Chris Jans has been diligently scouring the transfer portal to bolster Mississippi State basketball’s lineup for his third season in Starkville.
Despite the departure of several important players from the previous season, the return of Josh Hubbard and Cam Matthews ensures a solid foundation to construct upon. With only a few roster spots remaining, Jans secured the last additions to his team for the 2024-2025 season on Thursday.
Florida guard and former MSU signee Riley Kugel transfers to Bulldogs
On Thursday, Riley Kugel, a guard previously with Florida, revealed his decision to transfer to Mississippi State. Earlier in March, Kugel briefly committed to Kansas, opting for the Jayhawks over Arizona, Houston, and UConn. However, he opted to explore other transfer opportunities instead. Now, he’s set to join Mississippi State’s team.
For State fans, Kugel isn’t a new name. Originally hailed as a highly-rated 4-star prospect in high school, the 6’5″ guard initially committed to Mississippi State in the 2022 class under Ben Howland. However, after Howland’s departure, Kugel was released from his letter of intent and chose to attend Florida.
During his time at Florida, Kugel showcased his skills with two productive seasons. In his freshman year, he boasted a shooting percentage of 46% from the field, with an impressive 38% from beyond the arc, averaging 9.9 points per game. Last season, he maintained a solid performance with an average of 9.2 points per game, alongside 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. His addition to the Mississippi State backcourt brings another high-quality scoring option to the team.
Rhode Island center Jeremy Foumena commits to MSU
Shortly after securing Riley Kugal’s commitment, Chris Jans achieved his desired roster addition for this year’s transfer cycle by welcoming Rhode Island center Jeremy Foumena to the Bulldogs.
Standing at 6’11”, Foumena posted averages of 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds during his time at Rhode Island last season. Foumena joins Michael Nwoko as the second center transfer recruited by State this offseason. With the departures of Tolu Smith and Jimmy Bell from the previous roster, the center position emerged as a significant area of need for State, prompting active recruitment through the transfer portal.
While neither Foumena nor Nwoko have demonstrated high levels of productivity thus far in their careers, both are viewed as promising prospects with potential to evolve into impactful contributors for the team.
State has brought in an impressive portal class
Chris Jans has effectively utilized the transfer portal this offseason, as per On3. State is now ranked 7th in the nation for portal class, having secured five 4-star transfers.
This move has bolstered their roster across various positions, providing ample choices for the upcoming season. Jans underscores the significance of leveraging the portal to consistently construct a NCAA Tournament-worthy team, and his success with this transfer group reflects his capability in achieving that goal.
