Ole Miss’ Chris Beard Reloads for 2025-2026: ‘We’ve brought in guys who love the game, who love to compete, and who have already proven they can win’
OXFORD, Miss. — There’s no such thing as a long offseason in college basketball — especially in today’s transfer portal world. For Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard, the time for reflection on last season’s thrilling run to the Sweet 16 ended almost the moment it did.
“We finished up and you dive straight into it,” Beard said earlier this week. “The portal opens, recruiting starts, and you have to get to work immediately.”
That’s exactly what Beard and his staff did. Following one of the program’s most successful seasons — a 24-win campaign that included victories over North Carolina and Iowa State en route to the Rebels’ second-ever Sweet 16 appearance — Beard found himself tasked with restocking nearly the entire roster. The challenge wasn’t unfamiliar. In fact, it’s quickly become the blueprint in Oxford: recruit, rebuild, reload.
While several key contributors exhausted their eligibility, Beard retained four returning Rebels: Malik Dia, Eduardo Klafke, Zach Day, and Max Smith. Dia, who started all 36 games last season, averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds as a steady presence in the frontcourt. Klafke, who played in every game as a freshman, gained valuable experience off the bench and is expected to take on a larger role this season.
“He has an opportunity to be one of the best sophomores in college basketball.”
Chris Beard on Eduardo Klafke
Meanwhile, Day redshirted to develop, and Smith returns from injury after missing last year following a promising preseason.
But the core of Beard’s latest rebuild centers around his most aggressive transfer class yet.
This offseason, Ole Miss brought in eight transfers from programs across the SEC, Power 4, and even international ranks. Beard placed a premium on adding proven winners with high-level experience.
Among the newcomers:
-
Corey Chest (LSU) — A former redshirt sophomore who started 19 games before injury last season.
-
Travis Perry (Kentucky) — An SEC transfer bringing added backcourt depth.
-
Koren Johnson and James Scott (Louisville) — Power conference additions with scoring upside.
-
AJ Storr (Kansas) — A versatile wing who adds athleticism and shot-making ability.
-
Augusto Cassia (Butler) and Kezza Giffa (High Point) — Experienced playmakers from successful programs.
-
Hobert Grayson (Ouachita Baptist) — A Division II All-American who averaged 21.8 points and 11 rebounds per game last season.
In addition to the portal haul, Beard secured a highly-ranked high school recruiting class, which ESPN ranked No. 15 nationally. The freshman group includes Niko Bundalo, Tylis Jordan, and Patton Pinkins, along with European standout Ilias Kamardine, who arrives with professional experience after appearing in 55 games for JDA Dijon in France.
“We’ve brought in guys who love the game, who love to compete, and who have already proven they can win,” Beard said. “Talent is non-negotiable in this league, but equally important is the character and competitiveness that it takes to win close games.”
Altogether, the revamped Ole Miss roster features over 550 combined college games of experience, giving Beard a group that’s both battle-tested and hungry to take the next step. While NIL continues to shape college basketball’s recruiting landscape, Beard emphasized that for his program, basketball still drives every decision.
“We’re looking for guys making basketball decisions. The financial part is certainly a reality in today’s world, but ultimately we want players who want to come here to get better and win championships.”
Coach Chris Beard
After reaching the Sweet 16 and narrowly missing the Elite Eight last season, Beard believes this new group has the pieces to once again contend.
“We’ll have enough talent to compete every night. Now the challenge is to bring these guys together and build a team that plays winning basketball. That was the identity of last year’s group — character, toughness, and unity. If we can create that again, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”
Coach Chris Beard
The work is already underway as Ole Miss pushes toward the 2025-26 season — with Beard’s signature roster-building formula still very much intact: talent, toughness, and plenty of unfinished business.
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. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
