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H. R. No. 142 *HR43/R2749* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative McMillan
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 142
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ERICK DAMPIER, 1
JR., UPON BEING NAMED MIDSOUTH ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 2
(MAIS) PLAYER OF THE YEAR. 3
WHEREAS, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to 4
the Madison-Ridgeland Academy Basketball Team, Erick Dampier, Jr., 5
has been named Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) 6
Player of the Year, cementing his place at the pinnacle of 7
basketball excellence; and 8
WHEREAS, Erick Dampier, Jr., is the son of Erick Dampier, 9
Sr., a 16-year NBA veteran, and Yolanda Dampier, who received a 10
scholarship for basketball to Jackson State University, as well as 11
the grandson of Marvin Brown, who earned a place in the Jackson 12
State Sports Hall of Fame for basketball; and 13
WHEREAS, the 6-foot-10 sophomore, who plays center for the 14
MRA Patriots, is carrying on his family's legacy of greatness and 15
is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the country for the 16
Class of 2028; and 17
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WHEREAS, as an assistant coach for the basketball team at 18
MRA, Erick Dampier, Sr., has witnessed firsthand the amazing 19
progress the younger Dampier has made on the team over the years, 20
thanks in part to the meticulous coaching and mentorship he has 21
provided to his son to help him prepare for his future, both on 22
and off the court; and 23
WHEREAS, after being ranked as the top seventh grade player 24
in the country, Erick joined the varsity basketball team as an 25
eighth grader, the third player to do so in Mississippi Hall of 26
Fame Coach Richard Duease's tenure, and he was an immediate 27
standout on the hardwood, averaging 10 points and nine rebounds in 28
his debut varsity season; and 29
WHEREAS, Erick continued to improve as a freshman on the 30
team, averaging an impressive 13.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.0 31
blocked shots per game and helping the Patriots achieve a 17-13 32
season record, and he was the only freshman to make the 20-player 33
Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Team; and 34
WHEREAS, in the summer of 2025, Erick earned a coveted spot 35
on the 12-member Team USA Under-16 basketball team, and he 36
represented the country with exemplary sportsmanship and talent on 37
the international stage at the FIBA U-16 AmeriCup in Juárez, 38
Mexico, helping Team USA bring home the gold and averaging 7.7 39
points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in six starts; and 40
WHEREAS, already ranking as the No. 3 overall prospect in his 41
class before the start of his sophomore season, Erick has risen to 42
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new heights this year, becoming even more aggressive in the paint, 43
growing stronger and more confident, jumping higher, and playing 44
way above the rim, and his tremendous improvement has blown away 45
Coach Duease, who has seen a stunning transformation in the young 46
athlete over the past year; and 47
WHEREAS, Erick is averaging 15.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.7 48
assists, 2.4 blocked shots, 1.2 steals and shooting 68% from the 49
field this season, and his sophomore year highlight reel will 50
surely feature the career-high 34 points he scored against 51
Hartfield Academy, the 22 rebounds gained against Choctaw Central 52
and Simpson Academy, and the 26 double-doubles he has secured; and 53
WHEREAS, throughout the two tournament games of the MAIS 54
Class 4A, Division I State Championship, Erick averaged 22.5 55
points, 13 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots for the Patriots, and 56
after dominating on the boards and in the scoring column with a 57
game-high 20 points in the championship game against Jackson Prep, 58
he was named the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro 59
Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week for his extraordinary 60
performance and his role in advancing the team to the MAIS Overall 61
Tournament; and 62
WHEREAS, the Patriots played their final game under the 63
tutelage of the legendary Coach Duease on February 24, 2026, at 64
A.E. Wood Coliseum, showcasing their tenacity, skill and 65
determination at the overall championship game, and Erick once 66
again forged the path to victory for the team, scoring 25 points, 67
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grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocking eight shots to secure the title 68
in a 65-53 triumph over Jackson Academy; and 69
WHEREAS, with at least one offer already received from 70
Mississippi State, his father's alma mater, Erick has performed 71
under the watchful eye of national scouts eager to recruit him for 72
the top teams across America, drawing increased attention with his 73
rare ability to read defenses, make the right plays, and anchor 74
his team, but Erick remains focused on the present as he prepares 75
for his junior year with the Patriots, training with unmatched 76
dedication and broadening his knowledge of the sport to refine his 77
skills in execution; and 78
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 79
recognize outstanding Mississippi student-athletes, especially 80
those such as Erick Dampier, Jr., and it is with immense pride 81
that we congratulate this basketball prodigy, who has brought 82
great honor to his school, his community and the entire State of 83
Mississippi: 84
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 85
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 86
commend and congratulate Erick Dampier, Jr., upon being named 87
Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Player of the 88
Year, and extend best wishes for continued success in all his 89
future endeavors. 90
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ST: Erick Dampier, Jr.; commend upon being
named MAIS Player of the Year.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 91
furnished to Erick Dampier, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol 92
Press Corps. 93