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Tolu Smith, Mississippi State basketball's All-SEC forward, announces 2023-24 decision

Stefan Krajisnik, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read

STARKVILLE — Forward Tolu Smith is returning for one more season with Mississippi State basketball, he announced Sunday. Smith declared for the 2023 NBA Draft in April but maintained his last year of eligibility.

Smith was a first team All-SEC forward last season after averaging 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He led the conference with a 57.2% field goal percentage. Smith was the go-to guy for coach Chris Jans in his first season, which saw MSU return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

"I'm not done making memories," Smith said in a video he shared on Twitter. "Next season, I'm back. Building a legacy like so many who have worn the maroon and white before me is a priority. I'm ready to keep adding on and finishing what I started."

Smith came to Mississippi State in 2019 after transferring from Western Kentucky. He sat out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but he made a quick impact the following season.

He averaged 12.6 points and led the SEC with 8.5 rebounds per game. Battling through injuries, Smith averaged 14.2 and 6.5 in 2021-22 before returning to form last season.

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Feb 11, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Tolu Smith (1) celebrates after scoring against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Bulldogs won 70-64. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Tolu Smith (1) celebrates after scoring against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Bulldogs won 70-64. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Smith's return highlights a successful offseason for Jans and his staff. MSU lost just three players to the portal and only a pair of role pieces to exhausted eligibility.

The Bulldogs' first transfer addition came on May 10 with the commitment of West Virginia forward Jimmy Bell Jr. That was followed by the addition of All-Sun Belt guard Andrew Taylor from Marshall.

Smith's return likely means the departure of a graduate player. Mississippi State had all 13 scholarships allotted before Smith's announcement.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3. 

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: All-SEC forward Tolu Smith returning to Mississippi State basketball