University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bilderback Inks Four Transfers
4/4/2025 11:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss women's basketball head coach Missy Bilderback signs four student-athletes out of the transfer portal to begin her tenure as the program's fifth head coach. The quartet of signees bring with them a combined 17 seasons of collegiate basketball experience and is highlighted by three former NJCAA All-Americans.
All four transfers played under Bilderback at ULM last season and combined to score 1,293 of the Warhawks' 2,028 points – 63.8 percent – in 109 total games played. The group includes former Lady Eagle Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.); Current Sun Belt First Teamer and former WBCA Two-Year College All-American Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.); two-time Honorable Mention NJCAA All-American Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.); and two-time NJCAA First Team All-American Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
Brikayla Gray
Gray previously earned three letters at Southern Miss from 2020-24, missing the 2022-23 season due to an illness. She transferred to ULM for the 2024-25 season and played in all 30 of ULM's contests. She served as one of the Warhawks' best options off the bench and averaged 4.8 points per game. She recorded double-figures on five occasions and posted a season-high 14 at South Alabama.
"Brikayla is a relentless worker and impacts the game with her physicality and ownership of defending," said Bilderback. "She is timely with big rebounding opportunities and scoring through contact in the paint. Her midrange jumper and ability to score in transition fits our scheme perfectly. She has great intangibles, leadership qualities, and is so important in building our culture. Brikayla is a Pine Belt favorite, and we are thankful to bring her home."
In her three seasons prior playing at Southern Miss, Gray scored 523 total points while helping the Lady Eagles to 45 wins and a trip to the Postseason WNIT in 2024.
Read more about Brikayla Gray HERE.
Jakayla Johnson
One of the top weapons in the Sun Belt Conference, Johnson earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors after leading ULM in scoring last season. Her 15.8 points per game were third-most per game in the league while she also ranked in the SBC's top 10 in five other categories. She led the Sun Belt with an 83.2 (99-of-119) percent mark at the free throw line while starting in all 30 games for the Warhawks.
"JK's physicality, skill set and speed have positioned her as arguably a top two-way guard in the Sun Belt," said Bilderback. "She is a true three-level scorer and has the ability create her own shot. JK plays the game with tremendous heart, and she has the ability to impact and elevate those around her. She was a third in scoring in the Sun Belt last year and led the Sun Belt in free throw percentage, so she will bring an elite scoring mindset and wealth of experience to our team. We are so excited for JK to join us and the Southern Miss Family."
Johnson spent two seasons in Monroe, earning Third Team Sun Belt honors in 2024 after her starting in all of ULM's 35 games. Prior to ULM, she played in 30 contests for Auburn and earned 17 starts for the Tigers. In three Division I seasons, she owns over 1,000 career points, breaking into the club on March 6, 2025, against Georgia Southern.
Before moving to the NCAA, she played under Bilderback for two seasons at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) where she earned WBCA Two-Year College All-American honors after helping JC to its first No. 1 ranking in program history as a true freshman. She lost the majority her sophomore campaign to an injury after starting in the first five games.
Read more about Jakayla Johnson HERE.
Meloney Thames
Thames started in 29 games last season for ULM and finished second on the squad in scoring with 13.1 points per game. Her points per game mark was ninth-most in the Sun Belt Conference as was her point total of 381. She finished with double-figure scoring in 16 games with six games reaching 20-plus. She shattered her career-high early in the year at Southern Illinois with 27 points.
"Meloney is a versatile guard that can play multiple positions," said Bilderback. "She is great in the open the court and has a true knack of making late game plays. Her playmaking mindset and ability to shoot the ball from the 3 makes her tough to defend. Mel is a high volume, three level scorer that was top 10 in scoring in the Sun Belt last season. Mel truly loves the game of basketball, and her competitive spirit is contagious. We are thrilled for Mel to join us in Hattiesburg and to wear the Black and Gold.
Before ULM, Thames spent the 2023-24 season at Mississippi State, though she did not play any games for the Bulldogs. She earned spots on the NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention team twice while at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) under Bilderback. She played in 57 games and made 56 starts for the Bobcats, helping them to the NJCAA Tournament Final Four in 2022.
Read more about Meloney Thames HERE.
Sakyia White
White joins Bilderback for the third time at Southern Miss after playing in her at ULM (2024-25) and at Jones College (2021-23). In Monroe last season, she earned a starting nod in all 30 games and led the team with 8.5 rebounds per game, which ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference. Her 255 total boards also ranked ninth in the league while her 21 blocks were 17th. She posted a season-best 19 points on two occasions and recorded four double-doubles on the year.
"SK is a tough, gritty player that loves to compete," said Bilderback. "She has one of the highest motors at her position and her unique ability to pursue and rebound the ball separates her. She was third in the Sun Belt in total rebounds and shot 48 percent from the field this past season. SK is a crafty finisher at the rim and her motor creates scoring opportunities in transition as well. She is known for her double-doubles but her exceptional attitude and consistent work ethic is what Lady Eagle Fans will love.
Before rejoining Bilderback at ULM, she spent the 2023-24 season at Florida State where she played in 32 games for the Seminoles. Before her year in Tallahassee, she played at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) and was the class of the NJCAA. She twice earned NJCAA All-American First Team honors in 2021 and 2022 after starting in all 63 games of her JC career. Her time with Jones saw the Bobcats post a 51-12 overall record and advance to the NJCAA Final Four. Her first year of collegiate basketball was at North Alabama where she was named the 2021 Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year.
Read more about Sakyia White HERE.
All four transfers played under Bilderback at ULM last season and combined to score 1,293 of the Warhawks' 2,028 points – 63.8 percent – in 109 total games played. The group includes former Lady Eagle Brikayla Gray (Hebron, Miss.); Current Sun Belt First Teamer and former WBCA Two-Year College All-American Jakayla Johnson (Clinton, Miss.); two-time Honorable Mention NJCAA All-American Meloney Thames (Philadelphia, Miss.); and two-time NJCAA First Team All-American Sakyia White (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
Brikayla Gray
Gray previously earned three letters at Southern Miss from 2020-24, missing the 2022-23 season due to an illness. She transferred to ULM for the 2024-25 season and played in all 30 of ULM's contests. She served as one of the Warhawks' best options off the bench and averaged 4.8 points per game. She recorded double-figures on five occasions and posted a season-high 14 at South Alabama.
"Brikayla is a relentless worker and impacts the game with her physicality and ownership of defending," said Bilderback. "She is timely with big rebounding opportunities and scoring through contact in the paint. Her midrange jumper and ability to score in transition fits our scheme perfectly. She has great intangibles, leadership qualities, and is so important in building our culture. Brikayla is a Pine Belt favorite, and we are thankful to bring her home."
In her three seasons prior playing at Southern Miss, Gray scored 523 total points while helping the Lady Eagles to 45 wins and a trip to the Postseason WNIT in 2024.
Read more about Brikayla Gray HERE.
Jakayla Johnson
One of the top weapons in the Sun Belt Conference, Johnson earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors after leading ULM in scoring last season. Her 15.8 points per game were third-most per game in the league while she also ranked in the SBC's top 10 in five other categories. She led the Sun Belt with an 83.2 (99-of-119) percent mark at the free throw line while starting in all 30 games for the Warhawks.
"JK's physicality, skill set and speed have positioned her as arguably a top two-way guard in the Sun Belt," said Bilderback. "She is a true three-level scorer and has the ability create her own shot. JK plays the game with tremendous heart, and she has the ability to impact and elevate those around her. She was a third in scoring in the Sun Belt last year and led the Sun Belt in free throw percentage, so she will bring an elite scoring mindset and wealth of experience to our team. We are so excited for JK to join us and the Southern Miss Family."
Johnson spent two seasons in Monroe, earning Third Team Sun Belt honors in 2024 after her starting in all of ULM's 35 games. Prior to ULM, she played in 30 contests for Auburn and earned 17 starts for the Tigers. In three Division I seasons, she owns over 1,000 career points, breaking into the club on March 6, 2025, against Georgia Southern.
Before moving to the NCAA, she played under Bilderback for two seasons at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) where she earned WBCA Two-Year College All-American honors after helping JC to its first No. 1 ranking in program history as a true freshman. She lost the majority her sophomore campaign to an injury after starting in the first five games.
Read more about Jakayla Johnson HERE.
Meloney Thames
Thames started in 29 games last season for ULM and finished second on the squad in scoring with 13.1 points per game. Her points per game mark was ninth-most in the Sun Belt Conference as was her point total of 381. She finished with double-figure scoring in 16 games with six games reaching 20-plus. She shattered her career-high early in the year at Southern Illinois with 27 points.
"Meloney is a versatile guard that can play multiple positions," said Bilderback. "She is great in the open the court and has a true knack of making late game plays. Her playmaking mindset and ability to shoot the ball from the 3 makes her tough to defend. Mel is a high volume, three level scorer that was top 10 in scoring in the Sun Belt last season. Mel truly loves the game of basketball, and her competitive spirit is contagious. We are thrilled for Mel to join us in Hattiesburg and to wear the Black and Gold.
Before ULM, Thames spent the 2023-24 season at Mississippi State, though she did not play any games for the Bulldogs. She earned spots on the NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention team twice while at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) under Bilderback. She played in 57 games and made 56 starts for the Bobcats, helping them to the NJCAA Tournament Final Four in 2022.
Read more about Meloney Thames HERE.
Sakyia White
White joins Bilderback for the third time at Southern Miss after playing in her at ULM (2024-25) and at Jones College (2021-23). In Monroe last season, she earned a starting nod in all 30 games and led the team with 8.5 rebounds per game, which ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference. Her 255 total boards also ranked ninth in the league while her 21 blocks were 17th. She posted a season-best 19 points on two occasions and recorded four double-doubles on the year.
"SK is a tough, gritty player that loves to compete," said Bilderback. "She has one of the highest motors at her position and her unique ability to pursue and rebound the ball separates her. She was third in the Sun Belt in total rebounds and shot 48 percent from the field this past season. SK is a crafty finisher at the rim and her motor creates scoring opportunities in transition as well. She is known for her double-doubles but her exceptional attitude and consistent work ethic is what Lady Eagle Fans will love.
Before rejoining Bilderback at ULM, she spent the 2023-24 season at Florida State where she played in 32 games for the Seminoles. Before her year in Tallahassee, she played at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.) and was the class of the NJCAA. She twice earned NJCAA All-American First Team honors in 2021 and 2022 after starting in all 63 games of her JC career. Her time with Jones saw the Bobcats post a 51-12 overall record and advance to the NJCAA Final Four. Her first year of collegiate basketball was at North Alabama where she was named the 2021 Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year.
Read more about Sakyia White HERE.
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