Howland, Bulldogs begin to reload after players leave program

It appears that the Mississippi State men’s basketball program is making a comeback.

After several players left the team, through either transfer or the pursuit of a professional career, the Bulldogs had taken quite a hit.

The signings of Keondre Montgomery, Cameron Matthews, Andersson Garcia and Deivon Smith have enabled head coach Ben Howland and MSU to recover a little bit. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs picked up Montgomery, who is considered to be the top prospect in Mississippi.

Getting the new quartet on board is good for starters, but it’s still going to be difficult to fill out a roster with all of the departures MSU has seen since the season ended.

Reggie Perry, Robert Woodard II, Nick Weatherspoon and Abdul Ado have all announced their intentions to test the National Basketball Association waters and have at least introduced the possibility that they will no longer be Bulldogs. Woodard and Ado have not hired agents so they have left the door open for a possible return to MSU. It seems Perry and Weatherspoon are gone for good.

Keyshawn Feazell, Devin Butts, Elias King, E.J.

Datcher and Prince Oduro all announced they had entered the transfer portal. Most of them have landed at other schools already.

Along with the graduation of former Starkville High School player Tyson Carter, that’s going to leave Howland with a very young and inexperienced team even if Woodard and Ado come back.

D.J. Stewart II and Iverson Molinar were able to gain some valuable minutes as freshmen with the Bulldogs last season and they may be asked to do much more while the incoming talent of Montgomery, Matthews, Garcia and Smith get their feet under them in the college atmosphere.

Montgomery certainly brings much potential to MSU.

During last season at Forrest Hill High School, Montgomery averaged 28.1 points per game. It will be much more difficult to produce that kind of number on the next level at a Southeastern Conference school, so it will be interesting to see how Montgomery will adjust.

Using the word rebuild is one that people don’t often like to use when on influx of youth comes into a program.

It is a word that may be part of Howland’s vocabulary in the coming months as he continues to manage the departures and the arrival of newcomers.