A 3-point deficit obliterated Ole Miss men's hopes of a possible NCAA Tournament bid Saturday night. With the 93-90 loss in Nashville, the clock struck midnight in Oxford.
Head coach Chris Beard, however, left with a promise of bringing a better roster the next season. Luckily, he found the key to it on the same night he made the promise.
Ilias Kamardine, the guard who proved himself as the defensive heartbeat of Beard's backcourt in their postseason run, could be coming back for another year in 2027.
Ilias Kamardine to return for 2027 season?
"I haven't made a decision yet. I will talk with the coaches, and after that, we'll see," Kamardine said post-loss to Arkansas.
Kamardine's contributions were part reason for the Rebels' historic postseason surge after a historic regular season low.
Transferring in from France as the Tournament MVP of the 2023 FIBA U20 Eurobasket in August, Kamardine had just a year of eligibility left. However, on February 27, 2026, the NCAA officially approved a waiver granting him an additional year of eligibility.
He is definitely a crown jewel that Beard will benefit from having on his squad if he decides to return for another season. As one of the elites in neutralizing opponents' primary ball-handlers, Kamardine led the team in steals, recording 10 steals over the Tournament week alone. That feat also tied him for boasting the seventh-most steals in a single SEC Tournament in history.
His ability to turn defense into offense with the dagger-like, timely three pointers is was the engine behind the Rebels' early-game leads during their 3-game win streak in the SEC Tournament.
Kamardine also provided a reliable secondary scoring option, proving he could stretch the floor when teams collapsed on AJ Storr.
His postseason performance was proof enough that Beard would be vouching for his return in 2027.