Ole Miss’ Moussa Cisse cleared to play by NCAA, the 7-footer is eligible immediately
OXFORD, Miss. — There were rumors before Tuesday night’s Ole Miss men’s basketball game vs. NC State that former five-star transfer center Moussa Cisse might have been cleared by the NCAA to play. Cisse and the Rebels had been awaiting word from the NCAA on his status.
After the Rebels’ 72-52 win over the Wolfpack, head coach Chris Beard confirmed the 7-foot-0, 230-pound Cisse is indeed eligible to play immediately.
“There is an update. We found out right before the game. Moussa has been cleared to play.”
Chris Beard on transfer Moussa Cisse
Beard also talked about what a person of character Cisse is.
“Obviously happy for Moussa… He’s a talented player. I don’t think his height defines him. He’s obviously an athlete. In recruiting and getting to know him, working with him since the summer, he’s a basketball player that can do a lot of different things on the court — other than the things that people think when they think of Moussa. He’s a high character person.“
Chris Beard on Moussa Cisse
Cisse was a former 5-star prospect who started his career at Memphis. There, he earned AAC Rookie of the Year in 2020-2021. After one season Cisse transferred to Oklahoma State.
Last season in Stillwater, Cisse started in 20 of his 32 games played. He blocked a team-high 52 shots, shot 58 percent from the floor and notched six double-doubles. The year before, he led the Big XII in blocked shots.
Beard also talked about Cisse’s leadership skills.
“He’s been an unbelievable leader. He stopped practice the other day and brought the guys in. He’s been vocal at halftime and on the bench. He’s done a good job staying intact. He’ll make our team better.”
Chris Beard on Moussa Cisse
Cisse, the 2021-2022 Big XII Defensive Player of the Year, excels at rim protection and joins 7-foot-5 Western Kentucky transfer Jamarion Sharp in Oxford.
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.
