STARKVILLE — Yesterday’s announcement that Tolu Smith would return to Mississippi State for next year’s basketball season put the Bulldogs at 14 scholarship players, meaning a transfer was probably imminent.
A day later that came to fruition with Will McNair Jr., a senior forward, entering the transfer portal, according to The Athletic.
McNair, from Philadelphia, who transferred from New Mexico State before last season, spent one season in Starkville, averaging 3.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. McNair Jr. shot 45.2% from the field and was one of six Bulldogs to play in all 34 of MSU’s games last season.
McNair becomes the fourth departure from last year’s roster, joining Kimani Hamilton, Tyler Brumfield and Martavious Russell.
Signs pointed that McNair, who has one year of eligibility remaining, would have another limited role this year, after the addition of Jimmy Bell Jr, a graduate forward transfer from West Virginia that Jans added this offseason.
Jans, who received a contract extension this offseason through the 2026-27 season after returning MSU to its first NCAA Tournament since 2019, also added sharp-shooting guard Andrew Taylor from Marshall out of the transfer portal.
Justin Frommer is the Mississippi State sports reporter for The Dispatch.
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