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Ole Miss basketball’s two-year starter Blake Hinson has entered the transfer portal, according to AL.com’s Matt Zenitz.
Have learned that Ole Miss basketball guard Blake Hinson has entered the transfer portal.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) June 16, 2020
Starter each of the last two years. Averaged 10.1 points per game last season.
Hinson, a rising junior, averaged 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 31 appearances as a freshman and 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 28 games as a sophomore. With those numbers, he was third on the team in scoring as a sophomore.
Blake Hinson Highlight ReelReel | Blake Hinson - 10.1 ppg - 42% from 3️⃣ at home - 23 pts vs. CSU Bakersfield, 1st career double-double at Florida (16 pts, 11 rebs) More to come! #HottyToddy
Posted by Ole Miss Men's Basketball on Thursday, April 23, 2020
Third-year head coach Kermit Davis and the Rebels have made some big offseason moves by signing graduate transfers former Arizona State forward Romello White and Rider wing guard/forward Dimencio Vaughn. Both players are expected to make an immediate impact for an Ole Miss team looking to rebound from a down 2019/2020 season and may have factored into Hinson’s decision to pursue success at another program.
In addition, the Rebels receive an instant boost from Oxford native Jarkel Joiner, who sat out last season after transferring home from two seasons at Cal State Bakersfield and IMG Academy guard Matt Murrell, who comes to Ole Miss as the highest rated signee in program history. The four-star recruit is playing pickup games with Ja Morant this offseason.
The two grad transfers, Joiner and Murrell will also compete for playing time alongside former three-star recruit and pure baller Shon Robinson, who redshirted last season, and guard and forward incumbents Devontae Shuler, KJ Buffen and Khadim Sy.
It felt as if Hinson was poised for a breakout year if he could finally progress beyond his inconsistencies, but the roster is deep and full of talent even without him.
The Florida native is the fourth Rebel to enter the transfer portal after forwards Carlos Curry and Antavion Collum, and guard Franco Miller Jr. did so earlier in the spring. All four players are at the deepest spots on the team.
The NCAA introduced the portal on Oct. 15, 2018, which allows players the option to explore opportunities with other programs without asking permission from their coaching staffs, only needing to request that compliance enters his/her name. It typically takes 24-48 hours for a player to appear in the portal following the request, at which point schools can contact the player without restriction.