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Ole Miss Basketball: The All-A.K. Team, Best Rebels Ever Under Kennedy

By K. L. Williams

Jan 17, 2017; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2017; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Andy Kennedy during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 14, 2017; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Sebastian Saiz (11) goes to the basket against LSU Tigers forward Duop Reath (1) during the first half at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2017; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Sebastian Saiz (11) goes to the basket against LSU Tigers forward Duop Reath (1) during the first half at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

The Frontcourt

A talented big guy is a rare commodity. Especially in today’s AAU centered game, most players prefer to play like jump shooting guards. However, Kennedy has had a few big guys to come through and make their mark on the Ole Miss basketball program. Here are the ones we chose for the All-A.K. First Team.

Sebastian Saiz-F-2013-17

Watching Sebastian Saiz play his final season as an Ole Miss Rebel has been a delight. His growth as a player over the past four years has not gone unnoticed. He has been a stabilizing presence in the middle. Therefore, he has earn his place on Andy Kennedy’s first team.

Saiz was a double-double machine this year. Going into the SEC Tournament, he finished the regular season averaging 15.1 points and 10.6 rebounds. He has been the one consistent aspect of the Ole Miss basketball team this year. He has even hit 20 threes during this season. That is why he was awarded with the C Spire Howell Trophy for the best male college basketball player in the State of Mississippi. However, he is not on the list simply off of one season’s performance.

Sebas has increasingly improve with each passing season. During his career he has 1298 points and 937 rebounds. The only other player to put up those kind of numbers is the other gentleman on this First Team. However what is lost with Saiz’s play is his defensive numbers. He is ranked fifth all-time for Ole Miss in blocks with 123 and he also has 109 steals. Those are the type of numbers that gets your number retired on the big board in the Pavilion.

Murphy Holloway-F-2008-13

If there were one player I wish I could clone and place on every Ole Miss basketball team each year, it would be Murphy Holloway. They just don’t make many basketball players like Big Murph. He was 6’7 240 pounds. However at times he could play like he was 7’0 and at other times when needed he could play like he was 6’4.

His place in Ole Miss history is cemented . Holloway’s stats are staggering. Just look at them. According to OleMissSports.com, Holloway is the only player in SEC history to amass 1400 points, 1000 rebounds and 190 steal for a career. He’s also second all-time at Ole Miss in steals, top 10 in blocks and field goal percentage. Murph is the only player in Ole Miss history with over 1000 rebounds. Therefore, he is the lone member of two 1,000 clubs (points and rebounds). His presence was what allowed Marshall Henderson to run around and hit as many shots as he did during his first season.

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