Top 2019 sit-out transfers Ole Miss basketball should target

Ole Miss basketball has another scholarship available to improve their roster. Which transfers could they add for the future?

The NCAA Basketball transfer portal can be a useful way for teams to improve their roster with ready-made talent. Ole Miss basketball knows that for sure, using it this offseason to land a key transfer. They got a commitment from Jarkel Joiner, who averaged 15.6 ppg this past season for Cal State Bakersfield, leaving to come back home to Oxford.

The 6’1 guard will have to sit out this upcoming season per NCAA rules (unless he gets an unexpected waiver to play immediately) but will be ready to for the 2020-21 season. That’s good for an Ole Miss team who won’t have either Terence Davis or Breein Tyree on the roster.

But head coach Kermit Davis won’t rest, still able to bring in another transfer. It could certainly be a grad transfer but it’s a shallow pool overall. However, traditional transfers have more depth to explore in the portal.

Many transfers already have their set of finalists but there is still time for the Rebels to at least kick the tires. One player the team has gone after is Teyvion Kirk, a guard from Ohio. However, it looks like the Rebels aren’t a favorite to land him. Frontcourt depth is the biggest need so that’s where I focused on with this piece.

Nysier Brooks – Cincinnati

After two years not even getting double-figure minutes, Brooks was a solid starter for the Bearcats, posting up 8.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg in 23 mpg. He’s a strong defender and at 6’11 and 240 pounds adds great size. Limited in certain aspects but is a solid center prospect in an SEC that has big bodies to deal with.

Cheikh Mbacke Diong – UNLV

There were other bigs who got more attention for the Rebels but it was Diong who was the team’s starting center. He averaged 6.9 ppg and 6.8 rpg, along with 1.5 blocks a game. It’s a double-double when stretched out to per 40 minutes. The 6’11 big man is similar to Brooks in style but may have an even bigger ceiling. A redshirt season to work on his offense would be a beneficial move to unlock his potential.

Khavon Moore – Texas Tech

Sometimes roster spots can be used as reclamation projects for guys looking for a comeback. That’s what the former Red Raider wants after playing just one game before injuries derailed his freshman season. The former top-50 recruit will have four years left and will have a lot of power conference programs after him.

The 6’7 forward can play multiple positions and could develop into a great offensive player. Ole Miss has been using a lot of three-guard lineups which has hurt them at times against the bigger teams like Kentucky and Tennessee. Having a small forward like Moore would be a great equalizer on the court. The Rebels are in good shape overall for the 2020-21 season, there’s no harm in taking a flyer out on a player with a very high ceiling.