Smith Collects All-SEC First-Team Accolades; Wins Howell Trophy

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Mississippi State's Tolu Smith tucked away All-SEC First-Team honors from the league's coaches announced Monday leading into this week's conference tournament.

Mississippi State has had at least one All-SEC First-Team pick during four of the last five seasons. The impressive list includes Quinndary Weatherspoon (2018-19), Reggie Perry (2019-20) and Iverson Molinar (2021-22).

Smith is one of seven Power 5 players to average 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 55.0 percent from the field. The prestigious list includes Arizona's Oumar Ballo, Michigan's Hunter Dickinson, Purdue's Zach Edey, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe and Arizona's Azuolas Tubelis.

Smith has ripped off double figures in 15 consecutive games fueled by eight double doubles and four 20-10 outings. He has boosted his average to 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game over the 15-game run.

For the season, Smith and Tshiebwe are the only SEC players to rank among the league's top 10 in points (15.39 – 8th) followed by top 3 marks in field goal percentage (58.3 – 1st), double-doubles (9 – Tied 2nd) and rebounds (8.32 – 3rd).

Smith became the sixth MSU player since 2017-18 and 42nd player overall in program history to surpass 1,000 career points. He sits 31st in career points (1,152), 21st in career rebounds (648) and 6th in field goal percentage (57.6) all-time at State.

Smith also took home the Howell Trophy on Monday which is awarded annually by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame to the best male college basketball player in the Magnolia State.

Named after Mississippi State legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bailey Howell, the Bulldogs have captured the Howell Trophy during five of the last six seasons.

Weatherspoon was a two-time recipient during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, while Perry earned the 2019-20 and Molinar captured the 2021-22 honors.

2022-23 SEC Postseason Awards
All-SEC First Team
Kobe Brown – Missouri
Colin Castleton – Florida
Brandon Miller – Alabama
Liam Robbins – Vanderbilt
Tolu Smith – Mississippi State
Wade Taylor IV – Texas A&M
Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky
Santiago Vescovi – Tennessee

All-SEC Second Team
Anthony Black – Arkansas
Johni Broome – Auburn
Rickey Council IV – Arkansas
Wendell Green Jr. – Auburn
Tyrece Radford – Texas A&M
Mark Sears – Alabama
KJ Williams – LSU
Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee

All-SEC Defensive Team
Charles Bediako – Alabama
Colin Castleton – Florida
Davonte Davis – Arkansas
Liam Robbins – Vanderbilt
Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee

All-SEC Freshman Team
Anthony Black – Arkansas
Jaden Bradley – Alabama
Noah Clowney – Alabama
Gregory 'GG' Jackson – South Carolina
Riley Kugel – Florida
Chris Livingston – Kentucky
Brandon Miller – Alabama
Julian Phillips – Tennessee
Cason Wallace – Kentucky

SEC Awards
SEC Co-Coach of the Year: Buzz Williams – Texas A&M; Jerry Stackhouse – Vanderbilt
SEC Player of the Year: Brandon Miller – Alabama
SEC Freshman of the Year: Brandon Miller – Alabama
SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year: Jahvon Quinerly – Alabama; Antonio Reeves – Kentucky
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Liam Robbins, Vanderbilt
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kobe Brown – Missouri

UP NEXT
The SEC Tournament returns to Nashville as Mississippi State will meet Florida to open up Thursday's second round action at Bridgestone Arena. Tip time is on-tap for 12 p.m. CT televised by SEC Network and available online courtesy of the ESPN app.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Smith Collects All-SEC First-Team Accolades; Wins Howell Trophy

Players Mentioned

Iverson Molinar

Tolu Smith III

Mississippi State University Athletics