It's been a bit of a rollercoaster for Ole Miss basketball since the season ended. After breaking plenty of program records and being so close to making the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, it's been a slow build via the transfer portal.
However, Chris Beard has landed a big commitment that will change the vibe amongst the fans. Kentucky transfer Travis Perry is heading to Oxford for the 2025-26 season, and possibly more after, being a 2024 recruit per Joe Tipton of On3.
Perry, who holds the Kentucky state record in points scored with 5,481 points in high school, chose the Rebels over several other schools. Beard pushed heavily for the freshman, who was also high on his list out of high school, and made his top 5 before he chose his home state school. A recent in-home visit may have tipped the scales in Ole Miss' favor, with his commitment a few days later.
Many Kentucky fans were devastated when he decided to hit the portal, and reports suggest it was a tough decision for Perry. However, the talented guard wanted more playing time, which he will surely get under Beard. He averaged 2.7 points and 0.6 assists this season, shooting 31.3% from the field and 32.1% from three-point land in his first season in college, starting in just four games and averaging 11.9 minutes in SEC games.
The addition is huge for the roster. After a good edition in Corey Chest from LSU, Beard grabbed four more players who could be anything. I suppose Perry could fall into that bracket also, but his potential is undeniable. If Beard can grab one or two more transfers, the team looks to be cooking for next season.
The new players will need to hit their potential for that to happen, but Beard can squeeze everything out of players.