The good news continues for Mississippi State basketball.
Last week, the Bulldogs added Penn State transfer guard Kanye Clary. Then MSU forward Cam Matthews announced that he would be returning to the Bulldogs for his final year of eligibility after the best season of his career. This news came after wing Shawn Jones also made his return to the program official.
Monday, Mississippi State basketball got what will undoubtedly be the most important news of offseason. Guard Josh Hubbard, coming off a remarkable freshman campaign in Starkville, announced on Twitter (X) that he will be returning to Mississippi State for his sophomore season.
let’s run it back Starkvegas, year 2 loading…🐶
— Josh Hubbard (@jhubb_3) April 1, 2024
Josh Hubbard revitalized the Bulldog offense this season. The true freshman led the team in scoring with over 17 points per game, providing Mississippi State with the consistent perimeter scoring option they lacked in Chris Jans' first season.
He owns the MSU records for most points scored in a season as a freshman and the most made three-pointers in a single season. Hubbard led the SEC in three-point makes this year and was named 2nd Team All-SEC and to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He also took home the Howell Trophy, granted to the best men's basketball player in the state of Mississippi, becoming the first freshman to ever win the award.
Though there never should have had to be any doubt about whether or not Hubbard would return to Mississippi State, the modern era of college basketball unfortunately made his return uncertain. The combination of NIL and the transfer portal has led to massive overturn in rosters, with some of the nation's top players leaving their teams for supposed greener pastures.
After what he did as a freshman, there's no doubt that had Josh Hubbard wanted to explore other options, he'd have had a long list of suitors pursuing his talents. Many rival fanbases believed it to be a foregone conclusion that he'd be playing elsewhere next year.
Specifically, Kentucky fans have been flooding Hubbard's Twitter mentions for months urging him to leave Starkville to join Big Blue Nation. We can all take pleasure in knowing that their attempts proved futile.
Bringing back Josh Hubbard is a far bigger win for Mississippi State basketball than any portal addition they could make this offseason. He will be the nucleus of the team and will enter the 2024-2025 season as one of the best players in the entire country.
With Josh Hubbard back, Mississippi State basketball should be a tournament contender yet again next season.