After a grueling wait of five days from the transfer portal opening, Ole Miss basketball finally had their first commit walk through the door. Chris Beard officially locked in his first transfer portal commit in Pittsburgh forward Roman Siulepa.
Siulepa, a former Australian Rugby player, committed to Ole Miss over the weekend after spending a single season in Pittsburgh.
Why Roman Siulepa is the perfect fit for Chris Beard's squad
Beard might have taken his time, but his first transfer portal commit actually fits well in his scheme.
Last season saw Ole Miss's defense getting thrashed and then some. This is Beard officially upping his ante.
Siulepa's massive 6'6", 220-pound frame is just a glimpse of the actual physicality he brings to the table. He might not be a flashy player, but he is the type of high-speed engine that Beard can rely on for his defense.
Even with the Panthers, Siulepa was a Day 1 starter for Jeff Capel. And he didn't disappoint, with his Rugby grit easily overpowering the opponent. Playing in all 33 games, Siulepa averaged 10 points and 5.5 rebounds, logging nearly 27 minutes a night.
His 97 offensive rebounds, 2.9 average per game, ranked 5th best in ACC.
Between his rugby-bred toughness and a year of high-major seasoning at Pitt, Siulepa is a battle-tested asset Beard can trust to log heavy minutes immediately. He is the Day 1 starter Beard desperately needed.
This is just the starting point, though, as the Rebels will need more announcements like this to build a winning roster.