clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics The original Air Kiffin shirt is available here

Filed under:

What will transfer Tomasz Gielo bring to Ole Miss basketball?

Ole Miss added a rangy sharpshooter with experience to the roster. What should we expect?

By Zach Berry

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

For the second time in two weeks, Andy Kennedy added another quality transfer to the Ole Miss roster. Let the riots begin.

After visiting Boise State, Kansas State and Marquette, former Liberty Flames small forward Tomasz Gielo pulled the trigger and has decided to transfer to Ole Miss. After last season's NCAA tournament run thanks in large part to graduate transfers M.J. Rhett and Terence Smith, Kennedy is looking for similar results this season from the Szczecin, Poland native.

With Aaron Jones gone to graduation and Dwight Coleby's future in Oxford still up in the air, Kennedy will be looking to plug Gielo in early and often. Last season at Liberty, the 6'9, 220-pound Gielo averaged 12 PPG and grabbed 6.3 RPG. But, the area where Gielo will be counted on the most by Kennedy is from behind the arc. Despite being limited to only seven games in the 2014-15 season, Tomasz hit nearly 40 percent of his threes for the Flames. His best game came against the Blue Hens of Delaware when Gielo dropped 23 and snagged 10 boards while shooting 50 percent from the field and draining 4-of-7 from three-point range.

Gielo is also a young man who has pulled double duty throughout his basketball career as he is also a member of the Polish National Team. While competing in the 2010 U17 FIBA World Championship in Hamburg, Germany, Gielo chipped in 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocks a game to help the Eagles reach the finals. Against the USA National Team in the finals, Gielo scored 21 and helped the White and Red to a silver medal and a 7-1 record.

With Gielo being a graduate transfer, the most important thing is he is eligible to play immediately. Look for Kennedy to utilize his length and shooting touch to help Stefan Moody shoulder the load from deep. Also, sitting a little stocky in the britches doesn't hurt either. At 220-pounds, Gielo's body should definitely be able to handle the rigors of SEC conference play. Gielo will be expected to shoot well from the wings and bring a defensive presence that Anthony Perez has struggled to provide consistently.

After finishing 21-13 and making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last March, best believe AK means business when he is bringing you in for one year. Andy will have Mr. Gielo locked and loaded come November.

Thanks to FotC Kory Keys for the footage below.

Tomasz Gielo from Kory Keys on Vimeo.