The Incredible Josh Hubbard Delivers Again
February 17, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Freshman’s splendid season rolls on with heroics against Arkansas.
STARKVILLE – Did you feel the ground quake beneath your feet on Saturday afternoon? If you happened to be outside, did you hear a roar coming from the Golden Triangle area?
If so, just know there was no need to be alarmed. It was simply Mississippi State's sensational freshman Josh Hubbard continuing to do what no freshman should be able to do and causing the Maroon and White faithful to rise to its feet and make Starkville shake.
With under a minute to go against Arkansas, Hubbard sank a clutch 3-pointer that turned a two-point Bulldog deficit into a one-point MSU lead. State never trailed again on the way to a critical home win.
It was just the latest unbelievable moment for the first-year Dawg out of Madison, Mississippi, whose fearless demeanor on the court is keying State's run towards shaking a leg in March's big dance once again.
"I used to get nervous in times like that when I was little," Hubbard said postgame of his latest highlight-reel play. "But as I grew up, it's all just basketball. It's like going outside as a little kid. It's just enjoying those fun moments. It was definitely a blessing to take that shot and make it."
FIRE US UP J-HUBB 🔥
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) February 17, 2024
5 Straight Points from the freshman and the Dawgs lead with 0:58 remaining!
𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 » 68
Arkansas » 67#HailState🐶 || 📺 » https://t.co/aTscg3jsV3 pic.twitter.com/1su3MCf9wl
Hubbard finished Saturday with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists. Fourteen of his 19 points came in the game's final 20 minutes, but none of his points were bigger than his last three.
The sold-out Hump exploded with Hubbard's make. Funny thing is, some of his teammates didn't. They've simply come to expect Hubbard to deliver when the pressure is on.
Remember, Hubbard is a guy that already this season has claimed three Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week awards. He has six games scoring 20 or more points – a feat that, entering Saturday, was tied for the nation's lead among freshman players.
So, don't be shocked to learn Shakeel Moore didn't celebrate when Hubbard's shot went through against the Hogs. He simply expected it.
"I've seen that time and time again," Moore said smiling. "I don't even think I had a reaction. I was just like, 'Let's go!' Because that's Hub. He does that."
He's been doing it his whole life, too. No one in the history of high school basketball in the state of Mississippi scored more points than Hubbard did over his years at Madison-Ridgeland Academy. He's simply carried all his talent and ability with him into the SEC.
"He's obviously not afraid to take the big shots," MSU head coach Chris Jans said. "He's been doing it his entire career, and it's nice to have someone out there like that."
Yet for all of Hubbard's fantastic physical traits, his best asset lies between his ears. He's incredibly mature beyond his years according to all those around him. Moore saw that early on when Hubbard first got to campus.
"It's like he's experienced already," Moore said. "[Some people said] it was in December they realized he wasn't [playing like] a freshman in their eyes. I told them, 'Hey, I saw it the first day. First day and first workout.'
"[He just had] a grit, fearlessness and just an ability to make shots."
And maybe the most exciting thing is that Hubbard really does have that knack for stepping up at the times his team needs him the absolute most. There was Saturday. There was also the Auburn game three weeks ago when another late Hubbard trey cemented the Dawgs' victory over the Top-10 Tigers.
Here's how Jans described Hubbard on that particular day: "Man, he looked at me like he'd scored on me. I'm like, 'Man, I'm with you [on your team]! What do we have going here, man?'
"It was pretty stone cold, and it made me feel pretty good inside, like he's not afraid of the big moment."
In large part because of his own production, Hubbard should get many more big moments to try and thrive in over the next few weeks as State makes its NCAA Tournament push.
After all that though, whenever this season is over, then what? If Hubbard can do all he's done so far at this young of an age, what is he truly capable of?
"The sky is the limit for him," Moore said. "I don't even think that's the limit. He could keep going. He's special for sure."
