Beard, Giffa bond over fatherhood and basketball in defining transfer pickup

High Point guard Kezza Giffa was the last roster addition for Ole Miss basketball in the off-season. 

He was also, inarguably, one of the most important. 

The Rebels had a glaring need for a play-making, ball-handling guard. Ole Miss last season primarily relied on multi-year veteran Jaylen ‘Juju’ Murray and NCAA Tournament breakout star Sean Pedulla. Fellow transfers Koren Johnson (Louisville) and Travis Perry (Kentucky) are options at point guard, too. But Giffa is a more natural fit. 

The Rebels in 2024-25 won 24 games and matched the program’s greatest-ever single-season accomplishment by reaching the Sweet 16.

“Obviously it’s my last year,” Giffa said this week. “I’m just trying to maximize this last year and trying to help this team.

“With this offense I’d like to come in and play with a fast tempo and make my teammates better. We’ve got a lot of great individual guys. Trying to help space the floor and find the guys down in the paint.”

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Giffa had his pick of schools in the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

Other contenders included Florida, Memphis, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech. Giffa started his career at UTEP and has one year of eligibility remaining after two seasons at High Point. 

He averaged 14.6 points last season.

“I chose Ole Miss because I have some friends that played for coach [Chris] Beard,” Giffa said. Ole Miss is in the midst of summer workouts. They told me great things about him. Nothing but great things. Obviously he’s a great coach.”

Giffa reached out to Clarence Nadolny, who played for Beard at Texas Tech, as well as Sir’Jabari Rice. Rice was under Beard at Texas. 

Beard is in his third season as head coach of the Rebels. Ole Miss is the fourth separate program he’s led to the NCAA Tournament.

“Lots of things with Kez,” Beard said. “First it was his maturity, his experience. Kez is a father. He takes that role real seriously. It’s the most important thing in this life, period. I got a lot of respect for that. I’ve got three daughters myself, so we shared that bond. 

Had some great experience over the years coaching players that are fathers, ‘cause a certain maturity level is needed for that. Dre Davis last year. So, with Kez, a lot of respect just before I ever got a chance to talk to him. Also have tremendous appreciation and respect for his journey. Certainly coming from France, we’ve got a lot of great players and great staff members from France. There’s a lot of connectors.”

Giffa was part of a transfer class ranked No. 19 in the country by On3. 

The Rebels lost double-digit players from last season. They’ve brought back only star forward Malik Dia, second-year rotational guard Eduardo Klafke and reserves Zach Day and Max Smith. Smith is a walk-on, while Day was only recently put on scholarship. 

Beard signed nine transfers and three Top 100 recruits, including the highest-ranked signee in school history in Niko Bundalo. French guard Ilias Kamardine, a former EuroBasket MVP, is expected to arrive in June.

“We have a really connected group,” Giffa said. “We’re with each other a lot.”

“Kez is a guy that’s just kept working,” Beard said. “He goes to UTEP as a freshman, doesn’t quite get in the rotation. Why? UTEP was really good. He doesn’t make excuses, he just goes to work and chose to go the junior college route to kind of bet on himself. He finds a great spot at High Point. 

“This wasn’t just a mid-major team, a Cinderella. It’s a good basketball team. For two years, Kez played on a well-coached, really talented team. Probably a Top 50 team in college basketball. He’s gotten his degree. So, to have him here as an experienced player, a guy that’s got a demeanor and a composure about him, we’re pleased to have him.”