The Ole Miss women’s hoops team always puts up a good fight in the NCAA tourney, though they’re still chasing that elusive championship. And among their standout players, they’ve got KK Deans, a grad student who’s super focused on making her mark on the court.

Growing up in a basketball family, Deans began her journey when she was just two years old. In fact, her earliest memories are that of perching on her father’s lap to watch games unfold on television. However, what made her choose the sport was her first basket. As Deans recalls, “I made my first shot, and it’s been all basketball since.” This one basket changed her life as it made her passionate enough about basketball to receive guidance from her godfather, former NBA player Delaney Rudd.

KK Deans and her journey from high school phenom to collegiate powerhouse

While she honed her skills as a youngster, Delaney Rudd had his hands full as he had to help her navigate competitive circuits starting in eighth grade. This guidance would result in Deans turning into a force to be reckoned with by the time she reached high school. In fact, her prowess at the court was such that at Westridge Academy she led her team to a 27-0 season and the NCSAA Division 1 Championship. This would also result in her getting recognized as a top 50 recruit and a five-star prospect by ESPN, leading her to West Virginia University.

Although Deans would enjoy her successful tenure with the West Virginia Mountaineers. Her junior season would take a devastating turn when she would end up with a torn ACL and meniscus during a game against Baylor. “After that, I had surgery on Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t walk for six weeks… I had to relearn to walk,” she shared in an interview with “therebelwalk.com.” This would lead her to undergo rigorous rehabilitation to regain her strength and agility.

Following her recovery, Deans transferred to the University of Florida, where she became the top scorer for the Gators. In fact, she averaged 14.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. And her performance was further highlighted due to her remarkable accuracy of shooting 38.3% from the 3-point line. This also established her as a crucial player in the South Eastern Conference (SEC).

Looking back at her performance in Florida, she would later remark, “I surprised myself with the year I had [at UF],” in an interview to highlight how crucial those years were for her. Off the court, Deans has also strived to grow her presence and has amassed 4.5k followers on Instagram and 1.3k on X.

KK Deans turning the tide for Ole Miss Rebels

The 2023-24 season, however, saw Deans shifting to a new team, the Ole Miss Rebels. Reflecting on her decision, she stated, “Their will to win, will to play together… it gave a lot of people hope and motivation.”

While Deans is ready to embrace the challenge of being a veteran leader at the Rebels, she doesn’t have to shoulder all the burden alone, as she has fellow impact transfers in Kennedy Todd-Williams and Kharyssa Richardson to rely on. In fact, her addition as a guard has allowed Coach McPhee-McCuin to focus on enhancing the team’s shooting capabilities, a much-needed asset after the departure of key players like Angel Baker and Myah Taylor. “I am very experienced at the point guard position, and it’s going to be exciting to play with other talented basketball players. This team is special!” Deans enthused about the potential of the Rebels.

According to ESPN.com Deans started the 2024-25 season with a 19-point game; however, despite her valiant efforts, the rebels lost their opening game to a Juju Watkins-led USC Trojans. Now, as the star player in the #1 jersey enters the final chapter of her college career, she’s determined to reach new heights, both personally and with her team. The determination that has fueled her journey is palpable. “I want to go win a ring with my team, to have that 50/40/90 season,” she stated while talking about her ambitions.

Deans’ stats in the 2023-24 season also make her a standout at Ole Miss, as she averaged 19 points throughout the 2023-24 season and shot with 33% accuracy from beyond the arc. In fact, Deans has high hopes for her season at Rebels and with head coach McPhee-McCuin’s vision for her development, as she stated, “She’s going to turn me into a pro. Mark my words.”

Although Ole Miss Rebels have never made an appearance in the Final Four, much less been a serious contender for the championship. KK Deans just might be the flickering light that might pave a path to opening their championship window.