Mikeal Brown-Jones makes Ole Miss whole again with return ahead of Sweet 16
ATLANTA — On Friday Mikeal Brown-Jones will play his first game in nearly three weeks when Ole Miss takes on Michigan State in the Sweet 16 inside State Farm Arena.
Not because of any injury Brown-Jones suffered but because he needed to take a beat and collect himself, mentally. Something Rebels head coach Chris Beard was more than accommodating for.
“Honestly, just (needed) some time to work on my mental health, really, that was the biggest thing,” Brown-Jones told the Ole Miss Spirit on Thursday. “These guys have been very supportive with that and kind of allowed me to take the time to do so. I’m very fortunate and very grateful for these guys for allowing me that time and that space to work on the things that I needed to work on.”
Beard never expounded on Brown-Jones’ absence from the team, stating only it was a “persona issue.”
Brown-Jones last took the court with Ole Miss on March 8 in the regular season finale at Florida. He then stepped away from the team, missing the Southeastern Conference Tournament and last week’s First and Second Round games of the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee.
He rejoined the team on Tuesday, bringing another option in the post with his 6-foot-8 frame to help contend with the size of Michigan State. Through the regular season he averaged 10.1 minutes, 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in 28 games played.
“It’s great. Obviously, (Brown-Jones) has a great personality,” Jaemyn Brakefield said. “We enjoy everybody’s spirit on the team, so having him come back it brought life back to our locker room.”
Ole Miss will have Brown-Jones back on the bench on Friday but how much court time he sees is to be determined.
A practicing Muslim he is still celebrating Ramadan, which runs through Saturday night. This means on Thursday, a practice day, and Friday, a game day, Brown-Jones is having to fast from sunrise to sunset each day of Ramadan.
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There are also the mandatory five prayers per day which he has to make time for.
“There’s just a lot,” Brown-Jones said. “But, when you’re doing it for as long as I’ve been doing it, it’s almost second nature when it comes around. …At the end of the day it’s will power.”
For an athlete that requires energy to perform at the highest level this month is one that is tough on someone like Brown-Jones, no matter how used to the routine he has become.
At the start of the season he praised Beard and the entire Ole Miss staff with how understanding and respectful they were to him and his beliefs, allowing him the time when needed.
That continued on Thursday sitting in the Rebels locker room after practice.
“It’s been very beneficial,” Brown-Jones added. “It allowed me to really see things for what it is and I’ve been able to get that from these guys.”
