Ole Miss Basketball

One of the most electric and polarizing college basketball players of the last decade has returned to his alma mater.

Former Ole Miss standout Marshall Henderson has rejoined the Rebels as a graduate manager on Kermit Davis' staff.

"Of course, I am thrilled to be back in Oxford. The people here have been more than wonderful to me for a long time," Henderson said. "Anything I can do to help the basketball team continue their success, I will do to the fullest of my ability. I am very excited about getting a master's degree. When I was an undergrad academically, I wasn't as focused as I needed to be, and this position gives me a path to make peace with myself on that front."

Henderson, 29, spent two seasons with Ole Miss after transferring from South Plains ahead of his junior season in 2012. Once he got to campus, he began lighting up the Southeastern Conference, averaging 19.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists over two seasons, earning 2012-13 All-SEC and SEC Tournament MVP honors.

The guard took the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2013 and upset a number of rival schools along the way. Now he's back to help teach a new roster the magic of his ways and the head coach couldn't be happier.

"We love having our former players back to Ole Miss to pursue their master's degree and further their coaching careers," Davis said. "We are excited to have Marshall back with Ole Miss Basketball and join our program as a graduate manager. In talks with Marshall, you can tell his great passion for basketball and working with young people."

Blake Hinson, a junior basketball player at the University of Mississippi, has transferred from the program because the official Mississippi state flag features a confederate symbol. 

In an interview with Chris Boyle of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Hinson explained his decision to transfer from Mississippi to Iowa State. 

"To make a general statement, it was time to go and leave Ole Miss," he said. "I'm proud not to represent that flag anymore and to not be associated with anything representing the Confederacy."

There has been significant conversation around the state of Mississippi's use of the Confederate symbol in its flag recently.

The SEC, Conference USA and NCAA have all announced that it won't hold championship events in Mississippi until the flag gets changed. 

Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill tweeted on Monday that he "won’t be representing this State anymore" if the symbol remains part of the flag. 

Hill's tweet was in response to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves' statement that a "proposal floating amongst some in the legislature" to create a second state flag alongside the current one "does not meet the threshold."

Matt Zenitz of AL.com reported on June 16 that Hinson entered the transfer portal. He appeared in 60 games over two seasons with Mississippi. 

BR Video

Oklahoma may be throttling Ole Miss in Friday first-round action at the men's NCAA tournament, but Breein Tyree is still bringing the noise for the Rebels.

This drive and dunk from the junior guard was one of the highlights for Ole Miss against a Sooners team that came out firing on all cylinders.

Several Ole Miss men's basketball players knelt during the playing of the national anthem prior to their game against Georgia at The Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday.

Neal McCready of Rivals.com tweeted a photo of the demonstration:

McCready also noted that the players were kneeling in opposition of a pro-Confederate rally that was taking place at The Square in Oxford:

According to Ross Adams of WAPT, the rally is officially called the Mississippi Stands Rally and was organized by two pro-Confederate groups called Confederate 901 and The Hiwaymen.

Adams added that University of Mississippi officials urged students to steer clear of the rally, which was expected to feature roughly 200 people.

Mississippi is the last remaining state to feature the Confederate symbol on its state flag, and it rejected bills in early February to change the flag.

Kneeling during the playing of the national anthem has become a popular practice across the sports world to protest social injustice and racial inequality. Then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick became the first and most prominent athlete to do so during the 2016 NFL preseason.

It hasn't been as widespread in sports other than football, especially at the collegiate level.

In addition to the Ole Miss players' protests, a group of Ole Miss students marched on campus Friday to oppose the pro-Confederate rally.