Chris Beard and Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Break New Ground with Commitment from Former G League Guard TJ Clark

OXFORD, Miss. — The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements, along with revenue sharing in college athletics, has not only transformed the landscape but also blurred the lines between amateur and professional athletes. This shift is particularly evident in college basketball, where players from the G League are now eligible to participate in college programs. Ole Miss has received a commitment from former G League guard TJ Clark, as was announced this week.

The NCAA has ruled that G League players are not considered professionals under its current regulations. As a result, these players can become eligible for college basketball as long as they are within five years of their high school graduation. However, eligibility may be jeopardized if a player has gone through the NBA draft process or previously signed an NBA contract.

Many college programs are now taking advantage of this new opportunity to strengthen their rosters. Notably, Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels have joined in with their commit from Clark. Sources indicate Clark will not be eligible to play until next season.

TJ Clark has committed to OLE MISS 🚨 @AllGas23

The 6’3” guard played with the YNG Dreamerz during the 2022-23 season before playing with the Ontario Clippers & Texas Legends 🔥

He is expected to have 2 years of eligibility if approved by the NCAA per @JoeTipton pic.twitter.com/MzgmPSwz7F

— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) December 13, 2025

The 22-year-old, standing at 6-feet-3, is expected to arrive in Oxford with two years of eligibility pending NCAA approval. Clark’s recent experience includes stints with Overtime Elite, the NBA G League, and the Mexican professional team Rayos de Hermosillo.

Clark is only the fourth G League player to join a college program thus far.

The Journey

A native of Georgia, Clark attended New High School before joining Overtime Elite from 2021 to 2023. He then entered the NBA G League for the 2023-2024 season, playing for both the Ontario Clippers and Texas Legends. During his time with the Clippers, he averaged 3.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. He was later traded to the Texas Legends, where he improved his averages to 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 41.5%.

In the following season (2024-2025), Clark took his talents to Mexico as a member of Rayos de Hermosillo in one of Mexico’s premier leagues—the Circuito De Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico. There he made a significant impact by averaging 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 42% from the field and hitting 34% from three-point range.

While Clark will not be available to suit up for Ole Miss this season due to pending eligibility status, his addition represents a strategic move for a program seeking innovative ways to enhance its roster talent as it prepares for future competition.