Ilias Kamardine traveled nearly 5,000 miles to be a member of the Ole Miss men’s basketball program. The 6-foot-5 guard from Marseille, France, had just wrapped up a season with JDA Dijon Basket when he received a surprising call from Rebel frontman Chris Beard in the spring.
That phone call sparked a desire for Kamardine to uproot and venture into unfamiliar territory. And despite visa-related delays in getting the international professional onto campus as early as Beard had hoped, Kamardine officially landed in Oxford nearly four months after committing to play for Ole Miss.
As for what drew the Frenchman to the university — of which he had no knowledge until his conversation with Beard — the Rebel head coach’s approach to developing basketball players was the ultimate selling point.
“I like his philosophy and his vision of the game, and I think we are on the same page,” Kamardine said during his first press conference as an Ole Miss Rebel. “So, for me, it was a simple choice.”
Kamardine, who led France to a first-place finish in the FIBA U20 Eurobasket in 2023 and was crowned MVP, prides himself as a creator on the court, one who is always looking to find an open shooter or pass to a big man in the low post. He most recently played 48 games for JDA Dijon in the 2024-25 season and averaged 8 points in 18.2 minutes per contest.
A student of the game who has watched the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton to improve upon his skillset, Kamardine believes his move to the U.S., and particularly Oxford, will prove beneficial in his pursuit to have a fruitful career in basketball.
“In Europe, it’s different. We definitely don’t have the same approach, and here, we work very hard, especially on individual skill,” Kamardine added. “I think [the move] will help me take a big step in my career.”
But since Kamardine’s on-campus arrival was stalled, he was unable to be a live participant in Ole Miss’ eight-week summer practice program. In an attempt to fill the learning gap, Kamardine was tasked with watching videos of practices and learning his teammates’ skillsets through virtual displays.
That, of course, has changed since he made it to Oxford in mid-August. Before Kamardine’s arrival, Beard made it clear that the international player would not be in the back of the line at practice playing catch-up but would rather be handed immediate responsibilities. Because Beard anticipated Kamardine playing a defining role in his plan for the upcoming season, no time is being wasted in bringing him up to speed on the program’s mission.
Kamardine, in the two weeks he’s been at Ole Miss, has spent time with his teammates both at practice and outside of the basketball facilities. From what he has seen so far, his initial assessment is that this year’s Rebel squad could make waves in the college hoops scene. When familiarizing himself with Ole Miss before making the move, Kamardine took note of last year’s Sweet 16 run, referring to it as both impressive and a feat he would like to accomplish.
“It’s cool. I liked meeting my teammates, and when I was not here, I watched all their practices, so I can know all of their abilities,” Kamardine said. “Now, I can share some time with them. It’s cool. I think we are a special group and we can do something special this year.”
Off the court, Kamardine experienced his inaugural tailgate in the Grove and his first American football game this past Saturday when Ole Miss took on Georgia State. Embracing Southern tradition, he has also consumed an estimated 10 meals from Chick-fil-A and has taken a liking to Mexican food, specifically what local restaurant El Agave is serving.
The fresh-look Ole Miss men’s basketball team, featuring just two returners who played meaningful minutes last year, will begin the upcoming season in November.
