Ole Miss coach Chris Beard talks transfer portal, Matthew Murrell

Ole Miss men’s basketball coach Chris Beard sounds proud of what he and his staff have accomplished so far in roster building via the transfer portal, but he says they aren’t done yet.

“We won’t have a final roster for a while yet,” Beard told The Spirit Tuesday afternoon. “Around the first of June we will have a pretty good idea what the final roster will look like.”

So far Beard and Company have secured commitments from five transfer portal players and have publicized the return of guard Jaylen ‘JuJu’ Murray and forward Jaemyn Brakefield.

Virginia Tech 6-foot-1 guard Sean Pedulla, who averaged 16.5 points per game last season, has been added to the roster along with 6-foot-5 guard Davon Barnes who averaged 13.5 points per game for Sam Houston State, 6-6 guard Dre Davis who scored at a 15 ppg. clip for Seton Hall, 6-9 240-pound forward Malik Dia who scored 17.0 points per game for Belmont and 6-8 forward Mikeal Brown-Jones who scored 19 points per game and averaged 8 rebounds an outing for NC-Greensboro.

The Rebels are also bringing in three freshmen: 7-1 John Bol, 6-3 G Eduardo Klafke and 6-3 G Jason Jackson.

When asked is he was looking for anything specific in any more players Ole Miss might land, Beard said not really.

“You know, I don’t look at basketball the way football coaches look at football in that a linebacker can’t play cornerback and positions are very defined,” Beard continued. “We’re just looking for versatile players who fit our culture and position is kind of irrelevant at this stage of our roster development.

“What I’m saying is that we are wide open. If a great player pops up and we can cultivate interest in us, we will take him.”

(We suggested another big man, but Beard didn’t take the bait.)

There has been a rumor going around that Matthew Murrell, last year’s leading scorer who declared for the NBA draft, may be having a change of heart and may come back to Ole Miss for another year. The Memphis sharpshooter has another year of college eligibility if he wants it.

Beard said as far as he knows, there is nothing to the rumor.

“Matthew has been very transparent with us in his desire to give the NBA a try. He’s 100% in on going the professional route,” Beard noted. “He’s got some tryouts coming up and we are excited for him and wish him all the best in fulfilling his dream of playing professional basketball.”

In essence, Beard said for Rebel Nation to hold on to their seats because Ole Miss isn’t finished yet in securing talent for next season.

Stay tuned. . . . .

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