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Ole Miss in Atlanta for Sweet 16 creates a unique full circle moment for Eduardo Klafke

11by:Jake Thompson•03/27/25•

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NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament South Regional Practice
Mar 27, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard Eduardo Klafke (8) brings the ball up the court during practice at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

ATLANTA — When Ole Miss advanced to the program’s second ever Sweet 16 it allowed for freshman Eduardo Klafke the ability to do something his father did 29 years ago.

There is a common thread between Klafke, his father Rogerio, the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and Scottie Pippen and his son and Michigan guard, Justin. Trust me on this one.

See, the elder Klafke was on the Brazil men’s basketball team that competed in the Summer Games as Pippen was part of the third iteration of the ‘Dream Team.’ The two played against each other in the quarterfinal round with the Team USA winning by 23 points.

Klafke guarded Pippen in a game played just a few miles away from where Eduardo and Ole Miss will play inside the State Farm Arena on Friday.

The rest of the connection is Justin Pippen will also play in State Farm Arena with the Wolverines taking on No. 1 overall seed Auburn in the night cap of the semifinals of the South Region.

There must be a couple things to happen but the second generation could be facing off come Sunday night. So there is a unique full circle moment happening for the Klafkes and the Pippens that was set in motion nearly three decades ago.

“It’s a great feeling for me,” Eduardo said on Thursday of getting to play in Atlanta. “My dad said that Scottie was probably the greatest player he ever played against. It’s a great feeling to be here close to his son now. I’m definitely going to be the best athlete in the family.”

But first and foremost on the younger Klafke’s mind is getting the Rebels past Michigan State and to the program’s first Elite 8 appearance.

Klafke has played a specific role this season in getting Ole Miss back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years.

He has played in 35 games and averaging 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds per game along with 15 total assists in 10.1 minutes per game of action.

The numbers are not lighting up the stat sheet but Rebels second-year head coach Chris Beard has praised Klafkes’ efforts and contributions to the team in his freshman season.

Though this is not the first Spring Klafke has spent with Ole Miss. He enrolled early in January of 2024 and has been with the program since, watching on the sidelines during the Southeastern Conference season.

It is because of that his teammates do not view Klafke as a typical freshman this year.

“I feel like for Eduardo it comes with preparation,” Jaemyn Brakefield said on Thursday. “He’s done a great job with that. If you all don’t know, he was here early in January of last year. So he kind of had a head start. I don’t treat him as a freshman. That’s why I get on him every once in a while, act like a vet.

“I feel like he’s somebody who’s been under Coach Beard’s wing and my wing. So him being ready to go in the game is no question.”

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