Cisse returns to Memphis as Ole Miss transfer

Moussa Cisse, a face familiar to Memphis basketball, will finish his college career right where it began.

The 7-foot Ole Miss center has announced his intention to transfer back to the Tigers, with whom he spent the 2020-21 season. Cisse, who also played his final season of high school basketball at Lausanne (leading the Lynx to a state championship), spent two seasons at Oklahoma State after leaving Memphis and played the 2023-24 campaign for the Rebels.

Cisse's college eligibility expires after the 2024-25 season. He made the announcement on social media Friday afternoon.

He becomes the seventh transfer to commit to coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, joining guards Tyrese Hunter, PJ Haggerty, Colby Rogers and Baraka Okojie and big men Dain Dainja and Tyreek Smith. Memphis will also welcome incoming freshman guard Jared Harris.

Cisse's addition is another step toward filling out a roster that is short on returning players. Forward Nicholas Jourdain is expected to return. Leading scorer David Jones declared for the NBA Draft but announced he is also maintaining his college eligibility, leaving the door open for a potential return.

Cisse, a native of Guinea, has appeared in 115 games at the Division I level. His superlatives include AAC Freshman of the Year with the Tigers and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore with the Cowboys. He was also on the Big 12 All-defensive Team both seasons at Oklahoma State.

Cisse, who will turn 22 in September, has been known more for defense than offense. Primarily a rim-runner and putback threat, his career scoring average sits at 6.3 points per game (on 56.3% shooting).

But Cisse is an elite rim protector. He has blocked 198 shots in his career, which is an average of 1.7 per game over four seasons. He also sports a career 6.4 rebounding average.