When Malik Dia put his name in the transfer portal a year ago, he was immediately flooded with interest from schools across the country. The two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies called. So did massive brands like the Indiana Hoosiers and Texas Longhorns. It was the type of recruiting feeding frenzy most kids dream about experiencing one day, with potentially life-changing NIL money attached.
But of all those conversations with coaches, one stood out. Ole Miss Rebels coach Chris Beard met Dia in person at a local coffee shop. The pitch wasn’t about stats, money or any of the other things that often come to the forefront during portal recruiting: It was about winning.
When Malik Dia put his name in the transfer portal a year ago, he was immediately flooded with interest from schools across the country. The two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies called. So did massive brands like the Indiana Hoosiers and Texas Longhorns. It was the type of recruiting feeding frenzy most kids dream about experiencing one day, with potentially life-changing NIL money attached.
But of all those conversations with coaches, one stood out. Ole Miss Rebels coach Chris Beard met Dia in person at a local coffee shop. The pitch wasn’t about stats, money or any of the other things that often come to the forefront during portal recruiting: It was about winning.
Twelve months later, Beard’s winning vision for the junior forward and the rest of an Ole Miss roster largely built through the portal has come to life. The Rebels aren’t Final Four bound just yet, but for the second time in program history, Ole Miss advanced to the second weekend of the men’s NCAA tournament, where it will face the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet 16 in Atlanta on Friday.
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