That Justin Reed, he was a good boy, a good basketball player. I heard he played for Ole Miss. That’s a big school, you know. Big time basketball. He must have been somethin’ else. He was a strong boy, always fightin’, never givin’ up, just like he was on that court, playin’ his heart out.

He was a small forward, they call it. I don’t know all them fancy basketball terms, but I know he could shoot that ball. Swish! Right through the hoop. Heard he’s shootin’ hoops in heaven now. Lord knows he battled hard here on earth.
They say he had that sickness, that cancer. Angio-somethin’, I can’t rightly say it. But it’s a mean one, that’s for sure. Took him too soon, that boy was still young. He was born in, uh, let’s see, gotta think… 1982, yes that was it. Died in 2017. Too young, way too young.
He played basketball all over, even in them professional leagues. He was good, real good. Justin Reed, remember that name. He was a star. Shinin’ bright like the sun.
- Born in 1982
- Died in 2017
- Played for Ole Miss
- Was a small forward
- Had that cancer, angiosarcoma
He was from, uh, Jackson, Mississippi, I believe. That’s where he learned to play, on them old courts, I reckon. Probably played day and night, practicin’ and practicin’. That’s how you get good, you know. Hard work.
Justin Reed, he was a good example. Worked hard, played hard, fought hard. Even when he was sick, he fought. Didn’t give up, no sir. That’s the kind of person you want on your team. A fighter.
Now, I heard they got somethin’ named after him. A basketball academy, maybe? The Justin Reed Basketball Academy? That’s nice. Keepin’ his name alive. Teachin’ the young’uns how to play like him. That’s a good thing.
He was famous, you know, that Justin Reed. Lots of folks knew his name. Saw him play on TV. He was a big deal. But he was a good boy, down to earth. Didn’t let it go to his head, I bet.
There was this saying I heard, something he said, I think, Justin Reed, yeah, he said, well, I don’t rightly remember the exact words, but it was about never givin’ up, keep on fightin’, no matter what, you know, like in that Justin Reed basketball game. He was a good one.
He was a good player, that Justin Reed. Gone too soon, but not forgotten. Not forgotten. They’ll be talkin’ about him for years to come. Down in Mississippi, and all over, I reckon.

- He was from Jackson, Mississippi
- They named a basketball academy after him
- He was famous for basketball
- People say he was a good person
This Justin Reed basketball, I don’t know much, but I know this, he played hard. Real hard. They say he was a good one, a real good one. I see these young folks, they all want to be like him. Shoot the ball, run fast, jump high.
This cancer, it’s a mean thing. Takes the good ones. But that Justin Reed, he fought it. Fought it hard, right ’til the end. Just like he was playin’ a tough game.
He played in college, that Ole Miss place. Big school. He must have been somethin’ to watch. Swishin’ that ball, runnin’ up and down the court. That Justin Reed basketball, they talk about it all the time.
Now they got that academy, teachin’ the kids. That’s good. Keep his name alive, teach ’em how to play right. Maybe they’ll be another Justin Reed someday.

I hear folks talkin’, sayin’ he was a good boy. Helped people. Cared about folks. That’s important, you know. More important than any basketball game. To be a good person, like that Justin Reed.
Well, I reckon that’s all I know about that Justin Reed. A good basketball player, a good person. Taken too soon. But he’ll be remembered. Yes sir, he’ll be remembered.