The speculation started almost immediately.
Two years ago in Starkville, after Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard drilled three 3-pointers in the final minute against Kentucky, some UK fans half-joked — and half-hoped — that John Calipari was already laying the groundwork to bring the electric freshman guard to Lexington. In an era where elite performances often lead straight to the transfer portal, the thought didn’t feel far-fetched.
That night belonged to two guards. Reed Sheppard cemented his folk-hero status with 32 points, seven assists, and a buzzer-beating floater that sealed a 91–89 Kentucky win. Hubbard wasn’t far behind, pouring in 34 points and nearly completing a stunning comeback. The two exchanged praise on social media afterward, and Kentucky fans took notice.
But the transfer never came.
Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas. Hubbard stayed in Starkville. And in doing so, he became one of the rarest things in modern college basketball: a proven star who chose loyalty over leverage.
Now, as Mississippi State returns to Rupp Arena for an 8:30 p.m. SEC Network tipoff, Hubbard stands as Kentucky’s next major challenge — and a reminder of how unusual his path has been in the transfer portal era.
Loyalty in a Time of Chaos
When Hubbard returned for a second season, the portal was already reshaping the sport. By his third year, it had become outright chaos, with seven-figure NIL deals attached to players far less accomplished than him.
Hubbard could have cashed in. Instead, he never seriously considered leaving.
“It just never crossed my mind,” Hubbard said. “I believe in Coach Jans. I believe in his work. I believe he’s one of the best coaches in the country.
That trust has been mutual from the beginning. Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans gave Hubbard freedom early, especially as a scorer, and the relationship quickly solidified. Jans said he never felt uncertainty about Hubbard’s status, even as national chatter swirled.
“I understand the narrative,” Jans said at SEC Media Day. “Anyone that good, that young, there’s going to be talk about it. But I didn’t have uncertainty.”
Better Than Ever in Year Three
Jans predicted before the season that Hubbard would be better than ever. The results have been undeniable.
Hubbard leads the SEC in scoring at 23.0 points per game, ranking among the conference’s top five in made 3-pointers and free throws. He tied a career-high with 38 points in an overtime win over Texas, followed that performance with 30 points against Oklahoma, and earned SEC Player of the Week honors.
In a league overflowing with elite guards, Hubbard has emerged as an early contender for SEC Player of the Year.
That consistency is what makes him such an anomaly. Of the 15 players named to preseason All-SEC teams, only two returned for a third year with the same program — and neither were stars as freshmen. Hubbard was.
Mississippi State’s Bigger Picture
Despite Hubbard’s brilliance, Mississippi State remains a work in progress. The Bulldogs have reached the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons under Jans — only the second such streak in program history — but they haven’t won a March Madness game since 2008.
This season followed a familiar script. Picked 10th in the SEC, Mississippi State entered league play outside the top tier of analytics rankings. Yet a 2–0 start in conference action has reignited belief, and Hubbard continues to speak confidently about the team’s potential.
For him, every SEC game is an opportunity. Each performance carries weight in shaping Mississippi State’s postseason résumé.
A Decision Still Ahead
Hubbard isn’t viewed as a clear 2026 NBA draft prospect, meaning another major decision awaits. Will he return to Starkville for a fourth season? Will he chase a national title elsewhere? Will a massive NIL offer finally pull him into the portal?
Jans says he assumes nothing.
“In this era, everyone’s in the portal until they tell you otherwise,” he said.
Still, Hubbard has already separated himself.
“I think it speaks volumes to who he is,” Jans said. “He’s better as a person than he is as a player — and that’s saying something, because he’s a hell of a player.”
Saturday night at Rupp Arena will give Kentucky fans another look at what might have been — and what still is: one of the SEC’s best guards, thriving outside the chaos, doing things his own way.
