Hinson: Mississippi flag factored into decision to leave Ole Miss

Former Ole Miss guard Blake Hinson says the Mississippi state flag, which features the Confederate battle emblem on its upper left corner, played a role in his decision to leave the school and transfer to Iowa State earlier this week.

"To make a general statement, it was time to go and leave Ole Miss," Hinson told Chris Boyle of the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "I'm proud not to represent that flag anymore and to not be associated with anything representing the Confederacy."

Mississippi is facing growing calls to change its flag. The NCAA announced on June 19 that it is prohibiting the state from hosting any championship events until it alters the ensign.

Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis, a native of the state, was one of several coaches from Mississippi colleges to advocate for flag alterations at the State Capitol this past week, calling it "the right thing to do," according to Nick Suss of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.

No other state flag in the U.S. still contains the Confederate symbol. Both the House and Senate in the Mississippi Legislature have voted to begin the process to change the flag, and a bill is expected to be brought forward Sunday, according to CNN's Kay Jones, James Froio, and Kelly Mena.