Mississippi State’s Hubbard and Matthews Earn NABC All-District Honors

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Mississippi State’s D.J. Hubbard and Tolu Matthews have been named NABC All-Southeast District players, receiving the recognition on Tuesday from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. This honor marks the fourth consecutive season the Bulldogs have had at least one player selected to the NABC All-District teams, continuing a trend established over six of the last seven seasons since 2018-19.

Hubbard earned a spot on the NABC All-Southeast District First Team, following in the footsteps of Mississippi State legends such as Quinndary Weatherspoon and Iverson Molinar. He becomes one of the few players in the Southeastern Conference to have crossed the milestone of 600 points and 100 assists this season, alongside notable competitors like Cooper Flagg from Duke and Alabama’s Mark Sears.

Hubbard has accumulated 1,214 career points, the highest tally among SEC freshmen and sophomores since the 2000s, placing him seventh in overall SEC scoring for these classes. Notable akin talents such as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Shaquille O’Neal previously held records for scoring goals in their respective freshman and sophomore seasons, yet Hubbard stands out for his consistency and performance.

Additionally, Matthews was recognized as a member of the NABC All-Southeast District Second Team. This recognition represents the first time since the 2011-12 season that two Bulldogs have received All-District honors in the same year.

Matthews has demonstrated remarkable versatility, becoming the only player in SEC history to record at least 975 points, 850 rebounds, 375 assists, and 250 steals throughout his career. His robust defensive capacity has placed him as one of the 15 finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, further solidifying his impact on the court.

In statistical comparisons, Hubbard ranks among the SEC’s top performers in various categories, including points per game at 18.67, an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.76, and a free throw percentage of 87.8%. Meanwhile, Matthews consistently contributes in steals per game at 2.48 and assists at 3.58, showcasing his all-around skills.

The anticipation is building as the Bulldogs gear up for an NCAA tournament clash against Baylor, a matchup that is set for 11:15 a.m. CT at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. CBS will provide live coverage, featuring announcers Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery, among others.

Stay updated on Mississippi State’s basketball endeavors by visiting www.HailState.com or following their social media presence through accounts such as ‘HailStateMBK’ on platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram.