(OWENSBORO, Ky.) -- A year ago we penned an article about the potential of 2016 SG Eli Wright’s recruitment blowing up, and that culminated today with his commitment to Mississippi State. Wright, the three-star guard chose the Bulldogs over UConn and Florida.

Mississippi State was a fairly new offer that he received in June, just before he took July by storm, giving the Bulldogs an advantage that no other school in the country had.  They did have one other chip on the rest of the field, that other advantage they had was Wright’s friendship with 2015 signee Aric Holman.  

“Aric and I have known each other since we were little kids. He is one of my best friends and we have wanted to play on the same college team together since we can remember,” Wright said. “(Aric) being at Mississippi State was a big part of my decision to go there.  I feel like the staff really wants me here and I know that even though I have to earn it, playing time is available immediately for me my freshman year.”

Earlier in the spring, Wright was dealing with a knee problem that was bothering him and it was obvious that he wasn’t the Eli Wright that the basketball world had come to know.  He played in Dallas at the Adidas Gauntlet event and the word was that he was not looking like his true self.

All of that talk was quickly forgotten when he came out in July during the final evaluation period. The Owensboro, Kentucky-native was one of the hottest names in the country, lighting up the scene for the Adidas Hoop Dreams. Being finally 100% healthy, Wright was playing above the rim and knocking down the perimeter jump shot as he is very capable of doing.  He played some of his best ball in July and he racked up a ton of new offers on top of the many others that he already had.

For his final year before Mississippi State, Eli has made the decision to transfer from Apollo HS to IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.

“I am obviously not going to IMG for exposure, I am going there to further develop myself as a player,” Wright told NextUpRecruits. “I feel that they have the staff and the tools at IMG that will better prepare myself for my freshman year of college.”

If Eli can continue to develop his right hand and keep adding the consistency to his jump shot. Then he has the chance to be a dominant player in the SEC and will give himself a worthy shot of making his dream come true and get drafted to play in the NBA.