in the latest ESPN rankings after being 21st. They remain in the mix for power forward De'Ron Davis (ESPN 100 No. 47), who is scheduled to make his decision on Thursday, with Mississippi State and Indiana the reported finalists.
The Bulldogs also are pursuing ESPN 100 power forward Abdul Ado (No. 68), who visited Starkville last weekend.