While former Mississippi State star Tolu Smith III didn’t hear his name called during this week’s NBA Draft, it didn’t take long for the All-SEC big man to sign a professional deal.
On Friday, Smith inked an undrafted free agent contract with the Detroit Pistons, meaning the 6’11” center will have a chance to prove himself during the NBA Summer League beginning on July 12.
𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐄𝐃 ✍🏻
Congratulations, @ToluSmith1! #StateToTheLeague || #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/yCLiY25KT2
— Mississippi State Men’s Basketball (@HailStateMBK) June 29, 2024
Smith, a Bay St. Louis native, played four seasons for Mississippi State after transferring from Western Kentucky. During that span, he scored over 1,500 points in 108 games for the Bulldogs. He was twice named to the All-SEC first team, following the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns.
Smith finished his time in Starkville with a career stat line of 14.4 points and eight rebounds per game. At the beginning of this past season, he missed time with a foot injury but made a nice return to the court on Dec. 31, finishing the year with an average of 15 points and eight rebounds across 23 games.
Smith, who Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans has referred to as a “tireless worker,” was key in helping the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Tournament in both 2023 and 2024, the first time the program had made it to the Big Dance in consecutive seasons since 2007-08 and 2008-09.
