It's official, Patton Pinkins just slammed the door on all the blue-blood schools poaching him with an official announcement on returning to Ole Miss on Monday.
"Ole Miss' Patton Pinkins is returning to Oxford for his sophomore season," Draftexpress reported.
Patton Pinkins return means a massive deal for Chris Beard
Pinkins flashed pro-level potential multiple times in past season, especially when Beard needed him the most in their SEC Tournament stretch.
There wasn't much hope for the Rebels in the SEC Tourneys anyways, but Pinkins' still put on a show with his stunning 41% shooting success in conference play.
After a 15-20 season, Pinkins' return comes as the win Beard desperately needed to start his redemption tour.
The Ole Miss men's basketball squad was already staring down a massive rebuild, and getting a high-IQ 6'5" sniper who already knows the system to stay put is a sign that Beard can actually get it right this time around.
Besides the obvious benefit, Beard won't have to take a gamble in the transfer portal; they can't even afford one at this point.
Beard's squad needs a serious overhaul this season, and he was in no position to base the entire thing on the transfer portal alone. Pinkins, along with returning veteran like Ilias Kamardine, gives him the core to actually build on his system.
All that, plus Beard gets a possibility of Pinkins finding his breakout moment as a sophomore, and becomes the engine that runs the Rebels to another SEC Tournament and potentially bring home a bid this time.