Both Ole Miss basketball programs have made a huge splash in the transfer portal.
This past week, men’s head coach Kermit Davis announced the signing of two of the nation’s most sought out transfers in Dimencio Vaughn and Robert Allen.
Vaughn, a Jackson native who played at Callaway High School, averaged double figures in scoring for three straight seasons at Rider University after taking a medical redshirt as a freshman.
During the 2019-20 campaign, the two-time All-MAAC player led the team in both points (14.8 ppg) and rebounds (6.6 rpg) while shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. Vaughn was ranked as the number four graduate transfer by both 247Sports and Stadium.
Allen, who just wrapped up his sophomore season at Samford, is a rim protector with a great motor. The 6’8″ Orlando, Fla. native averaged 12 ppg and 7.7 rpg in 65 games for the Bulldogs.
This past season, Allen led the team with 43 blocks in just 32 games (1.3 bpg) and finished second in scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg).
Davis has brought a new level of athleticism to Oxford with the additions of Vaughn and Allen, however, the bigger story may be new women’s head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s recent signing of former Maryland forward Shakira Austin.
Austin, who stands at 6’5″, averaged 10.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, and 1.9 bpg in two All-Big Ten seasons at Maryland. She also helped lead the Terrapins to a conference championship this past season.
The former McDonald’s All-American chose the Rebels over South Carolina, Louisville, Virginia, amongst others.
Known as one of the best two-way players in the country, Austin will look to play her last two seasons in Oxford before heading to the WNBA.
McPhee-McCuin also announced the addition of junior college All-American Tiya Douglas.
Douglas, a sharpshooting point guard from Trinity Valley Community College, averaged 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and shot 40.3 percent from three-point distance for the number one team in the nation.
McPhee-McCuin now has the number one signing class in the SEC and the number 13 signing class in the nation.
