The Ole Miss basketball team for 2025-2026 is still not complete, but things are slowly but surely coming together. In his weekly press conference, head coach Chris Beard, says he continues to hear "good news" on Ilias Kamardine.
This comes a week after he was deemed eligible by the NCAA. Now the process is him obtaining his visa so that he can arrive in the United States. Beard also stated that his arrival in Oxford is expected "soon".
Kamardine has spent significant time in France’s pro circuit, joining JDA Dijon Basket in LNB Pro A and averaging about 8 points, 1.9–2.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, with shooting splits hovering around 43–44% from the field, ~39% from distance, and ~80% from the free‑throw line.
Before turning pro, he starred in Pro B for JA Vichy-Clermont and ALM Évreux, showing steady growth. At Vichy in 2023‑24, Kamardine posted 11.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.3 steals per game, while at Dijon in 2021‑22 he averaged 13 points, 3.1 boards, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals with efficient shooting.
At the 2023 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, Kamardine led France to a gold medal and was named tournament MVP, tallying 14.4 points and 3.3 assists per game in the process. His leadership and two-way versatility made him one of the most coveted European prospects.
Kamardine is an incredibly talented combo guard, and it is clear that the coaching staff is super excited to add his skill set and also professional experience to next year's roster. There are expectations, and Ilias has the potential to be one of the best players in the SEC and all college basketball next season.
In order for the Rebels to reach their lofty goal, the Frenchman will need to be excellent. Beard alluded to the fact that there will be a learning curve and "catching up" for him to do once he gets to Mississippi, but that that process has "already started".