New look for Rebel men’s basketball in 2014
The Ole Miss Rebels men’s basketball team will look a little different when tipoff for the 2014 season begins—both on the court and in the coaching staff.
In addition to losing senior Marshall Henderson to graduation, players from last season’s Rebel team (19-14, 9-9) who have transferred and will not be on the roster this season are: Derrick Millinghaus, Demarco Cox, Janari Joesaar and Jerron Martin.
The spring signing period brings the Rebels three players: graduate transfers Terrance Smith and M.J. Rhett, as well as JUCO guard Roderick Lawrence.
From the fall signing period, the Rebels picked up: J.T. Escobar, Marcanvis Hymon, Stefan Moody and Rauno Nurger.
On June 30th, Head Coach Andy Kennedy spoke via the SEC’s annual summer hoops teleconference and said he is confident his team will reach the maximum scholarship number of 13. Currently Kennedy is over the allotted scholarships as a result of the seven signees from fall and spring; however, two of those fall signees—J.T. Escobar and Rauno Nurger—are likely to go to prep school before heading to Oxford.
During the teleconference, Coach Kennedy was optimistic about the future of his new players, saying: “All of our guys are on campus, and this has allowed us to get to know them better, especially the five in-coming guys.”
Players won’t be the only new faces Rebel fans see this fall. Assistant coaches Al Pinkins and Sergio Rouco left the team to pursue other opportunities, and former Auburn assistant coach Tony Madlock was hired in May.
Kennedy is enthusiastic about the Madlock hire because of his experience and energy. “Tony has been a tremendous addition, a Memphian who played at Memphis, grew up in the area. He’s certainly very familiar with the SEC having been on Tony Barbee’s staff at Auburn for the last four years. He’s brought new focus and new energy, and we’re really pleased to have him as part of our staff,” Kennedy said.
In addition to Madlock, Kennedy also announced the hiring of Todd Abernethy as Coordinator of Recruiting Development. Abernethy is a former Rebel hoops star and three-time team captain who suited up for Ole Miss from 2004-07. He returns to his alma mater after leaving IUPUI where he was the Director of Basketball Operations and Video Coordinator.
With Marshall Henderson and four of last year’s underclassmen gone; seven new players signed for the upcoming season; the departure of two assistants; and, the hiring of two new staff members, the 2014 version of the Rebels will definitely have a new look.
Photo of Jarvis Summers courtesy of RushTheCourt.net
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
