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2022 Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

Posted by | Apr 22, 2022 | ,

2022 Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

OXFORD, Miss. — The 2021-2022 Ole Miss basketball season was a rollercoaster, to say the least. As the season went on, fans saw a team filled with both injuries and illnesses, as well as flashes and frustration.

Now, Ole Miss has to piece a new team together. The Rebels’ coaching staff is looking to build off what is likely the most talented high school class in program history. The 2022 class features four prospects, three of whom are in the Top-100 as ranked by a major recruiting site.

(Carter, Coach Davis Focused on Future of Ole Miss Basketball)

However, nowadays you have to be able to do even more. The transfer portal is the new norm of college basketball. Last year over 1500 players decided to enter and many found new homes.

Consider this your place to be updated with all the recruiting information we can give you for Ole Miss regarding the transfer portal.

Head coach Kermit Davis has stated he is looking to add three players from the portal. With the four high schoolers coming in, this means that four players from the 2021-2022 roster will likely be processed, as Nysier Brooks has already exhausted his eligibility.

Ole Miss players who have entered the transfer portal as of April 12, 2022:

Jarkel Joiner -> NC State
Luis Rodriguez -> UNLV
Grant Slatten -> Tennessee Tech
Eric van der Heijden -> UNCW
Austin Crowley -> Southern Miss
Sammy Hunter -> Akron

Additions to the Ole Miss roster for 2022-2023

Malique Ewin (HS)
Amaree Abram (HS)
TJ Caldwell (HS)
Robert Cowherd (HS)
Jayveous McKinnis (Jackson State)

Myles Burns (Loyola – New Orleans)

*NOTE: This is updated as often as I find information. ESPN Rankings are based on 4/8 article by Jeff Borzello.

Transfer Portal Tracker: Players Available

Souley Boum – UTEP

Updated 4-20-22

Height: 6-3

Weight: 165

Year: Grad Transfer

Ole Miss has reached out to UTEP transfer Souley Boum per All-Access Recruit Scoop. Per Brian Burton, others on the list include: Xavier, Kansas State, San Diego State, Mississippi State, TCU, Gonzaga, Texas Tech, Texas, Iowa State, Missouri, Colorado St, Arizona, Cal, and BYU

Boum started his career at San Francisco before transferring to UTEP after his freshman season. This coming year will be his sixth at the NCAA level. As a Miner, Boum started 74 of a potential 86 games in three seasons.

In the last two seasons, Boum’s play earned him All-CUSA honors (2nd Team – 2022 / 3rd Team – 2021). This past season’s averages for Boum were 19.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.5 APG. His scoring output was the second-best in all of CUSA. In his lone season at San Francisco, Boum’s usage percentage was the highest in the WCC.

With the loss of Jarkel Joiner, Ole Miss could use another experienced scoring guard. Similar to Joiner, Boum will have his scoring output from the perimeter or in the midrange. Boum is a crafty scorer who can get his shot in a variety of ways including as a lead guard or off-ball.

When attacking, Boum can pull up or move into a floater around the paint. A lethal shooter from behind the arc, he is a career 35% shooter from deep, but has shot over 36% in three of his four collegiate seasons.

From the line, Boum is an 84% FT shooter. As much as his play factors in, one important way he’ll benefit a team is as a leadership presence. If he were to come to Ole Miss, his presence would help out a rather inexperienced backcourt.

Morris Udeze – Wichita State

Updated 4-20-22

Height: 6-8

Weight: 245

Year: Junior

A four-year player at Wichita State, Udeze entered the portal with one year of eligibility remaining. Jon Rothstein reports that Ole Miss showed interest in “Mo Udeze” (as the Shockers call him) back on April 7th. There has been a new development recently as Udeze announced his Top-8 schools. Credit to Isabel Gonzales of CBS Sports as Udeze’s list includes: Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, New Mexico, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, UNLV, and Maryland.

Udeze averaged 10.2 PTS and 6.1 REB for the Shockers last season, a major impact big from the low block. Per the Wichita State site, he shot a league-best 66.2% in conference play in the 2020-2021 season while also being second on the team in drawing fouls.

During the Gregg Marshall era, Udeze won the famous “Junkyard Dog” award, given to an exceptionally gritty player who made all the hustle plays and showed tremendous energy.

At 6-foot-8, Udeze possesses a 7-foot wingspan and started the last two seasons under Isaac Brown averaging 23-25 minutes per game.

Over his college career, Udeze showed determination to enhance his game and has shown real growth to cut down on his foul rate and improve his touch. Despite the 0.5 APG, Udeze has solid passing ability and may need to look to pass out of double teams more frequently.

Efe Abogidi – Washington St.

Updated 4-20-22

Height: 6-10

Weight: 225

Year: Sophomore

Ole Miss was featured on a monster list of schools to reach out to the Washington State transfer. Abogidi entered the portal on April 19th. A highly athletic big man out of Nigeria, Abogidi has NBA-level potential with the right training. This past season he saw a small dip in production after averaging 8.9 PPG and 7.2 REB as a freshman.

After one day in the portal, it was reported Abogidi had narrowed his list to the following schools: Kansas State, Houston, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Maryland, UCF, Florida, Wake Forest, Arizona, Marquette, Texas A&M,  and Texas.

Femi Odukale – Pitt

Updated 4-20-22

Height: 6-5

Weight: 185

Year: Sophomore

According to Jon Rothstein, Ole Miss was among the programs to show interest in Pitt transfer Femi Odukale. With three years of eligibility, Odukale really began to show flashes of a high-level contribution for the Panthers. On the year, Odukale averaged 10.8 PTS, 3.5 REB, and 3.4 AST.

Since, Odukale has zeroed in on five schools, removing Ole Miss from contention. He is now locked in on Maryland, Seton Hall, Oregon, Rhode Island, and UCONN.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. – Louisiana Tech

Updated 4-8-22

Height: 6-7

Weight: 275

Year: Sophomore

Ole Miss fans probably remember Lofton from the first round of the NIT two seasons ago. At that time many casual fans may not have known about him, but the NCAA and the USA team surely did.

Over the last summer, Lofton participated in the U19 World Cup for Team USA. With that group, Lofton started 4 of 7 games and averaged a team-high 13.1 PPG and 5.9 RPG. That roster included many stars of the last college basketball including Johnny Davis, Jaden Ivey, Chet Holmgren, Patrick Baldwin Jr, and Kennedy Chandler.

While at Louisiana Tech, Lofton has shined brightly. In his freshman year, he earned CUSA Rookie of the Year and a third-team All-CUSA selection. This past year he had 17 double-doubles while averaging 16.5 PPG and 10.5 rebounds. Those 17 double-doubles were 10th most in the country and were the most by a Louisiana Tech player since Paul Milsap.

He’s very likely to be the best player in the transfer portal or near the top of the list. Most every blue-blood and Power 5 school has tried to reach out to the Port Arthur native. Jon Rothstein reported on 4/10 that while he is preparing for the NBA Draft process, Lofton has received interest from the following schools: Houston, Texas, Kentucky, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Memphis, USC, UC Santa Barbara, Kansas State, Gonzaga, Ole Miss, and La Tech.

Bryce Hopkins – Kentucky

Updated 4-8-22

Height: 6-6

Weight: 220

Year: Freshman

A former Top-50 player out of high school, Bryce Hopkins didn’t quite get the minutes he would’ve liked at Kentucky last year. The forward entered his name on April 6th and has had plenty of Power 5 interest since entering. Jake Weingarten of stockrisers.com reported the schools who reached out to Hopkins, including Texas Tech, BYU, Oklahoma, LSU, Iowa State, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Providence, Georgetown, Georgia, Ole Miss, DePaul, Northwestern, Marquette, Pittsburgh, and Illinois.

In his lone season at Kentucky, Hopkins appeared in 28 contests and played an average of 6.5 minutes per game. His best game came late in February as Hopkins scored 13 points in 16 minutes in a win over LSU. He averaged 2.1 PPG and 1.4 RPG.

The low minutes may shock some, but other coaches haven’t forgotten the unique versatility that Hopkins possesses. At 6’7, Hopkins has a solid frame for a young player and fits into this ‘tweener’ 3-4 role with his ability to play both.

He can be a matchup problem with his athleticism and size. On offense, he excels at using his blend of skill and force to get to the basket, absorbing contact or blowing by bigger defenders. He has the ability to turn the corner and get to the rim quickly.

He shot 31% from the three at Kentucky, but with low volume fogging a real solid number. It was rumored that in a practice setting he hit 11 straight and made 33 of 40. This suggests he may be developing his outside game nicely. In high school he averaged over 24 PPG and 12 RPG while being named the Illinois Player of the Year for the 2020-2021 season.

Tyreke Key – Indiana State

Committed to Tennessee

Updated 4-23-22

Height: 6-3

Weight: 205

Year: Senior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 33rd

*Ole Miss was scheduled for a visit on the weekend of April 23rd-24th but Key ultimately decided that he had seen enough to shut down his recruitment. He also didn’t visit Oklahoma. The decision came between Tennessee and Texas Tech in which the Tennessee native ultimately decided to return home.

It’s rumored that Kermit Davis has been in to see him, but Ole Miss is among the four schools he is planning to visit. According to Richard Schnyderite at Rivals, the other three schools are Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas Tech. All four head coaches have flown in for an in-person visit.

Key sat out last season with a shoulder injury. In 2020-2021, he averaged 17.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 2.0 APG. He is the sixth all-time leading scorer for Indiana State University.

From a physicality standpoint, there hasn’t been a guard on this list who plays like Key. He has a wide frame and absorbs contact really well.

In his time at Indiana State, he would score in a variety of ways. He really knows how to draw fouls and score in the mid-range. In fact, he’ll even play with his back to the basket and post-up defenders in the mid-post. A career 37.4% shooter from the perimeter, his range goes beyond just the three-point line as he can stretch a few feet behind the line.

Jahmir Young – UNC Charlotte

Young has listed a top 4 of Cincinnati, South Carolina, Wake Forest, and Maryland

Updated 4-14-22

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185

Year: Junior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 12th

A three year starter for UNC Charlotte, Jahmir Young has entered the transfer portal. There is also a belief that he may go through the draft process as well. Young led the 49ers in total scoring (19.6), rebounding (5.9), and assists (3.7) this year while earning his second consecutive First Team All-CUSA selection. He also earned a third team selection and CUSA Rookie of the Year in his freshman season.

According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, the schools to reach out to Young are: Xavier, UConn, Maryland, Kansas, DePaul, Florida, Miami, Wake Forest, Iona, Pitt, Clemson, SMU, Georgetown and Ole Miss. However this was reported only eight hours after his entry into the portal. It’s extremely likely the list has grown larger since that report.

A highly productive player, Young is looking for an opportunity to play on the biggest stage. He is a lefty who can create his own shot or be effective with off-ball movement. He likes to get downhill on attacks and excels at using his body to create enough space to get off a shot.

He will attack going either direction but likes to finish with left if possible. He also excels at creating separation for jumpers. On the perimeter it’s noticeable with a jab step into a three on closing defenders. Defensively, Young plays with a lot of pressure.

Franck Kepnang – Oregon

Updated 4-5-22

Height: 6-11

Weight: 225

Year: Sophomore

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 81st

Per Andrew Slater of the USA Today College Wire network, Ole Miss is among a list of many Power 5 schools to reach out to Oregon backup center Franck Kepnang. While playing reserve minutes, Kepnang was still the team’s leading shot blocker. On the year, he rejected 42 shots in only 14.5 minutes per game. On the season he averaged 4.7 PPG, and 3.1 RPG.

Coming out of high school, Kepnang was a top-30 player in the class of 2021. However, he decided to reclassify into the class of 2020 to join the Ducks earlier.

According to Slater, the list of those who have reached out to Kepnang includes: LSU, Ole Miss, Miami, Georgetown, West Virginia, St. Mary’s, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Maryland, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Iowa St., Wichita St., and Washington.

Kepnang has the size and athleticism to play at most high major programs. His major strengths come in his tenacity to rebound and be a rim protector.

This past season he had 3.3 BLK in his per 40 stats. Most of his blocking comes from the weak side. He has the potential to be a very impactful drop big in pick-n-rolls.

Offensively, Kepnang is still improving. He has showed solid touch and improved his scoring arsenal. His hook shot is impressive and his length really allows him to get it off over defenders. One thing he could improve on is his footwork and skills with the ball. Overall, this is a player who has the ability to play at the highest level and make an impact as an anchor down low.

Mark Sears – Ohio

Committed to Alabama

Updated 3-31-22

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185

Year: Sophomore

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 5th

A vastly improved player as a sophomore, Mark Sears really shined when he became the main man after Jason Preston went to the NBA last year.

This year, Sears was named to First-Team All-MAC. He more than doubled his scoring output in his sophomore year, increasing it from 8.5 to 19.7 PPG. He also vastly improved his shooting numbers while shooting 40.8% from three and 88.5% from the free throw line. In other categories, Sears averaged 6.0 RPG and 4.1 APG this year.

According to Jon Rothstein, the teams to reach out to Sears are: Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas, Creighton, Miami, WVU, Florida, Notre Dame, Georgetown, South Carolina, Samford, and Appalachian State.

A lefty, Sears excels as a playmaker. He is a gifted offensive scorer and has the ability to score from all three levels and will look to translate to a higher level of college basketball.

Tristen Newton – East Carolina

Committed to UCONN

Visit Tracker: UCONN

Updated 3-31-22

Height: 6-5

Weight: 200

Year: Junior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 8th

Ole Miss has reached out to Tristen Newton from East Carolina. Hailing from El Paso, Newton has been a force for ECU this year as a lead guard. He was really effective with a usage rate of 27.4%. This past season Newton’s numbers exploded as he averaged 17.7 PPG, 5.0 APG, and 4.8 RPG.

According to Travis Branham of 247, several high majors have reached out to Newton. While talking to Braham, Newton mentioned the following teams: UConn, USC, Vanderbilt, Houston, Florida, Arkansas, Ohio State, Memphis, Clemson, UCF, Creighton, Stanford, UNLV Ole Miss, Wichita State, NC State, St. John’s, Colorado State, TCU, Missouri, Iowa State, SMU, Wake Forest, Maryland, LSU and Georgia.

A note to keep an eye on is that Tristen’s brother, Jawaun, also entered the portal. It has yet to be seen whether or not they are a package deal but Tristen claims that fit is the most important factor in his recruitment.

Manny Bates – NC State

Visit Tracker: LSU 4/7 (In-home) – Arizona State 4/23

Updated 3-27-22

Height: 6-11

Weight: 230

Year: Junior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 13th

Bates marks the fourth player to transfer out from NC State this offseason. There were rumors of him transferring after last year, but he ended up coming back for this last season.

Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, Bates suffered a shoulder injury only one minute into the season. The result ended in him being sidelined for the rest of the year. Now, he is in the portal and has heard from a multitude of schools.

According to Justin Byerly of HoopSeen, Bates has heard from Florida, Auburn, Marquette, Ole Miss, Georgetown and Texas A&M.

Hoop Scoop Media also put out a list of schools that have reached out. This list includes Ohio State, Arkansas, Illinois, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Miami, Notre Dame, Auburn, LSU, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Georgetown, Houston, Texas Tech, and South Carolina.

In 2020-2021, Bates was a starter for NC State. In his career, Bates averaged 2.7 BLK in an average of only 22.1 minutes per game. During that season Bates also averaged 9.8 PPG and 5.9 RPG while shooting 64% from the field.

His length, bounce, and instincts make Bates as one of the best shot blockers in the portal. A rim protector should be near the top of the needs for Ole Miss this year. He is also a smart player who could be a drop option in pick and roll coverage. Another strong suit of Bates is his ability as a rim runner.

Jeremiah Williams – Temple

Committed to Iowa State

Updated 3-30-22

24/7 High School Hoops has reported that Illinois and DePaul are the favorites to land Williams.

Updated 3-27-22

Height: 6-5

Weight: 185

Year: Sophomore

Ole Miss is on the list of who has reached out to Jeremiah Williams. In the past two years, Williams started 37 out of a potential 38 games for the Owls.

As a sophomore, Williams was one of the most effective players in the AAC. According to Max Feldman, Williams was the only player in the American Conference with an assist rate >30%, a block rate >2%, and a steal rate >2%.

Last season Williams averaged 9.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.4 STL, and 0.7 BLK.

According to Feldman, other schools who have reached out to Williams are: Illinois, Loyola-Chi, DePaul, Iowa St, Vandy, UGA, Santa Clara, Stanford, BYU and Pacific.

Jon Rothstein also reports that both Georgia and Vanderbilt have also reached out to Williams.

Justice “Juice” Hill – Murray State

Committed to LSU

Updated 3-30-22

Height: 6-0

Weight: 170

Year: Sophomore

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 39th

Ole Miss did reach out to Juice after he entered the portal. An All-Ohio Valley conference selection and tournament MVP, Juice ultimately made the decision to follow his Coach down to LSU. On the year he averaged 13.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 5.1 APG.

Jayveous McKinnis – Jackson State

Committed to Ole Miss

Updated 4-04-22

Jayveous McKinnis has committed to Ole Miss. (Click here to read more.)

Updated 3-29-22

It has come to my attention that McKinnis was on an official visit to Ole Miss last weekend.

Updated 3-26-22

Height: 6-7

Weight: 220

Year: Senior

It has been reported by Jake Lieberman of jalhoops.com that Ole Miss has been in touch with the potential grad transfer from Jackson State. McKinnis has been a staple of the Jackson State program.

In four seasons, McKinnis has started 99 of a potential 103 games. Over the last two seasons, the forward/center averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. In 2020-2021 he was second in the nation in rebounding with 13.2 per game.

On top of all that, the senior has earned several accolades in his Jackson State tenure. In 2018-2019 he was the conference Rookie of the Year. He is a three time All-SWAC selection and three time All-SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.

This past season McKinnis averaged 12.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.9 BLK while shooting 58% from the field. On the year he posted 14 double-doubles and posted two games with a career-high nine blocks.

According to Lieberman other schools who have reached out are: FIU, Wichita State, San Francisco, UNCW, Radford, SIU, Pepperdine, Kansas State, and Nicholls State.

McKinnis has an insanely high motor for the college game. His rebounding tenacity is one of the best in all of college basketball and should translate to whatever program he chooses. As a scorer, McKinnis can score with his back to the basket, or off of face-up mid-range shots.

He hits consistently from ~15 feet out on his jumpers. In the post, he uses a blend of his wide frame and leaping to power up and through defenders. With the ball in his hands, he is very direct, making one or two dribbles to the basket for a finish. He has a solid post-hook over his left shoulder.

Defensively, he can affect the game as a rim protector. A disciplined defender his size (220 but very muscular with a wide football-ish frame), he can push opposing bigs out into the mid-post. His room for improvement stems around getting more footwork and adding some counter moves in the post. With some teaching, he can be a high-energy player at the top level of college basketball.

Cam Spencer – Loyola Maryland

Committed to Rutgers

Potential Visits: Loyola-Chicago, Minnesota

Updated 3-26-22

Height: 6-4

Weight: 205

Year: Junior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 41st

Ole Miss has reached out to Loyola Maryland guard Cam Spencer. A first team All-Patriot League selection in 2021-2022, Spencer led the conference in points (18.9) and steals (2.3). His 2.41 assist to turnover ratio was second in the conference.

Other schools that have been in touch are: Charleston, Clemson, Davidson, Georg Mason, Loyola Chicago, Saint Joseph’s, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, NC State, Richmond and Stanford.

As a player, Spencer was very productive in his three seasons at Loyola-Maryland. He has a tremendous feel for the game and has a way of outsmarting opponents. He has really useful ball fakes and is deceptive.

Last year Ole Miss talked a lot about adding a potential shooter, and I think the need is still there. Spencer fits that bill. He’s a career 85% FT shooter and two of three years he shot >40% from deep.

Phillip Alston – California University of Pennsylvania

Committed to Loyola-Chicago

Updated 3-26-22

Height: 6-6

Weight: 225

Year: Sophomore

An unknown to most basketball fans, Phillip Alston was a monster at the Division Two level. On the year, Alston averaged 21.0 PPG and 10.8 RPG.

According to Pittsburgh Sports Now, Alston has heard from over 40 Division One programs since entering on March 20th. He’s an athletic forward who can get out in transition. He is very strong defensively and loves to get out in transition. Alston also adds some rim protection from the four spot.

Ole Miss has appeared to be pretty aggressive with Alston. According to George Michalowski, Alston recently wrapped up a zoom call with Loyola Chicago and that Ole Miss either visited him in-person or had a zoom meeting on Monday. There hasn’t been any word on how that went.

Caleb Asberry – Texas State 

Updated 3-24-22

Height: 6-3

Weight: 170

Year: Junior

After another successful year at Texas State, All-Sun Belt guard Caleb Asberry is looking for a jump up. The guard is a two-time all-conference selection (3rd Team: 2021, 1st Team: 2022) and entered the portal after leading the Bobcats to back-to-back regular season championships.

On the year Asberry averaged 13.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.1 APG on the year.

According to PortalUpdates sources have told them that the following have reached out to Asberry: Georgetown, UAB, UTSA, Loyola Chicago, Tarleton State, App State, Wyoming, Prairie View, Oklahoma State, Wichita State, WKU, Northeastern, Tulsa, Texas, and Ole Miss.

Having another guard who can score may not be such a bad thing for Ole Miss. We saw what injuries can do and how badly the Rebels needed another ball handler or two.

Asberry could add another shooting threat as he is a solid three-point scorer. The Texas native shot 38% from behind the arc this year with an average of 2.2 makes per game.

He also fits into the Ole Miss style of play getting downhill quickly while also being very scrappy on the defensive end. Asberry really found his form in conference play where he shot 45% from beyond the arc.

Devan Cambridge – Auburn

Committed to Arizona State 

Updated: 3-31-22

The Cambridge brothers announced their commitment to Arizona State.

Updated 3-24-22

Height: 6-6

Weight: 215

Year: Junior

This past year Devan averaged 5.3 PPG and 3.6 RPG for the Tigers. With Auburn having many good big men, his playing time dipped a bit this year after he averaged 8.9 PPG last season.

After entering the portal on the 24th, it didn’t take long for Devan Cambridge to get calls. The forward from Auburn has a plan in place thought. Rumors are that Devan wants to team up with his brother, Desmond.

While at Nevada, Desmond Cambridge was a third-team All-Mountain West selection and averaged 16.2 PPG. I can’t confirm Ole Miss has spoken to Desmond but one could infer that there has been a talk about it.

According to Travis Graf of rivals here are the schools to reach out to Cambridge so far: Western Kentucky, Tennessee State, Georgia, and Ole Miss.

While only 6-6, Cambridge still can provide a team with good rim protection. A plus athlete, he has an explosive ability to block shots.

The real threat Cambridge would bring and a benefit to Ole Miss is his ability to play out in transition. Kermit Davis has spoken about wanting to get out and play faster and Cambridge certainly fits the bill of a great rim runner.

He could be very good in a similar role to Robert Allen so he can use his quick-twitch athleticism to defend and hustle all over the floor.

Noah Carter – Northern Iowa 

Committed to Missouri

Visit Tracker: Florida – 4/23

Noah Carter has trimmed his list to five schools. The list includes Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, and Arkansas.

Updated 3-24-22

Height: 6-6

Weight: 230

Year: Junior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 17th

According to Jamie Shaw of on3.com, Ole Miss has been in contact with the junior out of Northern Iowa. In a conversation with Shaw, Carter said these schools have been in contact with him: Ole Miss, Arkansas, Virginia Tech, BYU, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas Tech, Missouri, and Marquette.

It’s important to note that Carter entered the transfer portal after last season before ultimately deciding to return back to Northern Iowa.

This past season, Carter averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.8 APG. He started 21 of 32 games this past season and has 35 starts in his career.

As a player, Carter brings a lot to the table as a player. He has grown a lot over his college career and brings a blend of size, skill, and athleticism that many programs will covet. He can post with his size and footwork to do both main post moves and counters, while also giving the ability to attack from a face-up.

His FT% is nice at 79% and he developed a three-point game while at Northern Iowa. There’s still some fine-tuning that needs to happen but he has some potential to be a special offensive player at a high level.

Carter will have two years of eligibility left.

Kalu Ezikpe – Old Dominion 

Committed to Cincinnati

Final Six: LSU, Cincinnati, WKU, Georgia Tech, Pitt, and UGA

Updated 3-24-22

Height: 6-8

Weight: 235

Year: Senior

Ole Miss has made a call to another big man in the portal. This time it is Old Dominion’s Kalu Ezikpe. After spending four years suiting up for the Monarchs, he is ready for a move. In 2020-2021, he was the team’s leading rebounder and has scored in double figures in each of the past two seasons.

Ezikpe entered the portal on Monday the 21st and since has heard from a variety of programs. According to 336 Edits, Ezikpe has heard from the following schools: Butler, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Cincinnati.

There could be some big SEC interest. Ezikpe will provide teams a solid big option who can give some help in a starter or high-end bench role. He is an aggressive player on the board and can finish off baskets around the bucket.

Being really efficient around the bucket, there has been some growth in Ezikpe’s touch over his college career. He could provide some post-play down low immediately.

This past season Ezikpe averaged 11.3 PPG and 7.1 RPG. His best game of the year came in late February when he grabbed 17 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Florida Atlantic.

Erik Stevenson – South Carolina 

Committed to West Virginia

Updated 3-28-22

According to 247hoops, Stevenson has a top-four of Arkansas, Auburn, West Virginia, and Creighton. On March 24th, he was on a visit to West Virginia.

Updated 3-24-22

Height: 6-4

Weight: 210

Year: Senior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 66th

The only player to start all 31 games for South Carolina, Stevenson has entered the transfer portal. He has experienced a winding road throughout his collegiate career. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Stevenson is now searching for his fourth school to wrap up his five-year college career, having made stops at Wichita State, Washington, and South Carolina.

Ole Miss has been amongst many schools to reach out to him after he announced that he was entering the transfer portal following Frank Martin’s dismissal from South Carolina. According to Jake Weingarten of stockrisers.com other schools in the picture are: Arkansas, West Virginia, Creighton, Auburn, Clemson, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Cincinnati, Arizona State, and Missouri.

It’s no secret that Stevenson will be wanted by a lot of high major programs. As a player, not many are going to bring the veteran presence and leadership that Erik does.

In his college career, he has played in 125 games and started 86 of them. In 2020, while with Wichita State, Stevenson scored 29 points against Ole Miss.

Stevenson can provide a scoring perimeter option who can it get it done in a multitude of ways. This past year he averaged 11.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.8 APG. His ability to know his role and keep teams focused will be incredibly valuable.

Dylan Penn – Bellarmine 

Visit Tracker:  Missouri: 4/9

Updated 3-23-22

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190

Year: Senior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 60th

The MVP of the Atlantic Sun tournament and a second-team, All-ASun member, Dylan Penn entered the portal. Leading the Knights in scoring at 16.6 PPG, Penn has heard from a multitude of schools lately.

According to N.D. Kendrick of PocketCityBasketball.com the teams who have reached out to the senior include: Ole Miss, Memphis, Purdue, Vandy, Loyola Chicago, Valpo, Evansville, Cal St Ful, Western Kentucky, Oregon St, UC Riverside, Temple, SIU, App State, Georgia Tech, and Wichita St.

Penn led Bellarmine to the Atlantic Sun tournament championship; however, since the Knights are transitioning to D1 they were ruled ineligible for the NCAA tournament.

A lefty scorer, Penn will provide experience to whichever team he chooses. Bringing a lot of production to the table, he knows how to adjust and score while attacking the rim, and he has a good ability to beat defenders off the dribble and create some separation.

Alex Tchikou – Alabama 

Updated 3-23-22

Height: 6-11

Weight: 235

Year: Freshman

As a redshirt freshman, Tchikou didn’t quite see a lot of action as a member of the Crimson Tide. Missing all of 2020-2021 with an Achilles injury, he saw action in just three games this season.

Tchikou, a four-star prospect out of high school as ranked by many major recruiting services, has connections to being coached by Julius V of SoCal Academy —  where current Ole Miss commits Robert Cowherd and Amaree Abram are finishing up.

According to Travis Branham of 247Sports here is the list of schools that have reached out to Tchikou: Florida State, Xavier, USC, Washington, Arizona State, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Cal, Ole Miss, Memphis, UCSB, Tennessee State, Georgia Tech and others.

At 6-foot-11, Tchikou has mismatch potential for most bigs to guard him. Incredibly skilled, he can knock down shots on the perimeter, attack off the dribble and finish with touch in the paint. He still has a lot of potential and teams are willing to bet on his playmaking potential as a stretch big.

D’Maurian Williams – Gardner Webb 

Committed to Texas Tech

Updated 3-23-22

Height: 6-5

Weight: 195

Year: Sophomore

After being named to the All-Big South Freshman team in 2020-2021, Williams made steady improvements in year two after being named a starter.

This season, Williams scored 14.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.5 APG. His play earned him Second Team All-Big South honors. Ole Miss is among a list of several programs who have reached out to Williams after he entered the portal on March 22nd.

According to Jake Lieberman of ProInsight and Jalhoops.com, he says Williams has heard from the following schools: Washington State, Oregon State, Ole Miss, Utah State, Loyola Chicago, Western Kentucky, Santa Clara, and Pepperdine.

A physical scorer from the guard/wing position, Williams could bring Ole Miss another scoring option. His shot developed well as a sophomore as he increased his FT% up 12 points to over 80%.

He is a solid threat to shoot from the perimeter, averaging 2.5 3PM per game at a 39% clip. His game allows him to be a solid scorer on secondary movement who can attack if needed. He embraces contact really well and finds ways to get his shot off even when bumped.

Trevon Brazile – Mizzouri 

Committed to Arkansas

Updated 3-23-22

Height: 6-9

Weight: 215

Year: Freshman

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 7th

Fans will remember the name, Trevon Brazile. The Ole Miss coaching staff has reached out to the freshman from Missouri who was one of the bright spots for the Tigers this year.

The Springfield native will have interest from plenty of top-25 teams and high majors. He provides a long term piece who can make a big impact anywhere he goes as he continues to develop his game.

According to @RecruitZone on Twitter these are the programs who have reached out to Trevon so far: Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Cincy and more. 

The Rebels have been on the lookout for a big who can protect the rim, and Brazile had some flashes of really good shot-blocking prowess. On the year, he totaled 17 games where he notched multiple blocks. On the year, Brazile finished with 6.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 1.9 BLK in 21.5 MPG.

Trevon Brazile’s fit with Ole Miss would be a solid one. With the loss of Nysier Brooks, Ole Miss needs an anchor on the interior. Brazile could help by providing weak side help to block shots and alter shots. A good transition big, Brazile could be a terror in transition. His fluid athleticism and body control were on display as the freshman threw down some crazy alley-oops.

The statistics don’t do him justice as he has the potential to break out next year. He has serious roll-man potential and could use some development in the mid-range game. He could add a versatile forward piece for any program in the country. The future is certainly bright for Brazile wherever he may end up.

Fardaws Aimaq – Utah Valley 

Update: 3-30-22

Aimaq has since came out and said that these five schools are getting the bulk of his attention. Ole Miss was not one of those schools. According to Austin Massey of TTU247.com, Aimaq had a zoom meeting with the Texas Tech staff.

  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky
  • Iowa
  • Texas Tech
  • Washington

Update: 3-19-22

Height: 6-11

Weight: 245

Year: Junior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 10th

Fardaws Aimaq is the biggest name to hit the portal yet. He led the NCAA in rebounding in 2020-2021 with 15.0 RPG.

After last season, he tested the NBA Draft waters but returned to Utah Valley and had another monster year. This season, Aimaq improved his scoring (18.9 PPG) and pulled down an impressive 13.6 RPG.

The news of him entering the portal has been covered by many sites and analysts. Josh Newman of the Salt Lake Tribune reports the list of schools who have reached out to Aimaq to include: Kentucky, Gonzaga, West Virginia, Texas, Texas Tech, Florida, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Washington State, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Ole Miss.

It’s no secret that Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis has wanted to be aggressive in his use of the transfer portal. He has looked at a lot of pieces for the Rebels’ frontcourt, as well.

Aimaq would be a huge addition anywhere as a high-impact big man.

As a prospect, Aimaq really excels at rebounding, and he plays in the post with a back-to-the-back approach.

His best move right now is his right-handed jump hook, which he can stretch to several feet away from the hoop. He has really good touch on his jumper with a good turnaround out of the mid-post. His 72.3% from the line also supports this.

Aimaq has developed stretch potential in the last year, knocking down 20 three-point attempts last season at a 43.5% clip.

He is no slouch on the defensive end, either. His long arms and size give him good rim-protection ability, despite not having enormous block numbers.

The accolades have piled up for Aimaq, who is a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year, 2020-2021 WAC Player of the Year, and is a two-time First Team All-WAC selection.

Isaiah Cottrell – West Virginia

Visit Tracker: Washington 4/9

Updated: 3-18-22

Height: 6-10

Weight: 245

Year: Freshman

Ole Miss is among numerous schools to reach out to the versatile big who started 28 games for WVU last season.

Ethan Bock of WVSportsNow says the full list of teams reaching out to Cottrell includes: Arizona State, Arkansas, Butler, BYU, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Marymount, Montana, Ole Miss, Penn State, Seton Hall, Southern Illinois, St. John’s, Texas Tech, Utah, and UNLV.

A former top-100 recruit, Cottrell averaged 4.2 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 16.1 minutes per game last season. In his first year in Morgantown, Cottrell suffered a torn Achilles that sidelined him in December of 2020. He was cleared for activities in August this year and was tasked with playing an expanded role.

Cottrell, a native of Las Vegas, was a star for Bishop Gorman. Deciding to transfer, he teamed up with current Ole Miss player Jaemyn Brakefield at Huntington Prep in West Virginia for the 2019-2020 season. There the duo became friends, leading Prep to a 23-9 record.

As a player, Cottrell will bring versatility to any program he chooses. A lengthy forward who has put on weight since going to WVU, Cottrell is a good athlete with a high motor. He can play both the forward and center position.

Offensively Cottrell can be a roll-man and play with his back-to-the-basket, and he has a solid mid-range game. Defensively, he can be a rim protector; in high school at Bishop Gorman he averaged 4.3 blocks per game his junior year.

Payton Sparks – Ball State

Returned to Ball State

Updated: 3-16-22

Height: 6-9

Weight: 240

Year: Freshman

Sparks entered his name in the portal on March 16th. Since then, the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year from Ball State has heard from numerous programs from around the country. His entrance into the transfer market is in part due to the Cardinals parting ways with their head coach, James Whitford.

In an interview with Joe Tipton of On3, Sparks says he has interest from: Texas Tech, West Virginia, Illinois, Ole Miss, Indiana, Loyola-Chicago, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Wichita State, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Liberty, Cornell, Hofstra, College of Charleston.

The freshman hails from Winchester, Indiana where he earned multiple small-school, All-State honors and also played tennis.

In his one year in Muncie, Sparks started all 31 games for Ball State and had averages of 13.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG. Coming out of high school, Sparks had offers from several MAC schools and some “low majors.”

A traditional style big, Sparks operated mostly with his back to the basket. His jumper improved where he was able to hit the mid-range, and he is comfortable attacking after a face-up as well.

He uses a good blend of both strength and footwork on his post-game, absorbs contact very well and has a good arsenal of moves and counters. Sparks reads double teams well and knows to pass out. He is an efficient scorer with good touch, shooting 53% from the field and 70% from the line.

Jaelin Llewellyn – Princeton

*- Llewellyn committed to Clemson then backed off his pledge

Visit Tracker: Clemson: 4/7 – Alabama: 3/28

Updated: 3-15-22

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185

Year: Senior

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 35th

Ole Miss is among a long list of people to reach out to Princeton guard Jaelin Llewellyn. The senior was named a First Team All-Ivy League selection this year alongside teammate Tosan Evbuomwan. Llewellyn was a top-five scorer in the conference after averaging 15.8 PPG. A former four-star prospect out of high school, Llewellyn had offers from multiple high majors.

Llewellyn is a crafty playmaker with the ball in his hands. A smooth guard, he will bring experience as another ball-hander to any team. He can attack well to get inside the paint while looking to find open teammates. His shooting has also improved as he knocked down 39.6% of his threes this year.

It’s interesting to note that Ole Miss looked at a guard, given who is able to come back and who they are bringing in. It will be interesting to monitor who else the Rebels look at to spot any trends.

In a text to 247sports Llewellyn named these as teams who have reached out: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Minnesota, DePaul, Northwestern, Creighton, Western Kentucky, Clemson, West Virginia, Butler, Ohio State, UNLV, George Mason, SMU, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Cal Berkeley, Arkansas, Seton Hall, Miami, Memphis, Ole Miss, Washington State, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma amongst others.

These are all within the first day of him entering the portal. A former top-100 player who has excelled taking a unique route in college, he now has the chance to make an impact at a likely power five school.

Kendal Coleman – Northwestern State

Committed to LSU

Height: 6-8

Weight: 220

Year: Freshman

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 54th

Coleman is a walking double-double at the forward/center position. Over the course of this season, he accumulated 17. His play earned him First-Team All-Southland honors. While helping Northwestern State to a 6th place finish in the conference, Coleman averaged 15.4 PPG and 10.1 rebounds per game.

The freshman entered the portal on March 14th, but it didn’t take long for many to enter the picture.

Jeff Borzello reports the big man was receiving interest from several schools including: Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Iowa State, Marquette, Arkansas, NC State, New Mexico, Loyola Chicago, Coastal Carolina, South Alabama, Prairie View A&M, Grambling, and Southern.

There are a lot of attractive traits Coleman possesses that could fit into Ole Miss’s style of play. At 6-foot-8, Coleman has really good rim running potential which can help this Ole Miss group that was really efficient in transition. (Adding Abram, another downhill player, will push this more).

Coleman is a high-motor big who works tirelessly on the glass. One of his more impressive performances came against LSU where he logged 16 points and 13 rebounds. He even logged a 20-rebound performance against Southeastern Louisiana earlier this month. For a big, he has really good and explosive ability to finish above the rim.

Hayden Brown – The Citadel

Committed to South Carolina

Update: 3-23-22

Height: 6-5

Weight: 225

Eligibility: Grad Transfer

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 83rd

A highly productive wing out of The Citadel, Brown is one of the top players on the market right now. An All-SoCon Second Team honoree this year (All-SoCon First Team last year), Brown is the conference’s leading rebounder and a top-five scorer in the league.

As reported by Jamie Shaw of On3.com, Ole Miss is among a list of others who have been in contact with the wing from Greer, SC.

Brown entered the transfer portal alongside the news that The Citadel parted ways with their coach, Duggar Baucom. Brown is slated to have one year of eligibility left.

A good shooter, the South Carolina product can also use his frame to attack off the bounce. A straight-line driver by nature, he has a good ability to finish around and above the rim. Despite his height, he is polished as a post player who can roll, seal, and deliver from the blocks.

Brown has received interest from Wake Forest, Iowa State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Loyola-Chicago as well as Ole Miss.

Jaylan Gainey – Brown University

Committed to Florida State

Update: 3-28-22

Gainey took a visit to Florida State. The visit went really well and Gainey said this per on3.com

“They really treated me like family… They showed me I could be a big part of their offense and defense because my playstyle fits and translates to their entire system,”

Update: 3-9-22

Height: 6-9

Weight: 220

Eligibility: Grad Transfer

ESPN Transfer Ranking: 94th

Ole Miss has been in contact with Jaylan Gainey of Brown University. This was first reported by Jamie Shaw of On3. Gainey was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year last season for a second straight season.  He was one of the most efficient finishers in the country.

His 70.3% FG percentage is currently 4th in all of Division I. On the year, Gainey averaged 9.3 PTS, 6.9 RBS, 2.1 BLK in 24.4 MPG.

Gainey is an athletic leaper who can explode off the ground for both finishes above the rim and on the defensive end as a high-level rim protector. Wherever he goes he’ll provide an internal presence with his shot-blocking, rebounding, and emphatic high-flying finishes.

Since entering the portal on March 8, Gainey has heard from several high-major and mid-major programs.

“I have heard from Pittsburgh, Temple, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Marymount, Georgetown, Creighton, Iowa State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Pepperdine, Georgia Tech, Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Marquette and Penn State.“

Jaylan Gainey in an interview with Travis Braham of 247Sports

It’s early for the portal, but he is going to be a big addition for whoever lands him.

Sean Durugordon – Missouri

Update: 2-25-22

Rumor has it that Rhode Island is in the lead for Durugordon and it could be a done deal soon. 

Height: 6-6

Weight: 210

Year: Freshman

In a text with Joe Tipton of On3.com, Missouri transfer Sean Durugordon indicates he has heard from Ole Miss.

“Xavier, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Arizona State, USF, Cincinnati, Loyola-Chicago, and Pacific have interest,” Durugordon said in the text.

A riser in his high school class rankings, Durugordon enrolled early at Missouri. He accumulated several high-major offers before eventually choosing the Tigers. The freshman struggled to find his footing in Columbia, only appearing in five games this season. Still, though, Durugordon is a wing with a lot of potential.

The first thing that pops out when you turn on the tape is his impressive athletic ability and size. He has good height and long arms. He has impressive bounce and good three-level scoring potential if he continues to work on his offensive game. His ability to slash and move off-ball makes him an intriguing offensive option.

Stay tuned for more updates! 

(Feature image credit: Lee Ann Herring, The Rebel Walk)
TJ Oxley

TJ Oxley is the Vice President of Operations and the Director of Community Relations for The Rebel Walk. He is also the Director of Basketball Content and Senior Basketball Writer. He has over five years of experience providing in-depth analysis of college basketball through multiple platforms. A former MBA graduate of Ole Miss, TJ started with The Rebel Walk in 2019.

About The Author

TJ Oxley

TJ Oxley is the Vice President of Operations and the Director of Community Relations for The Rebel Walk. He is also the Director of Basketball Content and Senior Basketball Writer. He has over five years of experience providing in-depth analysis of college basketball through multiple platforms. A former MBA graduate of Ole Miss, TJ started with The Rebel Walk in 2019.

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