MSU women's basketball player Sidney Cooks transfers to Mississippi State
Phil FriendSidney Cooks is going from one MSU to another.
On Tuesday evening, the former Michigan State standout announced on Twitter that she would be transferring to Mississippi State, one of the perennial powers in women's college basketball.
"I know this may not sound very lady like but Imma DAWG," Cooks tweeted along with four photos of her wearing a Mississippi State uniform.
Cooks announced she would be transferring from Michigan State back on April 12.
“It was definitely just looking at myself and how I wanted to develop as a player and mentally taking a note on if I wanted to play basketball after college,” Cooks told 247 Sports on Tuesday on her decision to transfer. “I felt like I needed to be pushed to another limit and get out of my comfort zone and get back to what motivates me. Coming out of high school as a highly recruited player, I felt I got relaxed with myself at Michigan State. I think I could put myself in a better position to go to the next level and I wanted to go to a program where everyone wants to win."
Mississippi State reached the NCAA tournament title game in 2017 and 2018, and reached the Elite Eight this past season. The Bulldogs have reached the Sweet 16 five times, all since 2010
Cooks will have to sit out the 2019-20 season due to transfer rules, and then will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Cooks, a McDonald's All-American when she came to East Lansing two seasons ago, played in 30 games her sophomore year, starting eight. She averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown.
With the departure of the 6-foot-4 forward, the Spartans will lose two of their top five scorers from this winter, with senior poster player Jenna Allen graduating.
MSU will add five players with its incoming recruiting class -- Muskegon High guard Alyza Winston, Saginaw Heritage guard Moira Joiner, Grosse Pointe North wing Julia Ayrault, Warren Central (Indiana) center Cydni Dodd and North Royalton (Ohio) forward Taiyier Parks.
Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.