Malik Dia set to exercise his final year of eligibility at Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss forward Malik Dia took to social media Sunday evening to announce his return to Ole Miss for his final year of college basketball.
Dating back to his freshman year in 2022, Malik started his college career at Vanderbilt, and then transferred to Belmont and then finally to Ole Miss. During last year’s offseason, Dia also entered his name into the NBA Draft, where he ultimately withdrew and signed with the Rebels.
Sometimes the biggest gets are the ones you already have.
Ole Miss F/C Malik Dia announced on his IG that he will be returning to Ole Miss next season.
This season Dia started all 36 games and averaged 10.8 PTS and 5.7 REB. pic.twitter.com/hkGczBx8L1
— T.J. (@TJOxley1) April 7, 2025
On his ride this season to the first Ole Miss Sweet 16 since 2001, Malik became a vital piece to the success of Chris Beard’s roster. Starting in 36 of his 36 games played, Dia averaged over 10 points per game and nearly six rebounds while shooting 34% from beyond the arc.
While maintaining a 6-foot-9 frame and weighing 250 pounds, his versatility and explosiveness were often the deciding factor in close games.
hey guys, i’m back
— malik dia (@malikkdia) April 6, 2025
In the Rebels’ upset over top-five Alabama, Dia scored 23 points and recorded a total of 19 rebounds, willing Ole Miss to a double-digit upset in Tuscaloosa. In 2026, you can expect the leadership, responsibility, and overall performance of Dia to take an even larger stride forward as he prepares himself for next year’s NBA draft.
As we progress into transfer portal season for college basketball, be sure to stay tuned with The Rebel Walk for all of your Ole Miss hoops needs and more!
