Bill Text: MS HR164 | 2026 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Sam Funches of Germantown High School; commend on being named MHSAA Class 7A Mississippi Mr. Basketball.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2026-04-03 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR164 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-HR164-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative McMillan
House Resolution 164
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SAM FUNCHES OF THE GERMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL MAVERICKS BASKETBALL TEAM ON BEING NAMED THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 7A 2026 MISSISSIPPI MR. BASKETBALL.
WHEREAS, Sam Funches, a senior center for the Germantown High School Mavericks Basketball Team, has been named the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 7A 2026 Mississippi Mr. Basketball, one of the highest individual honors bestowed upon a high school basketball player in the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the Mr. Basketball awards, presented by the MHSAA in conjunction with the Mississippi Association of Coaches and sponsored by C Spire, recognize the most outstanding players in each classification for their excellence in athletic performance, leadership and sportsmanship; and
WHEREAS, ranked the #7 center and 58th overall recruit nationally in the Class of 2026 by 247 Sports Composite, the seven-foot Sam Funches demonstrated unbelievable talent and consistency on the court throughout his high school career which helped propel the team to postseason success, culminating with the Mavericks' capturing the 2025 MHSAA Class 7A State Title during his junior year and finishing as runner-up at the 2026 State Championship; and
WHEREAS, Funches, ranked the top player in Mississippi, boasts an impressive 7-foot-5 wingspan and is known for his agile mobility, elite rim protection and a developing outside shot; and
WHEREAS, the first male player from Germantown High to win the Mississippi Mr. Basketball, Funches was named the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week in December 2025; and
WHEREAS, Sam Funches, the son of Sam and Kesha Funches, will head to the Pacific Northwest for the 2026-2027 season where he will be joining the highly-touted Gonzaga University Bulldogs, one of the top college men's basketball programs in the country which has reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Sweet 16 nine times in the past 11 seasons; and
WHEREAS, Germantown Head Basketball Coach Chris Love has described Sam Funches as "the best player in the state and one of the top players in the country" who "plays the right way, doesn't force shots and is a really good passer"; and
WHEREAS, the success of Sam Funches reflects not only his personal dedication and athletic excellence, but also the guidance of his coaches and the support of his family, teammates, school administrators and the City of Madison, all of whom have encouraged and supported his development as a student-athlete; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend remarkable young Mississippians such as Germantown High School's Sam Funches, whose discipline, perseverance and leadership, both on the court and off, has brought great honor and distinction to his school, community and the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Sam Funches of Germantown High School on being named the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 7A 2026 Mississippi Mr. Basketball and extend sincerest wishes for continued success in all his future athletic and academic endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Sam Funches and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
