Skip to main content
Mississippi State

All-SEC guard Josh Hubbard officially withdraws from the 2025 NBA Draft

Paul Jones Mississippi State Bulldogsby:Paul Jones•05/21/25•

PaulJonesOn3

hubbard26
Josh Hubbard (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

While the final outcome was expected, Mississippi State’s official 2025-2026 basketball roster got more clarity on Wednesday. Rising junior and All-SEC guard Josh Hubbard announced that he is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and continue his Bulldog career.

This past season, Hubbard averaged a team-high 18.1 points a game and was the only Bulldog to start all 34 games. He ended the season ranking among the SEC’s Top 15 leaders in seven categories (points, 3rd), assists-to-turnover ratio (2.49 – 2nd), three-pointers made (3.18 – 2nd), free throw percentage (87.8 – 4th), three-point percentage (34.5 – 7th), assists (3.15 – 15th) and field goal percentage (40.2 – 15th).

“This is nothing but exciting,” Hubbard told Joel Coleman in a university-released story. “I was born and raised in Mississippi, so just to come back and wear the Maroon and White again means the world. I can’t explain enough how much Mississippi State means to me. I’m so excited and ready to get back to it already.”

His free-throw percentage also set a school record this past season. Hubbard also became the first player in school history to total at least 600 points and 100 assists in the same season. Along with SEC honors, Hubbard also captured the 2025 Bailey Howell Award trophy, given to the state’s top basketball player.


“I’ve learned there are levels to everything,” Hubbard added. “Obviously the NBA is every collegiate player’s goal, and it takes a lot of hard work to get there. Just to get the experience I had and go through that journey definitely built my game even more for college, so I’m just grateful for the opportunity I had to put my name in the draft and learn a little more about myself that I can bring back with me to Mississippi State and help myself grow.”

As a freshman in 2023-24, Hubbard also led the team in scoring at 17.1 points a game. His 108 three pointers also set a school record that season and his 598 points scored set a new freshman school record.

For his two-year career, the former Madison-Ridgeland Academy standout has piled up 1,240 points, 168 assists and 55 steals. The freshman-sophomore point total ranks tops in the SEC during the 2000s and ranks fourth all-time in SEC basketball history.

“I just want the fans to know that we’re creating something special,” Hubbard said. “I’m glad to be back, so let’s all have another great, successful year.”

Mississippi State’s departing transfers

Junior point guard Kanye Clary (Oklahoma State)
Sophomore center Michael Nwoko (LSU)
Sophomore guard Martavious Russell (Louisiana-Monroe)
Redshirt freshman wing Adrian Myers (San Jose State)
Junior forward/center KeShawn Murphy (Auburn)
Freshman forward Eric Paymon (Southern Miss)

Mississippi State’s incoming transfers

Wichita State center Quincy Ballard
UAB guard Ja’Borri McGhee
Arizona State guard Amier Ali
Kansas State forward Achor Achor
Georgetown guard Jayden Epps

Mississippi State’s incoming freshmen class

G King Grace
SF Cameren Paul
PF Jamarion Davis-Fleming
C Tee Bartlett

You may also like