Mississippi Sports Hall Names Diverse 2027 Class

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame’s 2027 class includes eight inductees: Mississippi State quarterback John Bond, Jackson State and MLB standout Dave Clark, Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis, Olympic sprinter Bianca Knight, Ole Miss football player Kris Mangum, MLB player Seth Smith, Mississippi State and WNBA star LaToya Thomas, and Alcorn State basketball coach Shirley Gibbs Walker. Bond helped lead Mississippi State to a nine-win season in 1980 and a landmark upset of top-ranked Alabama, while Clark earned All-America honors at Jackson State, helped the team reach the NCAA tournament, and went on to a 13-year major-league career. The class, described as the most diverse in the Hall’s history, is scheduled to be inducted during ceremonies July 30–31, 2027.