Blytheville’s Marshall commits to play basketball at Ole Miss

Rashaud Marshall’s first high- major basketball scholarship offer was the one he decided to accept.

Marshall, a 6'9" forward who is entering his senior year at Blytheville, has made a verbal commitment to attend and play for Ole Miss.

Blytheville coach McKenzie Pierce said the Ole Miss Rebels were the first power conference program to offer Marshall a scholarship when they did so last year at Thanksgiving.

Marshall had 30 or 40 offers. Every school in the SEC other than Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida and Vanderbilt had offered him, and about half the Big 12 had offered him.

Both 247Sports and Rivals rank Marshall among the top 100 recruits nationally in the 2023 class, each listing him as a four-star prospect. He earned all-state honors last season and was a second-team selection to the Arkansas Sports Media Super Team.

Pierce said Marshall made a trip to Missouri along with Ole Miss and was planning to visit Mississippi State before deciding to commit to the Rebels. He played in a couple of summer events with the Arkansas Hawks before deciding to go public with his college decision, which he can make official during the early signing period that begins Nov. 9.

Marshall silently committed to Ole Miss about two or three weeks ago, he just didn’t put it out until last week.

Marshall, who played in the 2021 Rumble on the Ridge Thanksgiving tournament at Dwight Lofton Mustang Arena, helped lead the Chickasaws into the Rumble championship game to face eventual tournament champion Marion.

At the Rumble Marshall put up 10 points in the opening game against Marianna Lee in a 44-16 blowout victory.

Facing the host team Forrest City Mustangs in the Rumble semifinals, Marshall scored 17 in a 53-51 win over the Mustangs.

In the championship game against Marion, Marshall struck for 19 points.

For the season Marshall averaged 20.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game last season in leading the Chickasaws to the Class 4A state championship game.

Blytheville (28-7) fell just short against Derrian Ford-led Magnolia in the state final, falling 59-56 despite Marshall’s 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.