NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Mississippi of last decade
By Joey Loose
8. Jarkel Joiner – Cal State Bakersfield / Mississippi
Across a long collegiate career, this 6’1 guard from Oxford has been a productive player for two colleges and will hope to make it three. Joiner began his collegiate journey at Cal State Bakersfield way back in 2017, playing a pair of seasons for the Roadrunners before transferring back home to Ole Miss. It’s been a successful stint these last two years, even if the Rebels haven’t had the greatest on-court success.
He was an important piece at Cal State Bakersfield, averaging 15.6 points per game in a sophomore season that saw the Roadrunners advanced several rounds in the CIT. Joiner also had a career-high 34 points in a win at Cal Baptist earlier that season. After sitting out the season eventually shortened by the pandemic, Joiner played two seasons for the Rebels, averaging double-digit points per game in both of those seasons as well. He helped the program to a 16-12 mark as a junior and had a 33-point performance against Alabama as a senior.
Before transferring, Joiner earned First Team All-WAC honors, standing out as one of that conference’s best scorers and players. His numbers weren’t as impressive at Ole Miss, but he still contributed, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Joiner will use his bonus year of eligibility next season, transferring to play at NC State in the ACC, where he’ll look to make that solid impact on a third different D1 school.