Ole Miss PF Jacob Gazzo enters NCAA Transfer Portal
Ole Miss power forward Jacob Gazzo has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned on Thursday afternoon. Gazzo was a three-star prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He did not log any stats this year in his freshman year for the Rebels.
In high school, Gazzo was named to the TSSAA West All-Region Team and a TSSAA Division 2AA All-State Team. He played for Parklane Academy in McComb, Mississippi. At the time he committed to Ole Miss, he was one of their first commitments in the 2023 class.
Ole Miss went 20-12 overall this year but finished 10th in the SEC. They were knocked out of the SEC Tournament by Texas A&M. They finished the year with nine losses in 11 games. The team declined an invitation to the NIT or any other postseason tournament. They did not make the 2024 NCAA Tournament field.
Rebels head coach Chris Beard explained that there were a number of players dealing with off-the-court situations and that played a role in the decision. Jamarion Sharp’s mother was in critical care and Rashaud Marshall was also away from the team dealing with family health issues in the SEC Tournament, according to a report by David Eckert of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.
In their second-round matchup in the SEC Tournament against Texas A&M, Jamarion Sharp had four blocks, pushing his season total to 184 swats, tying for the second most in a single season in Ole Miss history. Jaemyn Brakefield also tallied his sixth 20-point game of the 2023-2024 campaign, pouring in 23 points. He also tacked on seven rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal. Allen Flanigan chipped in 17 points with six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. The Rebels actually made a 10-0 run late in the game to make it a three-point contest with just over two minutes remaining, but they couldn’t pull it out.
One of the team’s best wins of the season came against Texas A&M (71-68) on Saturday, Jan. 27th. The Rebels had three players score in double figures in that one, Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray, and Allen Flanigan.