New Hampton Star Headed to SEC
Twany Beckham doesn’t make any bones about the fact that he has always wanted to play at the highest level. It was that goal that brought him to New Hampton this year and that goal that caused him to turn down a variety of scholarship offers throughout the year from mid-major level programs.
“Playing at the highest level has been my goal from day one,” Beckham admitted.
Last week it became apparent that Beckham’s self-confidence and perseverance had finally paid off as he held scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Virginia, and Penn State.
On Sunday, during his official visit to Mississippi State, he made a verbal commitment to the Bulldogs.
“A lot of schools were trying to get him to wait,” said New Hampton Head Coach Peter Hutchins. “Bruce Pearl (Tennessee) and Tom Creen (Indiana) both called Thursday night.”
“There coaches have been in contact with me the longest, so I had a chance to build a relationship with them as supposed to some of the other schools,” Beckham said of MSU. “Then when we went down there on my visit this weekend, my mom and I both liked it a lot.”
In Beckham, Mississippi State is landing a very versatile talent.
“He’s a dynamic kid. There aren’t too many 6’5” lefties out there who can do what he can,” said Hutchins. “When he came to New Hampton he couldn’t consistently knock down shots, but he’s really worked on that area of his game and become much more consistent. He sees the floor very well, is savvy, and is a very good rebounder and defender.”
Now that Beckham has proved the critics wrong who said he couldn’t play at the high major level, he only has one more thing left to prove.
“I’m at the point where I want people to know that just because I’m tall and can score that doesn’t make me a wing,” he said. “I’m a true point guard. I’m at my best when I can distribute the ball. But I will do whatever coach needs me to do. If I have to move over and score I can do it…whatever it takes to make my team better.”
Twany Beckham