Belmont transfer Malik Dia commits to Ole Miss basketball, Chris Beard

OXFORD — Ole Miss basketball's offseason rebuild continued on Monday with the addition of Belmont forward Malik Dia, who announced his pledge to the Rebels on Instagram.

Dia started 24 games for Belmont in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, averaging 16.9 points. He shot 49% from the field.

At 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, Dia's size profile should help him provide Ole Miss with some physicality that it sorely lacked last season in Chris Beard's first campaign in charge. Dia posted 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game while averaging 23.1 minutes.

Dia's game features some finesse as well. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native shot 34% from 3-point range last season.

Ole Miss will be Dia's third stop in three years. He committed to Vanderbilt out of high school and appeared in 20 games for the Commodores as a true freshman, averaging 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds.

Size has been the theme for the Rebels with their two portal additions so far. Dia joins UNC Greensboro transfer Mikeal Brown-Jones, who stands at 6-8, in the Ole Miss transfer portal class.

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David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss basketball and Chris Beard land Belmont transfer Malik Dia