At 6 feet and 6 inches and weighing 180 pounds, Vontrell Pringle might be Meridian’s most distinctive basketball player whenever the Wildcats enter a gym. His lush goatee and prominent facial hair also add the perfect complement to his appearance.

Pringle’s basketball presence is more than superficial, though.

For the last two years, the senior has been a cornerstone of a Meridian (15-2, 3-0 Region 5-6A) starting lineup that’s won 47 games since Nov. 2016.

During Pringle’s freshman year, Meridian rattled off a 25-7 record and appeared in the MHSAA Class 6A state tournament. And two years ago, Pringle was a member of the Wildcats’ state championship team that won 30 games. Pringle’s emergence as one of the state’s most talented has been years in making.

“I knew what to look forward to when I did step up,” said Pringle, a small forward. “I really learned about team chemistry and how to play with each other within a team. I feel it was a good way to get the vibe of the game.”

Meridian closed the 2018 calendar year on Dec. 28 with a win against Raymond, and in 2019, the Wildcats have maintained their momentum with wins against Petal, George County and Oak Grove.

On Friday, Pringle helped the Wildcats roll to a commanding 78-43 victory over the Rebels behind a 15-point night. Pringle’s play last week earned him the distinction of being The Meridian Star’s Athlete of the Week.

For Pringle, the opportunity to don Meridian’s blue-and-white uniforms is one he’s anticipated for a long as he remembers. His mother, Stephanie Mosley, played basketball for Meridian, as did his brother, Kenderrick Pringle. It was only a matter of time until the youngest Pringle received his chance. He’s now fully entrenched into the Wildcats’ starting lineup, and he’s relished the opportunity.

“It feels really good to start,” he said. “I just felt like I would get in there and give my all and do the best I can. This team is like a family to me. We’re like brothers. We look out for each other, and we go to the wall for each other. It feels like these are my brothers.”

During his four years, Pringle’s accumulated enough memories to fill multiple scrapbooks. He listed two among most cherished.

“One of my favorite memories was when we won the championship,” Pringle said. “That was one of the best memories because everyone was so happy and so happy for each other. My second-best memory was in ninth grade when we had the district tournament here, and we won it, too. Everyone was just happy.”

Pringle has been part of a Meridian program that has long been at the pinnacle of basketball in the state. Each year, as rosters flip and players graduate, another team has the chance to etch its mark and form its identity. As one of Meridian’s three seniors, Pringle said this year’s team’s attention to detail and preparation has been its defining characteristic.

“Discipline, I feel, is one of our major keys with this team,” Pringle said. “We don’t ever want to try to get out of hand or do any extraordinary stuff to any other teams. We just go out there and play, and feel like that’s the best thing to do.”

During Meridian’s playoff run last year, Wildcats coach Ron Norman routinely referred to Pringle as Meridian’s “X factor.” For Norman, who has won state championships at Wayne County and Meridian, Pringle’s multifaceted game has made him an unstoppable force on the court.

“He’s consistent,” Norman said. “You don’t have to run a lot of stuff for him; you don’t really have to coach him up a lot. You just know what to expect from Pringle. He can make shots, he can rebound, he can guard. He had two blocks last night. He’s just consistent, and that’s the thing about him. Any night, he can get you 20 (points), but he’s fine if he gets 12 and 10 (rebounds) or 12 and eight (rebounds). He’s all about winning. He’s a team guy.”

Pringle, who has received looks from Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Murray State and other schools, was selected to play in the 2019 Mississippi Association of Coaches Mississippi-Alabama All-Star basketball game this March.