The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will award the annual Howell and Gillom Trophies presented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Pearl River Resort on Monday, March 11, 2024 at the Pearl River Resort. Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer and professional basketball standout Gerald Glass will be the featured speaker for the program. Each year the most outstanding player in women’s basketball is award the Gillom Trophy, named for MS Sports Hall of Famer Peggie Gillom-Granderson. The most outstanding player in men’s basketball is awarded the Howell Trophy named for MS Sports Hall of Famer Bailey Howell. The finalists for these prestigious awards are selected by a panel of statewide media who cover college basketball.
Glass played his college basketball at Delta State and Ole Miss and was an All-American performer. He was a first round draft choice of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA in 1990, playing five years in the NBA and also playing pro ball in Europe during his 10 year pro career. He was selected as an SEC Basketball Legend in 2004 and was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. A native of Greenwood, he now teaches school after coaching for several years.
The finalists for each award and their coaches will be recognized during the luncheon and program which is open to the public. This will be the 20th presentation of the Howell Trophy and the 17th presentation of the Gillom Trophy. Last year’s winners were Tolu Smith of Mississippi State and Angel Baker of Ole Miss. Tickets are on sale now online at msfame.com or by calling the Hall of Fame offices at 601-982-8264.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Howell and Gillom Trophies are a part of the Outstanding Player Awards Series which also recognizes the top college athlete in football with the C Spire Conerly Trophy and the top college baseball player with the Ferriss Trophy presented by MBCI and Pearl River Resort.