Matthew Murrell Announces His Return to Ole Miss for Final Season
OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss men’s basketball roster took a huge step this week in its quest to make the postseason in 2024-25. On Wednesday, Ole Miss basketball guard Matthew Murrell announced his withdrawal from the 2024 NBA Draft.
“Can’t wait to get back out there and take care of unfinished business alongside my teammates this season,” Murrell posted on social media.
— Matthew🏀🤘🏽 (@mattmurrell_) May 29, 2024
Last season under head coach Chris Beard, Murrell posted career-highs in points per game (16.2), shooting percentage (46.4), 3-point percentage (39.8), rebounds per game (3.6) and steals per game (1.6). For his efforts, the Memphis native earned second-team All-SEC honors.
Murrell was invited to participate in this year’s G League Elite Camp, his second such invitation; however, he was not chosen to attend the NBA Draft Combine.
His efficiency increased greatly last season under Chris Beard, as Murrell shot 46.4 percent from the floor en route to a team-leading average of 16.2 points per game. These numbers are much higher than his 36.5 percent shooting and 14.4 points per game average in his junior season in 2022-23.
Murrell crossed the 1,000th career point mark this past season, as well. He now sits at No. 16 in career points with 1,444, and he is also 5th in program history with 218 made three-pointers.
Murrell’s return, combined with returning players, a nationally-ranked transfer class (No. 14), and two strong freshmen, gives Ole Miss a top-notch roster that will have a chance to compete for an NCAA postseason berth next season.
Murrell joins five other Rebels returning from last season: Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray, TJ Caldwell, Robert Cowherd and Cam Brent.
The transfers include: Belmont power forward Malik Dia, UNCG power forward Mikeal Brown-Jones, Seton Hall wing Dre Davis, Sam Houston State wing Davon Barnes and Virginia Tech point guard Sean Pedulla.
Ole Miss also added two 2024 high school signees who also have an opportunity to contribute, John Bol and Eduardo Klafke. McDonald’s All-American center Bol is one of the highest-rated signees in program history. Klafke, a guard, joined the team back in January and redshirted this season to gain experience.
(Click here to read more about the Rebels’ roster.)
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.
