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Flau’jae Johnson talks Coach Kim Mulkey relationship, favorite outfits
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson tells USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg about her relationship with Tigers coach Kim Mulkey and her favorite outfit from the NCAA tournament.
Sports Seriously
Fort Worth, TX ― Michigan’s Mila Holloway can’t control what happens off the court, but she can control how she responds to it.
Mila’s brother, Aden Holloway, who plays men’s basketball at Alabama, was arrested on March 16 after police found approximately 2.1 pounds of marijuana, cash and paraphernalia at his Tuscaloosa residence.
Under Alabama state law, possession of more than 2.2 pounds can lead to a drug trafficking charge.
Despite the stress of her brother’s legal uncertainty, Mila has established herself as a steady force, helping lead the Wolverines to the Sweet 16.
“I try to play how I know he’d play,” Mila said. “I try to carry myself how I know he would want me to.”
In Michigan’s 83-48 win over Holy Cross in the first round of this year’s NCAA Tournament, Mila finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Her relationship with her older brother has long been tied to basketball. Growing up, she didn’t even like the sport, but Aden’s passion drew her in.
“He pretty much taught me everything I know,” Mila said. “I got my dribbling skills from him. He kind of helped me fix my shot — little things like that.”
The 5-foot-10 sophomore averages 12.6 points per game and is shooting 43.6% from the field. She has scored in double figures in 22 of 33 starts this season.
“We used to play in the driveway all day,” Mila said. “We didn’t keep score, though. We’d just kind of go at it. He was trying to give me tips along the way as he [was] beating me.”
Aden was charged with first-degree possession and failure to affix a tax stamp and was later released on a $5,000 bond.
One of Alabama’s top scorers, Aden was subsequently suspended from all team activities ahead of the Crimson Tide’s March Madness run. No. 1 seed Michigan plays No. 4 seed Alabama in Men’s NCAA Tournament at 7:35 p.m. ET March 27.
Aden was listed as “out” for Friday’s game according to the NCAA’s availability report released Thursday night.
While Aden has repeatedly denied the allegations, his future status with the team will be determined by Alabama’s Office of Student Conduct. He was granted permission to travel out of state by a court yesterday.
With her brother’s future up in the air, Mila has leaned into her family’s legacy at Michigan. The Holloways come from a long line of Wolverines. Her mother and grandfather, former Cleveland Brown David Raimey, are alumni.
“It means a lot [to play for Michigan],” Mila said. “I’m glad I could come represent them and my family and Michigan in the right way.”
Her infectious, selfless personality has made an impression throughout the Wolverines’ women’s basketball program.
“She is the kindest, sweetest, caring individual in our program,” Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “She wants to be great for everyone else.”
As two-seeded Michigan prepares for a Sweet 16 matchup against No. 3 seed Louisville, Mila knows there’s one person in particular she has to be great for.
“I’m doing it in his honor,” she said.
Mia Fishman is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
