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Getting By With ‘Books’: Jamarion Sharp endearing himself to Ole Miss on and off the floor

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett01/02/24

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Ole Miss center Jamarion Sharp

Ole Miss basketball rosters a pair of seven-footers, including the tallest player in college basketball in Jamarion Sharp, an off-season transfer addition from Western Kentucky.

But it was from his studiousness, and not his 7-foot-5 height, that his Rebel nickname was born.

“The ‘Books’ nickname came during the summer,” Sharp said Sunday, following Ole Miss’ 98-75 win over Bryant in its final non-conference game of the season on New Year’s Eve. 

The Rebels, with the win, matched their greatest start in school history (13-0) and next open SEC play at Tennessee on Saturday.

Sharp … err … ‘Books’ continued: “But I had to earn the name this semester, so I did.”

Ole Miss undergraduate students must earn a semester GPA of 3.50-3.75 to make the Dean’s List. 

Sharp met the criteria and was named to the honor roll for the fall term. He’s majoring in Multidisciplinary Studies with a minor in Theatre and Social Work Education.

But even the greatest minds know there’s still always plenty to learn.

For Sharp, that has mostly been on the court, where Ole Miss has come quite a long way in just a few months. The new-look Rebels — with just four returns on their 16-man roster — won three of their first five games, against lesser competition, by three points or less.

Fast forward to the opening days of 2024 and the Rebels ready to leave for Knoxville as one of just three remaining unbeatens in college basketball. They’re a consensus Top 25 team.

They’re also still very much a work in progress. Sunday was just their third game out-rebounding their opponent. They entered play ranked in the 300s in defensive rebounding, according to KenPom.

“What I’ve learned is no matter how good you think you are, you always have room for improvement,” Sharp added. “We had watched a whole lot of film and realized we weren’t boxing out or going to get a whole lot of rebounds. That’s why all we’ve been working on every day is rebounding, because that’s one of the main things we lack. 

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“It’s going to turn into one of our strengths.”

RELATED: Emergent Ole Miss basketball’s Sunday blowout was a fitting button for Rebel athletics in 2023

Sharp, who’s started every game for the Rebels, had eight points and 10 rebounds against Bryant. 

Moussa Cisse is the team’s other 7-footer. He, too, is a first-year transfer, but from Oklahoma State and Memphis. Cisse was cleared in December and, on Sunday, chipped in 10 and 6, respectively.

“Bryant didn’t really have any bigs or power forwards,” Beard said. “We asked a lot of ‘Books’ and Moussa today guarding all over the floor. These guys were dialed in and did a great job protecting the rim. They played really meaningful minutes, which is going to be important as we move forward.”

Beard is hoping to make Ole Miss the fourth separate program he’s led to the NCAA Tournament since 2016. The Rebels tip off at No. 5 Tennessee (9-3) Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

“(Tennessee) Coach (Rick) Barnes is a friend of mine. He’s a mentor of mine. So, I always follow his team, and this year is no different,” Beard said. “What we know about Tennessee is they have an identity and culture based on defense and rebounding and toughness — both physical and mental. Tennessee is one of those teams that’s not going to beat themselves. 

“Nothing but respect for coach and Tennessee. It’ll be a great challenge for our team to open league play playing in Knoxville.”

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