Mississippi State has added some much-needed beef to its frontcourt.

Arnett Moultrie, who left UTEP after his sophomore season, signed with the Bulldogs on Tuesday. The 6-foot-11, 225-pound Memphis native was originally prohibited from signing with MSU because of the conditions of his scholarship release, but he was granted a waiver to sign with the Bulldogs.

Moultrie must sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules.

He averaged 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in two years at UTEP, including 9.8 and 6.7 this past season.

"We are very happy to have Arnett join the Mississippi State family," MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. "He's a great kid from a good family and brings a lot of experience and versatility to us."

Moultrie was a Conference USA All-Freshman selection and played for the USA U19 team last year at the FIBA World Championship. He entered the NBA Draft this year but withdrew, and he left UTEP after coach Tony Barbee left to take over at Auburn.

Moultrie will be a welcome addition to MSU's frontcourt.

State lost Jarvis Varnado, the NCAA's career blocks leader, this year and saw reserve forward Romero Osby transfer to Oklahoma. So the frontcourt for 2010-11 looks like this right now:

- Kodi Augustus (6-8, 220) has the most experience down low, where he plays the four position. The rising senior has a decent outside stroke but wasn't particularly aggressive around the rim last season.

- Elgin Bailey (6-8, 265) will get a junior year do-over after a broken ankle suffered near the end of the 2008-09 season kept him out for all but four games last season. While not the most skilled big man, Bailey brings energy and grit to the paint.

- Wendell Lewis (6-8, 240) was pressed into duty as a freshman because of Bailey's injury. He got spotty minutes and thus gave spotty production, averaging 5.5 minutes and 1.3 points per game.

- Renardo Sidney (6-10, 260), the McDonald's All-American who engaged in an epic eligibility battle with the NCAA, will be available after serving a nine-game suspension. He'll be a sophomore and should step right into the starting lineup, and with a strong season, he's expected to enter the 2011 NBA Draft.

- John Riek (7-1, 242) is a Sudanese project who got occasional playing time as a freshman. His defense this year will be valued, but what kind of offensive contribution he can make is unknown.

Bost withdraws from draft

- Dee Bost, State's point guard the past two seasons, has officially removed his name from the NBA Draft pool, draftexpress.com reported on Tuesday. The deadline to do so was Monday, and Bost is now eligible for next year's draft.

Bost is hoping to return to MSU for his junior season. He failed to withdraw from the draft by the NCAA's May 8 deadline, and he's now petitioning the NCAA for reinstatement.

His chances of succeeding are not great, although if he was reinstated, the Bulldogs would be one over their 13-scholarship limit for next season.

Otherwise, Bost's other options for 2010-11 would be playing in a European league or the NBA Development League.

Bucks work Varnado

- Varnado worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. The 6-9 forward has auditioned for several teams and has a few more lined up before the June 24 NBA Draft.

Milwaukee has the 15th pick in the first round and then two more picks in the second round (37th and 47th overall).

"I think it'd be a stretch for us to say we'd look at him for 15," Bucks director of scouting Bill McKinney said. "But he could go late in the first round or possibly early second round."

Said Varnado, "I think I'd fit in great in Milwaukee."

Contact Brad Locke at 678-1571 or brad.locke@djournal.com.