Tshisumpa signs, Nick Weatherspoon announces return
The Mississippi State men’s basketball team received a boost on Wednesday with the signing of a former four-star recruit and the return of one of the squad’s own.
MSU inked 6-foot-10, 260-pound forward Jethro Tshisumpa and the Bulldogs also learned guard Nick Weatherspoon will return for his sophomore season after he entered his name in the NBA Draft last week.
Tshisumpa comes to Mississippi State as a shot-blocking specialist. He played last year at San Jacinto College after spending his freshman season at Arizona State.
Tshisumpa, who was a four-star recruit and ESPN Top 100 player out of high school before inking with Arizona State, shined last year with San Jacinto. Tshisumpa started 28 of the 31 games in played in for the Ravens and averaged 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. He blocked 116 shots, which stood as the thirdbest mark in all the NJCAA.
Now, Tshisumpa brings Starkville.
“I feel like it’s a good fit for me, especially about the way I play,” Tshisumpa said in a school release. “It’s like a perfect match. I’m excited, and I’m pumped. I’m excited about the his talents to success (MSU has) had and I’m looking forward to being a part of that success next year.”
Mississippi State head coach Ben Howland is equally looking forward to Tshisumpa joining his team.
“I am thrilled to have Jethro joining the Bulldog family,” Howland said. “He is a very athletic, strong and physical post player who plays very hard and is also an outstanding student and young man.
“We are very fortunate to have him join the program. I look forward to getting him here and working with him starting this June.”
While Tshisumpa will be a welcome addition for the Bulldogs, MSU is already completely familiar with Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon was chosen as an All-Southeastern Conference Freshman this past season for the Bulldogs after averaging 10.8 points per game and being one of State’s best defensive players.
Following Weatherspoon’s big year, he decided to test the waters of the NBA Draft, but since he didn’t hire an agent, he was able to withdraw and return to school. He announced on Twitter Wednesday that he had done just that, posting simply “I am returning to Mississippi State University.”
Two other Bulldogs – Nick’s brother, guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, as well as guard Lamar Peters – have also chosen to enter the NBA Draft, but both could also return as neither have hired agents.
Quinndary Weatherspoon and Peters have until June 11 to withdraw if they wish to return to Mississippi State.