Ole Miss Guard Ilias Kamardine Granted Extra Year of Eligibility

NCAA approves waiver allowing French player to return for second season with Rebels

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The NCAA has approved a waiver granting Ole Miss guard Ilias Kamardine an additional year of eligibility, allowing the 22-year-old Frenchman to return to the team for the 2026-27 season. Kamardine, who played professionally in France for four seasons before joining Ole Miss last year, was initially granted just one year of eligibility but will now have the option to play a second season under head coach Chris Beard.

Why it matters

Kamardine's extra year of eligibility is a significant boost for an Ole Miss team that has struggled this season, sitting at 11-17 overall and tied for last in the SEC. The Rebels made a run to the Sweet Sixteen last year, and Kamardine's return could help them get back to the NCAA Tournament in 2027.

The details

In his first season of college basketball, Kamardine is averaging 11.3 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game. He recently had one of his best performances of the year, scoring 26 points in a double-overtime loss to LSU. The NCAA's decision to grant Kamardine an additional year of eligibility comes after he initially was cleared for just one season with the Rebels.

  • Kamardine played professionally in France for four seasons before joining Ole Miss in 2025-26.
  • The NCAA approved Kamardine's waiver for an extra year of eligibility on February 27, 2026.

The players

Ilias Kamardine

A 22-year-old guard from France who played professionally overseas before joining the Ole Miss basketball team last season.

Chris Beard

The head coach of the Ole Miss men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“It's just such a small world now. You can literally know about a guy in Spain or Russia or France or Italy just like you know of somebody in Jackson, Mississippi. So I think just the access to the information. Basketball is a small world and, if you're really good at it, there's all sorts of connectors.”

— Chris Beard, Head Coach, Ole Miss (on3.com)

What’s next

With three games remaining in the regular season, Ole Miss will look to finish strong and potentially earn a spot in the 2026 SEC Tournament, where they would face Georgia in the first round if the season ended today.

The takeaway

Kamardine's extra year of eligibility provides a much-needed boost for an Ole Miss team that has struggled this season, giving the Rebels a chance to build on last year's NCAA Tournament run and potentially return to the Big Dance in 2027.