Is Northwest Rankin the favorites in 7a next year?
Northwest Rankin Enters 2026-27 as the Team to Beat in Mississippi Class 7A
When the conversation turns to who should be considered the favorite to win the Mississippi Class 7A state championship next season, one team consistently rises to the top of the list: Northwest Rankin.
The Cougars aren’t simply returning talent—they’re bringing back one of the most accomplished players in the state, an elite point guard, and the confidence that comes from surviving some of the most pressure-packed moments of last year’s postseason.
At the center of it all is Deshawn Dillon, the reigning Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year. Returning for his senior season, Dillon has already established himself as one of the premier athletes in the South. His recruitment has become one of the state’s biggest storylines, as he holds scholarship offers in both basketball and football, including from Georgia Tech. Every game this season will fuel the ongoing debate: Which sport will Dillon ultimately choose?
Regardless of the answer, his focus remains on one thing this winter—bringing a state championship back to Northwest Rankin.
Dillon’s impact stretches far beyond the stat sheet. His ability to score at all three levels, defend multiple positions, and elevate his teammates makes him one of the most complete players in Mississippi. In the biggest moments, he has consistently shown why college coaches covet him in two different sports.
Running alongside Dillon is one of the state’s most underrated floor generals, Jordan Samuel.
Samuel has developed into one of Mississippi’s top point guards thanks to his poise, basketball IQ, and athleticism. He controls the pace of games, makes winning plays, and possesses the explosiveness to compete at the collegiate level. While Dillon often grabs the headlines, Samuel is the engine that keeps Northwest Rankin’s offense running smoothly.
Together, the duo gives the Cougars one of the most dangerous backcourts in Mississippi.
Their postseason run last year proved this team has more than talent—it has resilience.
One of the most unforgettable moments of the playoffs came against Ocean Springs, when Northwest Rankin appeared to be on the verge of elimination. Trailing by 10 points with roughly 30 seconds remaining, the Cougars somehow engineered an incredible comeback that stunned everyone in attendance. Defensive pressure, clutch shooting, and an unwavering belief turned what looked like certain defeat into one of the most remarkable finishes of the season.
That victory didn’t just keep their season alive—it became the defining moment of their playoff run.
The momentum carried into the next round, where Northwest Rankin knocked off then top-ranked Gulfport in another physical, hard-fought battle. Beating the state’s No. 1 team announced that the Cougars were legitimate championship contenders, and it also created what could become one of Mississippi’s premier basketball rivalries.
With Gulfport expected to remain among the state’s elite programs, every future meeting between the two schools will carry added intensity after last season’s memorable showdown.
As the new season approaches, Northwest Rankin has all the ingredients of a championship team: elite star power, experienced leadership, postseason experience, and a roster that knows how to win under pressure.
The expectations will be high. Every opponent will circle the Cougars on the schedule. But that’s the price that comes with being the favorite.
If Dillon continues his dominant play, Samuel keeps orchestrating the offense at a high level, and Northwest Rankin builds on the toughness it displayed during last year’s playoff run, the road to the Class 7A championship may very well run through the Cougars.
The pressure is real.
So is the opportunity.
Northwest Rankin enters the season with one goal in mind—not just competing for a state title, but finishing the job.
