STARKVILLE (AP) – Mississippi State’s men’s basketball program has added Louisiana Tech transfer Xavian Stapleton.

The 6-foot-6, 190-pound guard from Flora, Mississippi, played in all 36 games last season for Louisiana Tech as a freshman, averaging 6.7 points. He was named Conference USA freshman of the week once after averaging 16.5 points in back-to-back games against Southern Arkansas and Southern Mississippi.

Stapleton must sit out the upcoming season because of NCAA transfer rules, and will then have three years of eligibility remaining.

First-year coach Ben Howland said in a statement that Stapleton is an “outstanding player with a very, very bright future.”

Stapleton said he is “ready to get to work and do my part to help this team. I think the future here is really exciting.”