Ole Miss has started a fun trend of its own. In two of the biggest college sports, football and basketball, the Rebels have now had a player in each sport pick up an extra year of eligibility.
Ilias Kamardine didn’t have to fight nearly as hard for his as Trinidad Chambliss did, but the same big question followed both players. If you get another year, where are you going to spend it?
And just like Chambliss, Kamardine is staying put.
According to a report from On3’s Joe Tipton, Ole Miss and Kamardine have reached a deal for him to return for the 2026-27 season.
NEWS: Ole Miss guard Ilias Kamardine has agreed to a deal to return to Ole Miss next season, source told @On3. ⁰⁰The 6-foot-4 French guard was granted an additional year of eligibility in February. Averaged 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this season.… pic.twitter.com/KCntHxa4NX
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) March 31, 2026
It’s a significant win for Chris Beard, especially considering how important Kamardine became in his first year in Oxford.
The French guard arrived last offseason and immediately settled into a major role. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 42 percent from the field.
He scored 15 or more points several times and was the only Rebel to start all 35 games. And that was without a full offseason, since travel issues kept him from joining the team on time.
Now he gets a full summer to train, adjust, and build on what he showed.
For a player with European pro experience and a full season of SEC basketball under his belt, that’s a real opportunity to take a step forward. It also gives Beard a proven piece to build around as he reshapes the roster.
And there will be reshaping. Ole Miss has already seen one departure, with Eduardo Klafke entering the transfer portal last week. Klafke played in 70 games over two seasons and averaged 3.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists.
More decisions are coming soon. The portal opens April 7, and all eyes will be on Beard and his staff as they start putting together the next version of this roster. Keeping Kamardine is a strong first move.
Some other moves are expected to come soon. OMSpirit’s Zach Berry, citing sources, is reporting that “it is expected freshman Patton Pinkins is also set to return. Other sources are also optimistic forwards James Scott and Augusto Cassiá as well as guard Travis Perry and rising sophomore Tylis Jordan will also return to Oxford.”
