Ole Miss’ Pedulla, Murrell and Davis land NBA Summer League invites, eye roster spots

The NBA Draft has come and gone and Summer League action is around the corner. 

Ole Miss will be well-represented. 

While the Rebels didn’t have a player drafted last week, three have signed with teams with an opportunity to make a roster: Sean Pedulla (Portland Trailblazers), Matthew Murrell (Utah Jazz) and Dre Davis (Brooklyn Nets).

Pedulla was the team’s leading scorer last season. Ole Miss won 24 games and matched the program’s greatest-ever single-season accomplishment by reaching the Sweet 16. Pedulla was third-team All-SEC and started all 36 games.

He’s signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Portland — a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal with an optional bonus up to $75,000 if Pedulla is waived or spends at least 60 days with Portland’s G League affiliate. 

The Trailblazers open Summer League on Friday, July 11 at 10 p.m. against Golden State on ESPN2.

“Sean really was big for me,” Zach Day, one of just three returners for Ole Miss basketball this season, said of Pedulla. “He was like a big brother to me. We played one-on-one a few teams. I would work out with him and we just mutually grew a respect for each other. I really tried to lean on him, ‘cause he really taught me a lot about the game of basketball and life in general.”

Pedulla sank 87 3s in his one and only Ole Miss season — the eighth-most in a single season in school history. His 68 steals are the fifth-most in a single season. 

Pedulla scored 20 points in both NCAA Tournament wins for Ole Miss and dropped 24 against Michigan State in the Sweet 16, tied for the second-most in an tournament game by a Rebel.

Davis averaged 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. 

He made 34 starts and led the team in offensive rebounds and blocks.

The 6-foot-6 Davis had a double-double in a win over No. 4 Tennessee — one of two for the Rebels over Top 5 teams last season and a first for the program. He had 15 points and eight rebounds against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. 

Davis received a Summer League invite from the Nets. Brooklyn’s first action is against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on July 10 at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

“He played with courage and like the player we recruited and coached and taught him to be,” third-year Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said of Davis after the Tennessee win. “Just really proud of the way he competed more than anything. 

“We ask a lot of Dre. Position-less player; guarding all five positions on offense. Had some timely baskets, a double-double against Tennessee on Senior Night. That speaks for itself.”

Murrell played five Ole Miss seasons and finished with the seventh-most points (1,788) for a career in history. He’s the all-time leader in games and minutes played and Top 5 in made 3s and steals. 

Murrell signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Jazz. Utah had Murrell in for a pre-draft workout.

“Murrell is an outstanding defender, who might be the most explosive athlete in this draft,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote in announcing Murrell’s deal with Utah. “Missed the pre-draft process with an injury.”

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Murrell played hurt all last season and spent the draft process recovering and limited.

He had surgery on his right knee, which began giving him trouble against Arkansas in January. He’s feeling better and finally on the path to an eventual clean bill of health.

The injury zapped his explosiveness, especially going to the rim, but he still started 31 of the 32 games in which he appeared. He averaged 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds. Ole Miss won 24 games and matched the program’s greatest-ever single-season accomplishment in reaching the Sweet 16.

Murrell led Ole Miss in scoring each of the previous two years. 

“Matt Murrell played hurt most of the season,” Beard said after the NCAA Tournament. “I said it a few times when I just couldn’t take it. A lot of guys in college basketball wouldn’t be playing this year with what Matt endured. Now we look forward to him getting healthy and going through the spring process to get his body right before he transitions to pro basketball.”

“It was definitely a special season, a season I won’t forget, not just for the run that we made, but just the camaraderie, the teammates that I had,” Murrell said. “It was a very tough season for me. Obviously Coach talked about it. I’ve been injured most of the season. Just this team helped my confidence so much fighting through everything. So this group of guys will hold a special place in my heart.”