Hubbard Secures Spot On Lute Olson Early Season Watch List

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

BOSTON, Massachusetts – Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard was listed as one of 50 players selected to the 2024-25 Lute Olson Early Season Watch List announced Tuesday by the award's selection committee and CollegeInsider.com.

The 50 honorees are candidates for the Lute Olson Player of the Year award which is named in honor of the Hall of Fame coach who won 776 games in 34 seasons mostly at the University of Arizona.

Hubbard is already listed on the watch lists for the John R. Wooden Award and the Bob Cousy Award. He also was an All-America Preseason Honorable Mention choice by Sports Illustrated.

For the Lute Olson Award, Hubbard is one of 13 SEC players chosen which include Johni Broome (Auburn), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Johnell Davis (Arkansas), Darlinstone Dubar (Tennessee), Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina), Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss), Grant Nelson (Alabama), Clifford Omoruyi (Alabama), Jaxson Robinson (Kentucky), Mark Sears (Alabama) Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M) and Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee).

Hubbard, a consensus All-SEC Second-Team honoree, has picked up where he left off a season ago. He has poured in 21.75 points per game (3rd) on a 59.3 shooting percentage (8th). The Madison, Mississippi, product has drained 4.50 three-pointers per contest (1st) on a 60.0 percent mark (2nd). All four marks are ranked inside the SEC's top 10.

Hubbard has amassed 685 points which ranks third in program history for freshmen and sophomores through 39 games. He trails only Ray White (695 points) and Rickey Brown (692) from the 1970s.

Hubbard has canned 126 triples which sits 16th on the program's all-time list and has sank at least one trey in 17 consecutive games which currently is the 13th longest streak in program history.

Hubbard is coming off one of the nation's most electric seasons by a true freshman last season. He garnered All-SEC Second-Team status, won the SEC's Freshman of the Week honor five times and was the first freshmen to secure the Bailey Howell Trophy which is awarded to the state of Mississippi's top collegiate player.

Hubbard racked up 17.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His 17.1 points per game were fourth-most among SEC returning players in 2024-25 and were tops among SEC freshmen a season ago. Hubbard amassed nine of his 13 outings of 20-plus points versus SEC opponents, while his 13 performances of 20-plus led the nation among true freshmen.

The 598 points for the Madison, Mississippi native in 2023-24 was a State freshman record and ranked 8th for a single season. He drained 108 three-pointers which were both overall and freshmen single season records for the Maroon and White last season.

The recipient of the annual Lute Olson Player of the Year award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of CollegeInsider.com. The 2025 winner will be announced in San Antonio, Texas, site of the 2025 NCAA Final Four.

Fans can purchase non-conference single game tickets through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).

Hubbard and the Dawgs face the team's first true road test of the young season versus SMU on Friday evening. Tip time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT from Moody Coliseum and will be streamed on the Watch ESPN app exclusively courtesy of ACC Network Extra and ESPN+.

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

Mississippi State University Athletics

Hubbard Secures Spot On Lute Olson Early Season Watch List

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