STARKVILLE — For the second time in as many days, Mississippi State men’s basketball will have a player explore other options.
Tuesday, Keondre Montgomery, a freshman that saw very little playing time, put his name in the transfer portal. Wednesday, a source confirmed Deivon Smith, MSU’s crown jewel of last year’s recruiting class, also decided to leave Starkville. Travis Branham of 247 Sports was the first to report the news.
Smith, primarily one of the Bulldogs’ first options off the bench this season, played in all 33 contests and logged 22.5 minutes per game and scored 5.2 points per contest as a point guard in his freshman campaign. He showed flashes of the raw athleticism and playmaking ability that led him to being ranked a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports, but also could be a bit erratic and shot low percentages from the field (33 percent), beyond the arc (28 percent), and the free-throw line (61 percent).
“This season has been one with many ups and downs, great games, tough losses, tears and joy,” Smith wrote in a message he posted to his Twitter account Wednesday. “Life long memories, relationships and bonds were formed along this journey with a great group of teammates, coaching staff and supporters I will never forget. The love shown to me by the Mississippi State basketball community has been second to none … After several extensive conversations with my family, I feel it is necessary for my career moving forward, that I put my name in the transfer portal. This decision did not come as an easy one, but one that I am excited about as I look forward to beginning a new chapter in my life.”
A source confirmed to The Dispatch Wednesday the Bulldogs are expected to make multiple roster additions in the coming weeks, with more than 1,000 players entering the transfer portal this offseason.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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