After advancing to the Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Chris Beard endured his first losing season in his 14th as a head coach when Ole Miss limped to a 15-20 straight-up record and a 14-20 against-the-spread mark this past year.
Beard and his staff took a big step in upgrading its 2026-27 roster by securing a commitment Friday from former Seton Hall point guard Adam Clark, who earned second-team All-Big East honors this past season.
As a junior for the Pirates, the 5-foot-10 speedster averaged 12.7 points, 4.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Clark had 17 points, 11 assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals in Seton Hall’s 78-68 loss to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament semifinals.
Despite fielding a team with the Big East’s lowest NIL budget by far, Seton Hall compiled a 21-12 SU record and a 19-14 ATS mark. The Pirates were in the bubble picture all year long, finishing fourth in the Big East regular-season standings, but they declined an invite to the NIT after missing out on a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In an 87-80 win at Providence, Clark was the catalyst with 31 points, five steals, two rebounds and eight assists compared to only one turnover.
Clark was one of five players named to the Big East’s All-Defense Team. His 65 steals ranked second in the conference.
Clark was also one of six players named to the All-Big East Tournament team. Before the loss to St. John’s, Clark’s 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and one steal led the Pirates to a 72-61 win over Creighton.
Clark scored at least 14 points in 11 of Seton Hall’s last 14 contests, including a 24-point effort in an 86-68 win at Xavier.
Clark spent his first two seasons at Merrimack. He started all 33 games as a true freshman, averaging 13.4 points, 3.9 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.5 RPG. Clark was named the Northeast Conference’s Freshman of the Year and was a second-team All-NEC selection.
As a sophomore for the Warriors, Clark started all 33 games again. He averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 SPG.
Merrimack had transitioned from the NEC to the MAAC before his sophomore campaign. Clark garnered first-team All-MAAC honors and made the All-MAAC Tournament Team during the 2024-25 campaign.
Clark joins ex-Pittsburgh forward Roman Siulepa as Beard’s second import from the portal. Siulepa started all 33 games for the Panthers last season, averaging 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 SPG.
According to 247Sports as of early Saturday afternoon, Ole Miss currently has the nation’s #41 overall recruiting class. The transfer-specific group is ranked #26.
Clark and Siulepa are both four-star transfers. 247Sports had Clark as the country’s #59 overall player in the portal and the #13 point guard. Siulepa was ranked #88 overall and the #21 power forward.
Beard has a pair of incoming freshmen in four-star combo guard Yohance Connor, the third-best prospect out of the state of North Carolina. The Rebels have also signed three-star small forward Jaron Saulsberry, the nation’s #170 overall prospect out of Wheeler High School in Marietta, GA.
Ole Miss has four returning players with eight roster spots still open. The Rebels are bringing back guards Illias Kamardine and Patton Pinkins, in addition to big men James Scott and Niko Bundalo.
Kamardine started all 35 games, averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 SPG. Pinkins started 20 of 35 games, averaging 9.3 points and 1.9 RPG.
Scott started 27 of 35 games, averaging 3.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Bundalo played sparingly in 11 appearances.
FanDuel has Ole Miss with 100/1 odds to win the 2027 NCAA Tournament.