SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford announced today that Jared Ridder (F, Springfield, Mo.) will be departing the Bears at the conclusion of the current academic year.
Ridder, who will be graduating in May with his degree in Sociology, played in all 24 games for Missouri State this season, averaging 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game with a dozen starts.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at MSU,” Ridder said. “I am grateful for all the opportunities that I was given, and I feel I have grown a lot in the last three years. I would like to thank my coaches, my teammates and the fans for all their support. I will be graduating, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my basketball journey.”
Ford also noted his appreciation for Ridder’s commitment and hard work during his time at Missouri State.
“Jared has been a phenomenal kid over the last three years,” said Ford. “We will definitely miss him, but we understand and respect his decision. We wish him all the best.”
The product of Kickapoo High School originally signed with Xavier University before returning to Springfield in 2017-18. After sitting out a year-and-a-half to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, he made his MSU debut at North Dakota State on Dec. 15, 2018 and played in 48 games for the Bears in three seasons, collecting 296 points, 113 rebounds and 76 3-pointers with 14 starts. He was second on the team in 3-pointers this season with 50 and scored a career-high 23 points in the team’s win over Missouri S&T on Jan. 17.
Missouri State, which finished 17-7 overall and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley this season — third place — will return all five starters, 90 percent of its scoring and 92 percent of its rebounding for the 2021-22 season. Ford, who enters his fourth campaign at Missouri State, has led the Bears to a .500 record or better in conference play each of his first three seasons, a first for the program since 2005-07.
