Mississippi State Standout Tolu Smith To Miss Extended Time With Injury
Mississippi State men's basketball will open the 2023-24 season without one of its biggest stars on the court in Tolu Smith.
The Bulldogs and head coach Chris Jans released a statement Thursday indicating the standout had suffered a foot injury during a recent practice. He is expected to rejoin the team once SEC play gets underway.
"Tolu Smith injured his foot at a recent practice and is expected to return during SEC action," the statement read. "We're going to support and care for Tolu's mental and physical well-being during every step of the recovery process. We will continue to move forward with our preparations for the upcoming season as Tolu and his family would expect us to. He will continue to serve as a team leader from the sidelines until we welcome him back on the floor. We will pray for a healthy and speedy recovery for Tolu and his family."
The first team All-SEC selection Smith averaged 16.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season, also earning plenty of preseason recognition in anticipation of just how much of a contributor he will be in the upcoming season.
Over the past three seasons, he's seen action in 83 contests for the Bulldogs with 82 starts.
MSU will return to the court in Smith's absence on Nov. 8 against Arizona State at the start of the Barstool Sports Invitational in Chicago, Illinois.
