Christian Shumate made it official Tuesday.

The 6-foot-7 forward will return to McNeese State for his junior season next fall.

As first reported in today’s American Press, Shumate pulled his name from the transfer portal and will be back with the Cowboys in the fall.

A second-team All-Southland Conference selection last season, Shumate entered the portal after McNeese fired John Aiken and named Will Wade the new head coach.

Shumate led McNeese in scoring and rebounding last year but the team lost a program-record 23 games, winning just 11. After checking out his options, Shumate decided that there was no place like Lake Charles.

“After being in the portal and weighing my options, I talked with coach (Will) Wade and ultimately decided the best option for myself was to return to McNeese,” Shumate said on a Twitter cast. “I think we have a lot of potential to be good, especially with the players we added out of the portal, yeah I think we can be really good.”

Shumate’s return is an added bonus to Wade, who has added six new faces to the program, five from the portal and another out of junior college.

“We are very excited to have Christian back,” said Wade. “He is somebody who had had success in the Southland Conference.”

The two meet over the weeks as both sides had to agree to the reunion.

“I have really enjoyed getting to know Christian throughout this process and I believe the best is yet to come for him on the court.

“We cannot wait to get to work with him in the summer. I know Lake Charles an all our fans are so excited to get a player of Christian’s caliber back to McNeese.”

Shumate set the record for rebounds in the Southland Conference and averaged 26.5 points and 13.7 boards in three tournament games. For the season he led McNeese in scoring (15.1) and rebounding (9.7) while earning second-team All-Southland honors.

“He is a great player, and you need good players to win,” said Wade. “He is somebody who is a known commodity in the league.”

Shumate is the fourth McNeese scholarship player returning to the program.

Guard Trea English and forwards Roberts Berze and Dionjahe Thomas are also expected back. Berze will be a senior next season while English is a junior.

Thomas, who came on strong with more playing time will be just a sophomore. Thomas averaged 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 29 games but collected a double-double in two of the Pokes final four games.

English averaged 10.2 points and led McNeese in assists with 101 before hurting his knee and missing the final six games of the season. Berze played in all 34 games and averaged 4.1 points.

“We are glad to have guys back that know the program,” said Wade. “I have gotten to know those guys since I have gotten here and look forward to helping them reach their potential as players.”

With six newcomers already signed, the Cowboys still have three open scholarships. Wade said there is no set time frame for when he wants those spots filled.

He did say he would like to add some size and a shooter with those scholarships.

“Looking to get somebody with some beef, a big body,” said Wade. “And you can never have enough shooters.”