The NBA Draft has come and gone leaving the Ole Miss Rebels without a draft pick, again. Hopefully soon, Coach Beard and company will send a guy to League on draft night, but we will have to wait another year to see.
What is different than years past, is the number of former Rebels on NBA Summer League rosters. That is a testament to improved talent coming to campus the last several years.
2024-25 Rebels
Three Rebs from last year’s squad has landed with an NBA team for the summer.
Sean Pedulla is playing with the Portland Trailblazers, which is an interesting fit. After watching TJ McConnell do what he did in the NBA Playoffs for the Indiana Pacers, there have been pundits compare Pedulla to him. With the Blazers shipping off Anfernee Simons and likely rerouting Jrue Holiday, perhaps Pedulla could at least crack a 2-way contract with the team.
The Utah Jazz are another team not interested in winning a bunch of games next season as they just sent Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets for a washed-up Jusuf Nurkic. That means Matthew Murrell has the same chance as Pedulla to land at least a 2-way deal.
The theme continues as another team not interested in winning next season has signed a former Rebel. The Brooklyn Nets have brought Dre Davis onto their Summer League roster. The issue for Davis is that the Nets used all five of their first round picks this year, creating a numbers problem not in his favor. However, a good showing in Vegas could lead him to land elsewhere.
Former Rebs
Jarkel Joiner – Toronto Raptors
Blake Hinson – Golden State Warriors
Moussa Cisse- Dallas Mavericks
While we may have quit following these young men, it still goes to show that there’s been more collective talent come through Oxford the last decade than ever before. Hopefully, Jaemyn Brakefield can also find a spot to land this summer.