Former Ole Miss Basketball star Justin Reed passed away this morning after a battle with spinal cancer. Reed had been battling angiosarcoma, a rare form of spinal cancer, since being diagnosed three months ago. Upon his passing, Ole Miss head basketball coach Andy Kennedy released a statement via the team’s Twitter account.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of an all-time Rebel great. Reed epitomized the qualities of what it means to be an Ole Miss Rebel. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family & to all those who mourn with us.” Kennedy said.
Reed, a Jackson native, was a member of the “Provine Posse” from Provine High School that signed with the Rebels. Before his career at Ole Miss ended, he left a mark that Rebel fans will always remember, including helping propel the program to their first trip to the Sweet-16 in his freshman season. Reed was named as an All-SEC performer each of the four seasons with the Rebels and led the SEC in scoring with 18.5 PPG in 2003-04. Reed was selected in the 2004 NBA and played two seasons in the league with the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reed was 35 years old. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
