Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell makes Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Watch List

Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard was thrilled when Matthew Murrell announced he would return for his final year in college basketball during the off-season. It sets Ole Miss basketball up for a highlight season alongside the incoming transfers.

Heading into the 2024-25 season, Murrell has been introduced as one of many players named to the Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Watch List. Could he beat several top players to the end-of-season award?

Matthew Murrell could tip Ole Miss over the edge for a standout season

Matthew Murrell was named to the Naismith Award watch list alongside some of the best college basketball players, including Alabama's Mark Sears, North Carolina's RJ Davis, and Kansas' Hunter Dickinson.

It wasn't the only watch list Murrell made this past week, being named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Top 20 preseason watch list. The college veteran was also named the 2025 SEC Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason All-SEC Second Team.

Being named to all these awards shows the buzz around Murrell and the Ole Miss basketball team this season. The Rebels were ranked in the Preseason AP Poll (24); the last time that happened was before the 1997-98 season.

Murrell's return to college basketball significantly boosted Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard. Known for a second-year uptick in production from his past teams, getting Murrell back will only improve those chances.

Ole Miss starts its 2024-35 season on November 24 against Long Island at the Pavilion before a competitive non-conference schedule continues, including BYU, Louisville, and Memphis.