She was part of Mississippi State’s small roster that made it through the 2021-22 season, but this year Aislinn Hayes will be one of the players on the shelf.
The Bulldogs’ Women’s Hoops Twitter account announced via a post on Friday that Hayes will miss the entire season as he recovers from shoulder surgery he underwent over the summer. Hayes played through injuries last season.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share that I will miss the 2022-23 season due to rehab from shoulder surgery I had over the summer,” Hayes said in a message. It’s sad that I can’t share the court with my teammates, but I will be their biggest cheerleader every day.
“As a leader on and off the court, I will do everything in my power to help my team reach its goals. Hail!”
Hayes came to MSU with her sisters Anastasia and Alasia, Aislynn and Anastasia from Central Tennessee and Alasia from Notre Dame, who also missed last year with an injury.
In Middle Tennessee, Aislynn won Conference USA Freshman of the Year, won C-USA Freshman of the Week seven times, and won National Freshman of the Week honors three times. She averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in her first year, and averaged 14.0 points with 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in her second year. Earned team All-CUSA honors.
Last year at MSU, Aislynn’s role was reduced by fractions, but was the Bulldogs’ biggest key off the bench. When her injuries and transfers devastated the Bulldogs roster, Aislin’s role off the bench to give the Bulldogs a spark was crucial, and she carried it all the way through. Aislynn averaged 4.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 steals in 29 games, but her numbers were higher playing in the SEC, averaging 5.3 points and making 30 3-pointers. 21 of those were against SEC opponents.
She’s in her junior year, but due to the impact of COVID-19, Aislynn still has a year left to qualify if she chooses to use it after being one of the SEC’s top scorers a season ago.
Bulldog has depth in guard position. Coach Sam Purcell has moved on Arlana Smith, Asiananae Johnson and Courtney Webber, while Jahkaira Jordan returned with Anastasia. The state is just one of the available scholarship players to fall short of the full roster this season after having only seven available players late in the SEC schedule a season ago. .
