STARKVILLE — Ben Howland’s reinvention of the Mississippi State men’s basketball team continues.
Since becoming MSU’s coach March 21, Howland has signed two highly touted recruits. He also has watched two players leave the program.
Late Tuesday night, MSU’s attrition continued when freshman Oliver Black, who saw action in all 31 games this past season, decided to leave the program. Black’s departure was confirmed by a MSU spokesman.
Black, a 6-foot-9 post player from Wingfield High in Jackson, averaged 1.8 points and 2.1 rebounds last season. He played at least 15 minutes in 13 of MSU’s 18 Southeastern Conference games. He scored a career-high nine points in a loss to McNeese State on Dec. 30. Two weeks later, he had a career-best seven rebounds against Vanderbilt.
Black is the second player in less than two weeks to leave MSU. Freshman Maurice Dunlap, who played in six games before redshirting, left May 21 to head to go to junior college. Dunlap and Black were recruited and signed by former coach Rick Ray. Black didn’t announce his destination Tuesday night, but he said the split with MSU was mutual.
To fill Dunlap’s spot, Howland signed Aric Holman, a 6-9, 200-pound forward from Owensboro, Kentucky. The four-star prospect is Howland’s second signee in Starkville, joining five-star guard Malik Newman, who signed with MSU in April.
Black’s exit opens another scholarship for the Bulldogs. MSU has 12 scholarship players — eight returning upperclassmen, plus freshmen Quinndary Weatherspoon, Joseph Strugg, Newman, and Holman — and are one under the NCAA limit of 13. Black’s departure leaves MSU with four players 6-9 or taller.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter@BWonStateBeat
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