Projected early Ole Miss starting lineup, depth chart for 2024-25 season

Ole Miss had a strong 13-0 start to the 2023-24 season, which included wins over Memphis and NCAA Tournament final four-team NC State. However, head coach Chris Beard discovered how difficult Southeastern Conference play is, especially on the road. The team did win five of their first eight conference games, then went 2-9 in the last 11 games, losing to Texas A&M in the second round of the SEC Tournament. 

Fatigue was a factor down the backstretch, with Beard looking to have more depth and rotation players able to contribute for longer spells next season. During his spell as head coach at Texas Tech, Beard drastically improved the team's performances in year two, taking them to an NCAA Tournament appearance. With the players Beard has brought into Ole Miss this off-season, you wouldn't bet against him doing it with the Rebels.

Chris Beard has lost two 7-foot+ centers, Jamarion Sharp and Moussa Cisse, who struggled to be aggressive around the rim last season. The most significant roster losses were the leading scorer from last season, guard Matthew Murrell, and Allen Flanigan, who are both looking to carve out a role in the NBA. Rotation players Brandon Murray and Rashaud Marshall both hit the transfer portal, leaving Chris Beard with work to do in the transfer portal.

Projected early Ole Miss starting lineup, depth chart for 2024-25 season

• Guard: Jaylen Murray, Cam Brent, Eduardo Klafke*
• Guard: Sean Pedulla, TJ Caldwell
• Forward: Jaemyn Brakefield, Mikeal Brown-Jones
• Forward: Dre Davis, Davon Barnes, Cameron Barnes
• Center: Malik Dia, John Bol*

The bolded players are the projected starters, and those with asterisks are freshmen recruits of the 2024 class.

With only two starters returning, Beard did a great job of bringing in impact players from the transfer portal. Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla and Seton Hall transfer Dre Davis will be key players for the Rebels in the 2024-25 season. The center position could be concerned with transfer Malik Dia, who only has four-star freshman Joh Bol behind him on the depth chart. 

We know Chris Beard is still active in the transfer portal, and with around six months till the new season, the roster will still see some changes before November.