A Holmes County native is headed back to Starkville.
Mississippi State head basketball coach Chris Jans announced Thursday that Durant native Shunn Buchanan has been hired as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs.
Buchanan returns to Mississippi State after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at New Mexico State under head coach Jason Hooten. Earlier this year, he was recognized as one of 75 NCAA Division I assistant coaches invited to the Silver Waves Media Rising Stars Power Lunch during the 2026 NCAA Final Four.
The Durant native is already familiar with the Bulldogs program, having previously served as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. During that time, the Bulldogs earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and posted consecutive 21-win seasons. Mississippi State also recorded five victories over Associated Press Top 25 opponents, including three wins over Top 10 teams during the 2023-24 campaign.
While on staff, Buchanan helped develop standout forward Tolu Smith III, a two-time First Team All-SEC selection who has since joined the Detroit Pistons.
Before arriving in Starkville, Buchanan spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Navarro College, where he worked primarily with guards and oversaw the team’s defense.
Buchanan also has a strong connection with Jans dating back to his playing career at New Mexico State Aggies men’s basketball. Playing under Jans from 2017-20, Buchanan helped the Aggies win three consecutive Western Athletic Conference regular-season championships and make NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019.
Prior to New Mexico State, Buchanan played one season at Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he earned First Team All-MACJC honors and helped lead the Tigers to a state championship and a Region 23 runner-up finish.
A graduate of Madison Central High School, Buchanan was coached by Rahim Lockhart and was named to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger’s prestigious Dandy Dozen following the 2015-16 season.
Buchanan is one of three assistant coaches added to Jans’ staff. Mississippi State also announced the hiring of Corey Barker, who previously worked with Jans at Bowling Green and New Mexico State, and Alex Barlow, who most recently served as an assistant coach at Butler after spending eight seasons with the Boston Celtics organization.
Mississippi State is scheduled to open the 2026-27 season Nov. 2 against **Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles men’s basketball> at Humphrey Coliseum.
