Ole Miss forward Antavion Collum has entered the transfer portal

Ole Miss basketball has been revamping its uninspiring roster from a disappointing season last year delivering a sub .500 record and early exit from its conference tournament.

The latest news to drop in the program was the potential transfer of Memphis native Antavion “Dude” Collum who entered the transfer portal, according to reports this morning.

Is this a huge deal? Yes, in some ways it’s disappointing to see a rising sophomore walk away who showed flashes in playing the majority of last year’s games, plus he is from a recruiting hot bed of Memphis. But in most ways, Collum had to see the writing on the wall as Ole Miss has pursued wing and big graduate transfers who will push for immediate playing time.

Collum averaged 10 minutes per game as a freshman, chipping in mostly when foul trouble came for sophomores Blake Hinson and KJ Buffen or for junior Khadim Sy. He averaged 1.3 points per game and 1.6 rebounds per game in his limited time. He joins two other former Rebels, Carlos Curry and Franco Miller, who have already announced their intent to transfer.

There is just a logjam of players who can do what Collum does already on the roster - Sy, Hinson, Buffen and also freshman Sammy Hunter who all logged more minutes. Then the Rebel coaching staff added transfers Romello White from Arizona State and Dimencio Vaughn from Rider to further put pressure on the roster.

I have very few doubts Collum could develop into a decent role player at this level of basketball, and I think he’s going to land somewhere. Right now, it seems the program is looking to upgrade in talent, and there are too many bodies for the number of scholarships within the program. Dude... it’s been real, it’s been fun, but it ain’t been real fun.