JUST IN: Mississippi State's All-SEC center Tolu Smith sidelined due to practice injury
The preseason injury report continues to be rough news for Mississippi State. On Thursday morning, Mississippi State announced that senior center Tolu Smith was recently injured and the preseason All-SEC first-team selection will be sidelined for a few months.
In a statement released by head coach Chris Jans, Smith injured his foot in practice and is expected to be out until the SEC season begins. Sources also told Maroon and White Daily that Smith will likely return around the Christmas holidays.
In the Jans’ statement, he said:
“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 to the floor. We will pray for a healthy and speedy recovery for Tolu and his family.”
Earlier this week, Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans reported that sophomore forward/center KeShawn Murphy will also be sidelined until the Christmas holidays due to a foot injury. Senior guard Dashawn Davis also suffered a foot injury during the summer period but he is not expected to miss any games this season.
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Smith averaged a team-best 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds a game last year while ranking second in the SEC in rebounding. He has already received preseason All-SEC and All-American honors, including a couple of SEC Player of the Year mentions.
In his absence, former West Virginia transfer Jimmy Bell will move into a starting position, and he was an experienced starter during his Big 12 career the past two years. Also at the center position, the Bulldogs have true freshman Gai Chol.
