Coach Rome, who played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, was chosen from a competitive pool of over 230 applicants that included former NFL players and coaches at every level. But what set him apart was his proven ability to build and elevate programs at HBCUs, along with his commitment to mentorship and community engagement.

“Being selected to build Chicago State’s football program is an honor, and I’m grateful for the trust that President Scott, Dr. Carroll and the entire university have placed in me,” said Rome. “Our visions are aligned. We’re not just building a football team—we’re building something that reflects the pride of the South Side and draws from the legacy of HBCU excellence.”

CSU Athletic Director Dr. Monique Carroll echoed the excitement. “When we began this journey, we were committed to finding a leader who understands not only football, but the cultural and community significance of what we’re doing,” she said. “Coach Rome’s HBCU background and success made him the ideal fit for this role. Today is a historic day for CSU and for Chicago.”

As part of CSU’s vision to bring football to the South Side, an exploratory committee featuring community leaders, former Chicago Bears, high school coaches, and business leaders helped shape the direction of the new program. That spirit of inclusion will continue as Rome begins laying the foundation for the team.

“The future starts now,” said Coach Rome. “Chicago is getting a Division I football team, and it will be rooted in the spirit, culture, and pride that HBCUs have championed for generations. We are ready to get going.”

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NEW ORLEANS — Former HBCU, NBA basketball player Donald “Slick” Watts, one of the brightest HBCU basketball stars in Xavier University of Louisiana’s athletic constellation, died Saturday (March 15, 2025). He was 73 years old. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Watts’ health declined after a stroke in April 2021. He was a member of the first XULA Athletic Hall of Fame class—he attended that induction on Nov. 3, 2022, on the campus—and was one of the leaders of the renaissance of XULA men’s basketball during the early 1970s.

He played for the New Orleans-based HBCU from 1970-73 and produced 1,460 points and 331 assists—both XULA career records at the time and still among the best numbers at the HBCU. In each of Watts’ final two seasons, XULA won NAIA District 30 tournament championships and won at NAIA nationals. During Watts’ senior season, the Gold Rush upset unbeaten and top-ranked Sam Houston State 67-60 to reach the NAIA quarterfinals. No XULA men’s basketball team since then has advanced that far.

Survivors include a sister, Felicia Watts Wheatley, whose daughter, McKenna Wheatley, is a XULA junior and part of the No. 1 doubles team with Mbali Langa in the Intercollegiate Collegiate Tennis Association NAIA March rankings. Wheatley and Langa won the ITA Cup NAIA doubles championship in October.
       

More on Slick Watts:

        •  Played six seasons in the NBA (1973-79), starting with the Seattle SuperSonics as an undrafted free agent
        •  NBA career statistics: 437 games and per-game averages of 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals
        •  One of 16 selected in 2007 to the Seattle SuperSonics 40th-anniversary team
        •  Received the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for exemplary community service in 1975-76 . . . he was the second recipient of this award
        •  Also in 1975-76, he was chosen to the NBA All-Defensive team
        •  In 1975-76 with Seattle, he was the first to lead the NBA in steals and assists in the same season
        •  According to basketball-reference.com, he ranks seventh on the NBA/ABA career list with 2.20 steals per game and 57th with 6.13 assists per game through the 2023-24 season
        •  One of his Gold Rush teammates was Bruce Seals, also a 2022 Xavier University of Louisiana Athletic Hall of Fame inductee
        •  ESPN in 2004 ranked him among the 16 “coolest athletes of all time.”
        •  Credited for popularizing the wearing of the headband by basketball players
        •  Other inductions:
        — Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991
        — Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1996
        — Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2011
        •  Born in Rolling Fork, Miss.

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Dillard University Bleu Devils

The Dillard Bleu Devils secured their first NAIA tournament berth since 2018 by clinching the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) championship. In a thrilling final, Dillard edged out Philander Smith College with a last-second layup, sealing a 19-11 season record. Entering the tournament as the 15th seed in the Duer Quadrant, they are set to face William Woods University (Mo.), a team riding a 23-game winning streak and boasting a 28-2 record. This matchup presents a formidable challenge for Dillard as they aim to make a deep tournament run. 

Florida Memorial University Lions

The Florida Memorial Lions earned an at-large bid to the tournament after a strong 23-7 season. Despite falling short in the Sun Conference semifinals to eventual champions Ave Maria University, their performance throughout the season secured them the 9th seed in the Naismith Quadrant. They will face Friends University (Kan.) in the opening round, a team that finished as runners-up in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championship. Florida Memorial’s consistent play and resilience position them well for a competitive tournament showing. 

Langston University Lions

Langston University, an HBCU powerhouse, continues its dominance with a third consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) tournament title, culminating in a 24-7 record. Their championship game showcased resilience, overcoming a late deficit to secure a 65-62 victory over Nelson University. Senior guard Mario McKinney’s clutch performance and Bryce Monroe’s tournament MVP honors highlight the team’s depth and experience. As the 4th seed in the Naismith Quadrant, Langston faces Saint Mary (Kan.), marking their return to the national tournament after a 12-year hiatus. Langston’s recent success and experience make them a team to watch in this year’s tournament. 

Stillman College Tigers

The Stillman Tigers return to the NAIA tournament for the first time since 2022, earning an at-large bid with an 18-11 record. Despite a semifinal loss in the HBCUAC tournament, their strong regular-season performance secured them the 16th seed in the Liston Quadrant. They are set to compete against LSU Alexandria, the Red River Athletic Conference champions with a formidable 28-2 record. This opening-round game presents a significant challenge for Stillman as they aim to advance further in the tournament. 

Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush

The Xavier Gold Rush continue their tradition of excellence with their fifth NAIA tournament appearance in six seasons, holding a 20-9 record. Despite an early exit in the Red River Athletic Conference tournament, their overall performance secured them the 14th seed in the Cramer Quadrant. They will face Ave Maria University (Fla.), the Sun Conference champions. Xavier’s experience and resilience make them a formidable opponent in the tournament. 

The inclusion of these five HBCU teams in the 2025 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship highlights the talent and competitiveness within HBCU athletics. As the tournament unfolds, these teams will not only represent their institutions but also the rich legacy of HBCU basketball on the national stage.

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The championship game saw Langston (24-7) battle through adversity, trailing 61-60 in the final two minutes. However, the Lions remained poised under pressure. Senior guard Mario McKinney delivered in the clutch with a go-ahead layup, and after crucial defensive stops, Bryce Monroe iced the game at the free-throw line, finishing with a team-high 17 points. Monroe’s performance throughout the tournament earned him SAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, while teammate Amoro Lado, who added 10 points in the final, secured a spot on the SAC All-Tournament Team.

This title continues a remarkable stretch for Langston, which has dominated the SAC since the 2022-2023 season. That year, the Lions made history by capturing their first SAC tournament crown, signaling a shift in the program’s trajectory. They followed that up in 2023-2024 with another conference title and an even deeper postseason run, advancing all the way to the NAIA national championship game. Though they fell just short of the ultimate prize, Langston’s efforts put HBCU basketball on full display at the highest level of NAIA competition.

Now, with another championship secured, Langston awaits its next challenge in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship. The Lions will learn their national tournament seeding on March 7, with their sights set on making another deep run and bringing an NAIA national title home to Langston University. Under Wright’s leadership, the program has become synonymous with sustained excellence, and with their third straight SAC title, the Lions continue to build on their legacy as one of the premier programs in HBCU basketball.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial University has officially named Michael Jones head coach of its HBCU football program.

“I am grateful and excited to accept the position as head football coach of Florida Memorial University,” said Jones. “I personally want to thank President William McCormick and the FMU Administration for this tremendous opportunity.” 

The FMU Football Program Mission Statement: 

To cultivate an environment that empowers our student-athletes to become better men on and off the field as a direct result of being a part of the program will be the cornerstone of operations under Coach Jones’ tenure.

“What you can expect from our football team is a championship mindset on and off the field,” said Jones. “We will have a team of players that are tough both mentally and physically and that can overcome challenges presented before them. Our team will be built on faith and dedicated to providing service to the general public and the City of Miami Gardens. I am from Miami Gardens, and it’s my belief if you take care of the community, the community will take of  you. We will be a team that competes at a high-level and we will finish our goals in everything we do. We will be an exciting team to watch on Saturdays; we will play with passion, precision, and enthusiasm.”

Jones’ dedication to the team and exceptional coaching abilities have been recognized with many prestigious accolades, including the inaugural 2023 SUN Conference Assistant Coach of the Year, followed by a national award the next year as he was named 2024 AFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.

“Our staff will motivate and encourage all of our players to achieve a 3.0 grade point average. Our goal is to graduate every student-athlete in four years,” Jones explained. “We will be a family.”

Under his leadership, the program has achieved remarkable milestones and unseen successes. Having coached at Florida Memorial since 2020, serving as the offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach since 2021, he helped lead the team to the most wins in modern history, guiding them to their first SUN Conference victory and their back-to-back SUN Conference Championship appearances in 23-24 and 24-25.

In addition, Jones helped significantly improve the team’s conference record from 0-5 in 2022 to an impressive 5-2 in 2023, culminating in the program’s first winning season with a record of 7-4. In 2024, FMU finished 4-2 in conference play, and 6-3-1 overall.

In 2023, the FMU Lions’ offense averaged 37 points per game, good for third in HBCU football. In 2024, the Lions’ offense averaged 38 points per game, good for second among in HBCU football.

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NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana Rowing Club, which launched in September 2023 in a partnership with New Orleans Rowing Club (NORC), is thrilled to announce that XULA rowing is being elevated to varsity status for the 2025-26 academic year. This milestone breaks barriers as the first-ever varsity-level rowing program for men and women at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), bringing equality and access to the sport at the collegiate level.

NORC members Elizabeth Manley, Ph.D., professor of history and chair of Xavier’s history department, and Chloé Jobin, the club’s head of community outreach and diversity initiatives, lead the fast-growing sport at the HBCU.

Since its formation, the club has immediately attracted attention nationally from leaders in the rowing community. It has also earned sponsorships and donations from the sport’s national governing body, USRowing, Mr. Cooper’s A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, and other major players in the sport, including Vespoli USA, JL Athletics and Concept2.

In a joint statement, Dr. Manley and Ms. Jobin said: “We could not be prouder to work with Xavier Rowing as we launch this historic debut as an official varsity sport. The passion and dedication of our athletes, combined with the support from esteemed national figures including Olympic rower David Banks, former Division I coach Kevin Harris, rowing luminary Arshay Cooper, and Brannon Johnson of BLJ Rowing, who have all visited to inspire and coach our students, truly exemplifies the spirit of Xavier. Launching this team of athletes onto the competitive national stage is not just about rowing — it’s about building a community, inspiring our students, and creating opportunities for growth both on and off the water.”

“The Xavier Rowing Club has offered me the opportunity to find a family outside of my Xavier family and get involved in a sport that allows me to be part of a team and also work on my own individual goals. . . [and] it allows us to shatter negative stereotypes and false perceptions,” said rower and junior political science major Kamryn Days.

Olympic rower David Banks said: “It’s truly impressive that the push to start the first co-ed HBCU varsity program was initiated internally by the Xavier students, staff, and faculty. It’s another testament to the outstanding students at Xavier; in that they seek out new challenges and opportunities and strive for excellence in whatever they do. It’s not easy being the first few to do something that may seem so very different and even daunting. But I’m confident and hopeful that these students will realize that this sport is theirs to make their own and that they will be an inspiration to many people to take their own new steps. I can’t wait.”

Arshay Cooper said: “For so many young people in our rowing community, Xavier has the potential to enhance their lives both academically and athletically and to provide an opportunity that has not existed before now. Excitement for the program has been building around the country as young men and women are realizing that they may soon be able to fulfill their dreams of attending an HBCU and rowing in college.”

Brannon Johnson, founder of the sport’s first black-owned and operated club, said: “Rowing can be a vehicle to a better life. It certainly was for me. But rowing can also be a vehicle for change. Xavier, like so many other HBCUs, is steeped in the rich tradition of creating change for its students. Xavier’s rowing team is a wonderful example of what that looks like now, and it’s vital that we lean in and support this program and the students at its center.”

Said Pat Kendrick, Xavier University of Louisiana’s executive director of athletics and recreation: “This is an exciting time for Xavier Athletics in welcoming the rowing team to our family. We are so proud of each and every one of these athletes and look forward to seeing them excel in their sport and bring the spirit of Xavier to the water and beyond.”

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial University is announcing a change in leadership within its HBCU football program. Coach Bobby Rome, II, who has been at the helm for three seasons, will not return next season as head football coach at FMU.

Under Coach Rome’s guidance, the Lions achieved a record of 15-15-1, including a record of 6-3-1 in his final season. With Rome at the helm, the FMU Lions rewrote the history books and set several school records.

His commitment to the sport and to the student-athletes of FMU has been unwavering, and his contributions have significantly shaped the football program for further success in the future.

A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

Bobby Rome released a public statement on his departure from the HBCU via Facebook, it reads:

Good Morning, Facebook Family,

Sometimes, change is inevitable. After three seasons here in South Florida, the administration at Florida Memorial University decided not to renew my contract and move in a different direction with the football program. This decision came as a surprise and has been a significant challenge for me and my family.

I want to express my gratitude to the student-athletes I had the privilege of working with—helping you grow, develop, and graduate has been an honor. I also extend my thanks to the coaching staff for the collaboration and camaraderie we shared during my time at the University.

As I reflect on this chapter, I’m ready for the next journey, wherever it may lead. Thank you all for your support.

Sincerely,

Coach Rome

About Bobby Rome

Bobby Rome II joined the FMU coaching staff as head football coach for Florida Memorial University in April of 2022.

Rome, a former collegiate and professional football player, has over a decade of head coaching experience, serving as head coach of the HBCU football programs at Central State University and Virginia University of Lynchburg before his stint at FMU.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Rome was a four-year starter at quarterback for Granby High School, throwing for more than 1,700 yards as a senior and leading Granby to the Eastern District title.

Rome went on to play for the Tar Heels at UNC from 2006 to 2009. After graduating from UNC in 2009, Rome spent time in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers. After his stint in the NFL, Rome was offered a playing opportunity for the Moscow Patriots in Russia, where he was the team’s star import and lone American player.

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The rankings are the first since Dec. 11, and the next rankings will be announced Jan. 29.  Defending national champion Dordt, 17-0 and winner of its last 26 games, is No. 1 for the fifth time in as many polls this season.

The Gold Nuggets are one of seven still-unbeaten NAIA women’s basketball teams — six of them are in the top 25.

The ranking is the HBCU squad’s highest since Jan. 19, 2016, when it was ranked 20th. This season XULA is 17-0 overall and 14-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference. Eleven of those wins have come by double-digits, with multiple wins of 20 points or better.

In addition to playing NAIA opponents, XUL has matched up against two Division I programs from inside its state — LSU and Grambling State. Both games were losses — but both were considered exhibitions. LSU beat Xavier 115-54 while Grambling State came away with a 69-55 win over its fellow HBCU  in New Orleans. LSU beat Grambling State 100-54 when the two teams matched up later.

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XULA never trailed, taking control early and building a 38-28 lead by halftime. Four starters scored in double figures, led by Kam Shelley with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. Joy Campbell added 15 points, while Zaria Harleaux and Lauren Banks each chipped in 14. Harleaux also recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Campbell added three assists and three steals, while Banks tallied three steals for the third consecutive game.

Jala Williams set a career high with six assists, and Sierra Headquist contributed nine points and eight rebounds. The Gold Nuggets’ defense stifled TAMUSA, holding the Jaguars to just 28 first-half points and maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the second half.

The Jaguars (12-5, 9-4), a first-year varsity program, were led by Evelyn Lorenzo with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Natalia Trevino posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

XULA’s historic start has made them the only basketball team in school history—male or female—to begin a season with 15 consecutive wins. The Gold Nuggets will look to extend their streak Saturday when they face Our Lady of the Lake, another RRAC opponent, at 1 p.m. CST.

This win further cements XULA’s standing as a premier program among HBCUs and in the NAIA.

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NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans-HBCU Xavier University of Louisiana produced a pair of second-half runs Saturday to clinch a 66-59 women’s basketball victory against Paul Quinn and remain unbeaten. The Gold Nuggets — 12-0 overall, 9-0 Red River Athletic Conference and ranked 25th in the NAIA — will break for Christmas, then return to the court on Jan. 2 at Texas College.

The next home game will be Jan. 7, also against Texas College. Paul Quinn (6-7, 5-4) led 32-29 in the 23rd minute after Kayla Webster’s two free throws. XULA then scored 12 consecutive points to take the lead for good. The Gold Nuggets led 45-41 through three quarters, then opened the final period with a 13-2 clinching run.

“It was a slow start, but we got better,” said Zaria Harleaux, who had 10 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, six steals and a block for XULA. “We figured out the adjustments we had to make and started executing better.” Joy Campbell and Kam Shelley scored 16 points apiece for XULA. Campbell had six rebounds, five assists, and seven steals, and the point guard made a season-best eight free throws. Shelley, the team’s leading scorer this season, has reached double-figure points in every game.

Cierra Taylor scored 15 points and Zaire Brown 13 for Paul Quinn. Adrianna Bolton grabbed 15 rebounds, 12 in the first half. The Lady Tigers’ Canai McPherson entered with a team-leading 16.8 points per game, but the senior guard did not start and was scoreless in three minutes. XULA shot a season-worst 30.8 percent from the floor but made 23 free throws, had 20 steals, and gained 32 turnovers, all season highs.

The Gold Nuggets extended their HBCU women’s basketball program record for most consecutive victories to start a season during the Title IX era. Overall it’s Xavier University of Louisiana’s longest win streak since 14 during the 2021-22 season.

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Key to the Lions’ success has been their shooting accuracy and rebounding dominance. With a team shooting percentage of nearly 50% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc, they are capitalizing on high-percentage shots and spreading the floor effectively. Latavious Mitchell and Mohamad Diallo have emerged as offensive leaders, contributing 17.3 and 15.0 points per game, respectively, while also being active on the boards with a combined 8.7 rebounds each per game. Calvin Payton’s 3-point shooting has also provided a boost, hitting 11 of his 26 attempts (42.3%).

Florida Memorial has embodied resilience and skill, especially on the boards. The Lions average a notable 49.0 rebounds per game, outpacing their opponents by 19.3 rebounds. This rebounding edge not only fuels their transition game but also limits second-chance opportunities for opponents, keeping the tempo in Florida Memorial’s favor.

The Lions’ teamwork is evident with an average of 19 assists per game, indicating strong ball movement and unselfish play—a trait many HBCUs take pride in fostering within their athletic programs. The early success of Florida Memorial demonstrates the potential for HBCU programs in the NAIA to compete at a high level while bringing excitement and pride to their communities. As they continue their season, the Lions aim to build on their strong start and establish themselves as a formidable presence in the NAIA.

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The poll placed College of Idaho in the second spot with five first-place votes, followed by Indiana Wesleyan in third. Freed-Hardeman University, the defending national champions from Tennessee, secured two first-place votes, entering the season ranked fourth. The top 25 poll also sees eight new teams making their debut, having not been ranked or receiving votes in the final poll of the previous season.

This poll is created by a panel of coaches representing various conferences and the Continental Athletic Conference. It holds no direct bearing on national championship selections but serves as a significant indicator of the season’s expectations. Points are awarded based on rankings from each coach’s vote, with the highest and lowest being removed to create a balanced outcome.

Langston University was 35-2 overall, and advanced to the NAIA National Championship game during the 2023-2024 season.

As an HBCU, Langston University continues to demonstrate excellence in NAIA sports, kicking off their season at the Abe Lemons Classic on November 1, where they will face Mission University and the Master’s University. Their continued prominence serves as a reminder of the competitive presence of HBCUs in national basketball.

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“On behalf of the entire FMU football family, we want to extend our deepest condolences to you during this incredibly difficult time,” the account posted on Instagram. “Marcus was more than just an athlete to us; he was a cherished member of our team and community, whose presence made an impact on everyone around him. His dedication, spirit, and kindness will always be remembered, and though he may no longer be with us physically, he will forever remain in our hearts and memories. We will miss him greatly on and off the field. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If there is anything we can do to support you during this time, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Florida Memorial University is an HBCU located in Miami Gardens. It is one of the most recent additions to HBCU football, starting its program in 2020.

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LANGSTON — Langston University and the Langston University Department of Athletics are shocked and saddened to announce that assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Darryl Mason passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Mason was 63.

“The loss of Coach (Darryl) Mason has left a huge hole in the hearts of his student-athletes, coaching staff, campus, and the football community,” Langston University Director of Athletics Donnita Rogers said. “His passion for the game, work ethic, loyalty, sense of humor and love for Langston University will always be treasured and a part of his legacy.”

“Coach (Darryl) Mason, you will forever be loved and missed. I couldn’t be prouder to have had you by my side, both on and off the field,” Langston University head football coach Quinton Morgan said. “Your impact on our lives is immeasurable, and your legacy will continue to inspire us all. “

Mason served as offensive coordinator for the Lions football program twice, first serving from 2013 to 2015 before returning to the Lions prior to the 2018 season. In his first season back as offensive coordinator, Mason directed an offense that placed him in the top 10 in several statistical categories which included total offense (third), pass offense per game (fifth), scoring offense per game (seventh), and total pass offense (eighth).

In his second tenure, the Lions had a win-loss total of 38-18 since 2018. In that same time frame, Mason helped produce two Associated Press All-American selections, two AFCA All-American selections, two NAIA Football All-America selections, two Sooner Athletic Conference players of the year, one SAC athlete of the year, 12 SAC first-team selections, 13 SAC second-team selections, and 17 SAC honorable mention selections.

Mason’s coaching career spanned nearly four decades which included coaching stops at Minnesota, Southwest Missouri State, Weber State, Northwestern State, UNLV, Idaho State, East Tennessee State, Cheyney (Pa.), UL-Monroe, Tulane, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Bacone College and Arkansas Baptist.

Additionally, Mason was a three-year starter at tight end for Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz at Arkansas from 1978-1981. The Arkansas Razorbacks made four straight bowl appearances during his career, including the 1979 Fiesta and 1980 Sugar Bowls. He also served as captain of the Arkansas team during his senior year, won the Gordon Campbell Senior Spirit Award, and was named All-Southwest Conference.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse W. Mason, Sr, and Levada Levon Parker Mason. He leaves to cherish his memory his sister Patricia Mason, Chicago, Illinois, his brothers Jesse Mason (Dr. Gail Reede Jones) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Rev. C. Vernon Mason (Thelma) of New York, New York, Michael D. Mason (Sarah), Little Rock, Arkansas.  His Children Derrick Deshaun Mason (Cara), Molly Galloway, and Grandchildren Julian, Myles, and Mason. and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Special Relationship with Denise Walker and children of Harvey, Louisiana Daughter Delichia Gourgis and Son Alex Gourgis III Grandchildren: Danasia, Da’sani, DyNisty, Alex IV, and Daliyah Louis.

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Huston-Tillotson University (a private HBCU in Austin, Texas) student-athlete Zech Robichaux was one of five college students selected for the Charley Pride MLB Fellowship Program Class of 2024, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation announced.
 
Robichaux, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, concluded his HBCU baseball career with the Rams in 2024. A three-year letter winner with the Rams, he hit .311 with four home runs and 28 RBIs during the 2024 season.
 
In its fourth year, the Charley Pride Fellowship Program will again see five college students from diverse backgrounds spend their summer working in the Texas Rangers front office for the unique internship.
 
Created in honor of the late country music star and close friend of the Texas Rangers organization, Charley Pride, the program aims to build a launching pad for students from diverse backgrounds looking to gain experience in a Major League Baseball front office.

 
The 2024 Charley Pride Fellows were selected after an extensive application and interview process by the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Fellowship Selection Committee. They began their paid internships at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, May 28, with the program concluding on Friday, August 2.
 
The Foundation will hire, train, and support the five fellows as they rotate through three front-office departments. The students will gain valuable skills during the 10-week program to equip them in their professional endeavors.
 
The Class of 2024 has identified baseball operations, business analytics, business partnerships, legal, marketing, REV Entertainment, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation as the departments in which they will rotate while employed this summer.
 
Roland Parrish, a prominent Dallas businessman and philanthropist, and his Parrish Charitable Foundation are partnering with the Rangers Foundation in the Charley Pride Fellowship Program for the fourth consecutive year.
 
Over the first three years of the MLB fellowship program, 15 individuals have participated, receiving extensive experience in the baseball and business departments of the Rangers’ organization.

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The only caveat is that he won’t be chasing an NCAA national title. Langston University, a public land-grant HBCU in Langston, Oklahoma plays its basketball in NAIA, a college athletics governing body that operates separately from the NCAA.

The Langston University Lions have been one of the top NAIA teams in the nation in recent years, making it to the national championship game last season with a 35-1 overall record.

Transitioning from Hoodie Rio, the viral high school basketball star to Mario McKinney Jr., the college basketball player hasn’t been easy.

By the start of his senior year of high school Mario McKinney Jr. was a bonafide YouTube basketball star, with his Hoodie Rio BallisLife junior season mixtape taking social media by storm in 2018.

McKinney continued to show his star power with an electrifying senior season averaging 25 points and 7.5 rebounds during the state semifinal and championship games where he helped lead Vashon High School to back-to-back-to-back Missouri state championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019. McKinney was tabbed the top player in Missouri by both ESPN and 247Sports, where he was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked 19th nationally at the point guard position and 125th overall in the 2019 class.

Mario McKinney Jr. signed with the University of Missouri where he was expected to make an immediate impact, but only saw action in four games at Missouri averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 9.3 minutes per game.

He then transferred to John A. Logan College, a junior college in Carterville, Illinois where he showed he still had the talent that made him a viral high school hoops star. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 steals in nine games, including a 52-point performance on 17-of-23 shooting against Three Rivers Community College, and just like that, Hoodie Rio was back.

“The best mid-majors in the country and a bunch of high majors called and have been watching film on him,” John A. Logan College assistant coach John Clancy told 24/7 Sports. “A lot of schools are tracking him right now and showing significant interest. Maryland and St. Johns are probably showing the most interest and Oregon has been early on him. Georgia, South Florida, Central Florida, Texas A&M, TCU, Pittsburgh, Ole Miss, and a ton of great mid-majors have also been calling and showing interest so far.”

McKinney was determined to show he could play point guard at the Division I level, telling Dushawn London of 24/7 sports that, “I’m running strictly the one and I think it’s going to help me when I get back to D1, ” McKinney said. “Coaches are probably going to look at me as a combo guard or strictly a one so when I do get to the next level it’s going to be something I have to keep developing. I haven’t really been able to showcase my skills but I think I’m ready.”

McKinney’s next stop was New Mexico State, where lack of playing time resulted in another lackluster season at the D1 level. After averaging 3.8 points in 31 games with 5 starts, Mario McKinney Jr. was back in the transfer portal looking for a place to prove himself.

Heading into the 2022-2023 season, Mario McKinney Jr was three years removed from the Hoodie Rio era and enrolled at the University of Texas El-Paso where he found success coming off the bench for the Miners.

McKinney was the top reserve for UTEP, playing in 20 games and ranking fourth on the squad in scoring with 8.9 ppg including a career-high 22 points against his former New Mexico State team.

Now, Mario McKinney Jr. is headed to an HBCU. One that has put together an impressive run under head coach Chris Wright, a coach who has made a reputation for having success at the NAIA level with players who have struggled at the Division 1 level of college basketball.

Langston University appeared in its first NAIA National Championship game in the 2023-2024 season. Head coach Chris Wright had already led another HBCU, Talladega College to the 2022 title game before taking the job at Langston the following season. Transforming the 3-win HBCU basketball program instantly with a  61-4 win-loss record and a 41-3 mark in conference play over his first two seasons.

“The former 4 star recruit that signed at Missouri will be as talented a player as there is in the country! He will be able to score at a high clip and can impact the game in a variety of ways! I can’t wait to get this guy on the court. #LsUp.” Tweeted Coach Wright with the announcement of the McKinney signing. This signals that Mario McKinney Jr. might get the playing time and shot attempts he needs to be able to return to that Hoodie Rio form that took over the internet almost six years ago.

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In 2018, the board of trustees of Edward Waters College made a bold move.  They unanimously chose a 37-year-old to lead the school.  While young in age, his experience was just what the doctor ordered for the small AME school on the north side of Jacksonville, Fla. New president Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr. came in with experience in the hot key issues for HBCUs which are retention and fundraising.

His career is littered with experience from HBCUs, with varied levels of involvement.  He is a graduate of Albany State University, where he attained his undergraduate degree.  He is also a graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned his juris doctorate.  From there he became board certified in the state of Georgia.

Faison has a vast array of experience at HBCUs

His leadership journey started at Mississippi Valley State University, as Chief of Staff and later Vice President for Institutional Advancement and then to Virginia Union University as Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and finally to Tuskegee as General Counsel and Vice President for External Affairs before being named President at Edward Waters in 2018.

He came to Edward Waters with a vision…to elevate the university through a combination of solid academic processes and athletics success.

“When we came to the institution in 2018, we began to chart our path comprehensively as an institution,” said Faison.  “From our perspective and conversations with our board and community, we felt we really had a potential niche in utilizing athletics to grow the brand of our institution to increase enrollment; using those revenues to help launch additional academic programs and grow the overall depth and breadth of the institution.”

EWU moved from NAIA to NCAA D-II in 2021

Things began to change in short order.  Led by Faison, Edward Waters would announce in 2021 that EWU was provisionally moving up to NCAA D-II in athletics.  It was the first time in the 155-year history of the school that it had participated at the NCAA level.  On the same day of the public announcement, it was revealed that the Tigers would rejoin the SIAC.  They were members previously in the conference from 1930-1935, before the conference migrated to D-II status in the NCAA.

In a grand announcement, the purple and orange had regained relevance on a national scale like never before.  Not discounting any of the successes of the school previously, but this was a major step into growth for both the athletic department and the university.

Long seen as the little school in Jacksonville, it began to stretch its wings and tiers began to be climbed.  A major renovation to the school’s on-campus football facility was a big piece of the turning point.  The turf field, new grandstands, new press box, and pristine president’s box where he entertains donors during football games grew an exciting game day environment.

In 2021, Faison made the choice to bring in Toriano Morgan to lead the Tiger football team.  Morgan would add well-known veteran coach Brian Jenkins to his staff as offensive coordinator.  The team had struggled mightily even on the NAIA level.  Being reintroduced to the SIAC and introduced to Division-II was a smooth transition for Morgan and his staff.

Academics-wise, the university made a leap in 2021 as well.  Edward Waters College became Edward Waters University.  It was a galactic leap for the school.  Since then, the school’s popularity has skyrocketed.  EWU is now the fastest-growing HBCU in the state of Florida and one of the fastest growing in the country.

Edward Waters football has been steadily building

In 2021 the Tiger football team would finish at 4-7, going 3-7 in conference play.  In 2022 the team saw marginal improvement and ended the season at 5-6, but more importantly 4-4 in SIAC play.  This was the indicator that the program was moving forward.  In 2023, the team had its first winning season in quite some time, going 6-4 for the season and 5-3 in SIAC play.  The two signature wins for the team in 2023 were the upset of Tuskegee at “The Shed” for its homecoming and an exciting last-play defeat of eventual SIAC runners-up Albany State in Jacksonville.

2024 could be a big year for EWU as its three-year probationary status as a member of the SIAC is to be evaluated.  It could result in the dropping of the provisional membership, adding them as a fully-authorized member in one of the big four HBCU conferences.  With the success of the programs and the growth in the image of the school, barring something unforeseen they are expected to be fully admitted.

Not only are the football facilities improving, the school has made a marked investment into its student-athletes.  Additionally, Faison is exceptionally proud of his director of athletics, whom he credits with forging the department forward.  

“I truly believe there has to be a symbiotic synergy between the president and the athletic director.  I selfishly believe I have the best associate vice president and director of athletics in the country here in Dr. Ivana Rich.  The job that she has done to come in and continue this vision…she has come and not only fit in, but taken things to a higher level,” Faison said.

The facilities upgrades at the school include a dedicated student-athlete academic center and a health and wellness center that has expanded the weight room, medical treatment apparatus, and contains a nutrition center.  Edward Waters is certainly in unchartered territory at the time and judging from Faison’s vision and drive, this is just the beginning.

“As we looked around geographically, we’re sitting right in the footprint within a five-hour radius of 90-percent of the institutions that are in the SIAC,” Faison said.  “We were in a good conference in the GCAC, but you didn’t get the same kind of HBCU experience that our students wanted, our alumni wanted, our city wanted.  It made a lot of sense for us, when you’ve got Savannah (GA) an hour-and-a-half away…we needed to make sure that our brand became synonymous with the brands of those institutions (in the SIAC).”  

HBCU Gameday is producing a special for each week in June called “Florida’s Four HBCUs,” where we sit down with each HBCU president in the state of Florida (B-CU, Edward Waters, Florida A&M, and Florida Memorial). Please be on the lookout for those broadcasts as you will hear more of the story from EWU President Dr. A. Zachary Faison.

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“Funny how division I schools are telling guys that we are both recruiting “Why would want to go to an NAIA, you are too good to go there,” Wright tweeted on Twitter/X. “To those schools… Since we are just an NAIA put us on your schedule. We will come play for no money.”

That’s a pretty bold proclamation, as an NAIA school playing a Division I school would usually be considered a money game – one in which the higher division program pays the lower division program a guarantee to come play them on the road. 

Wright’s recent success at the NAIA level – first with Talladega College and now with Langston University – demonstrates that he knows how to build a program. He took both HBCU programs to national championships – a major accomplishment given the fact that LU was a 3-win team the season before Wright arrived fresh out of Talladega. His overall record the last three seasons is 98-11.

The gauntlet has been thrown down. The question now is whether or not any Division I program will take Wright up on his offer.

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First reported by Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, the NAIA is believed to be the first national college governing body to ban transgender athletes with a mandate stating that athletes must compete according to assigned sex at birth.

The NAIA’s Council of Presidents surveyed in December of 2023 indicated widespread support for the move, and on Monday, April 8th, 2024, the council voted 25-0 to approve the policy.

“The task force spent nearly two years reviewing research, meeting with experts to better understand potential policy challenges, and obtaining feedback from multiple membership groups,” said NAIA Council of Presidents chair and St. Ambrose University president Amy Novak. “With this policy, the NAIA has made its best effort to allow for the inclusion of transgender athletes in any way which does not impact the competitive fairness of women’s sports. Our priority is to protect the integrity of women’s athletics and allow them equal opportunity to succeed.” she continued in the CBS Sports article.

The NAIA is a national athletic governing body for 249 mostly small, private colleges that do not participate in NCAA competition.

In 1953, the NAIA became the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) into membership. Today, 22 of the 105 institutions designated as HBCU are members of the NAIA.

NAIA HBCUS

• Arkansas Baptist College
• Dillard University (La.)
• Fisk University (Tenn.)
• Florida Memorial University
• Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.)
• Huston-Tillotson University (Texas)
• Jarvis Christian University 
• Langston University (Okla.)
• Morris College (S.C.)
• Oakwood University
• Philander Smith College (Ark.)
• Rust College (Miss.)
• Southern University at New Orleans
• Stillman College (Ala.)
• Talladega College (Ala.)
• Texas College
• Tougaloo College (Miss.)
• University of the Virgin Islands
• Voorhees College (S.C.)
• Wilberforce University (Ohio)
• Wiley College (Texas)
• Xavier University of Louisiana

“We know there are a lot of different opinions out there,” NAIA president Jim Carr told CBS Sports. “For us, we believed our first responsibility was to create fairness and competition in the NAIA. … We also think it aligns with the reasons Title IX was created. You’re allowed to have separate but equal opportunities for women to compete.”

The new NAIA policy also blocks student-athletes who were assigned female but have begun masculinizing hormone therapy to transition to women but also states that All NAIA athletes who are no longer eligible for women’s competition can still participate in men’s sports.

“It’s important to know that the male sports are open to anyone,” Carr told CBS Sports.

Below is the complete policy, as released by NAIA on Monday:

Student-athletes may participate in NAIA competition in accordance with the following conditions:


A. Participation by students in sports designated as male by the NAIA:
All eligible NAIA student-athletes may participate in NAIA-sponsored male sports.


B. Participation by students in sports designated as female by the NAIA:
Only NAIA student-athletes whose biological sex is female may participate in NAIA-sponsored female sports. They may participate under the following conditions:

1. A student who has not begun any masculinizing hormone therapy may participate without limitation.
2. A student who has begun masculinizing hormone therapy may participate in:
   
   a. All activities that are internal to the institution (does not include external competition), including workouts, practices, and team activities. Such participation is at the discretion of the NAIA member institution where the student is enrolled; and

   
   b. External competition that is not a countable contest as defined by the NAIA (per NAC Policy Article XXV, Section A, Item 12). Such participation is at the discretion of the NAIA member institution where the student is enrolled.


An NAIA institution that has a student-athlete who has begun masculinizing hormone therapy must notify the NAIA national office. The national office will take the necessary steps to provide appropriate privacy protections.


This policy will be subject to review in light of any legal, scientific, or medical developments.

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The Yotes entered tonight’s matchup at 32-3, boasting four players in double figures in Samaje Morgan (14.3 ppg), Johnny Radford (12.2 ppg), Drew Wyman (11.5 ppg) and Jake O’Neil (10.1 ppg) but the Lions held College of Idaho to 35 percent (19-of-53) from the field and three-of-17 from three-point range. Langston also held the Yotes to its fewest points of the season, their fewest prior to that was 64 points on December 30th in a win over Eastern Oregon.

“They’re (College of Idaho) extremely well-coached and they stretch you defensively with how they shoot the three,” head coach Chris Wright noted of College of Idaho. “You add in a dynamic point guard and they’re tough to cover. I thought our guy’s ability to stay with the game plan, to believe in what we were doing, to get big stops when we needed them was huge for us.”

Senior guard D’Monte Brown said the team prides itself on being the tougher team, day in and day out.

“We’ve always been the toughest team, we started this back in August, our practices are hard, and Coach (Wright) stays on us to be prepared for this moment,” Brown said. “They (College of Idaho) came out to play, it was close in the first half, but we knew we were the better team, we just had to show it.”

Tied at 52-52 with 44 seconds left, Anthony Roy hit Jay Allen-Tovar for layup inside to put Langston in front 54-52 with 29 seconds left.

Langston broke the game open on the ensuing offensive possession when Roy batted away a loose ball towards G’Quavious Lennox, who in turn lobbed it to Cortez Mosley for a breakaway slam dunk to put the Lions ahead for good.

Mosley led Langston in scoring with 14 points on six-of-14 shooting and Brown chipped in 12 on five-of-seven shooting. Collectively, Langston hit 38 percent (23-of-60) from the field and outscored College of Idaho 16-11 in bench points, 32-26 in points in the paint and 11-9 in points off turnovers.

While Langston University will be making their first appearance in the NAIA National Championship game, it will be the second title game appearance for head coach Chris Wright. Wright led Talladega (Ala.) to the 2022 title game where they fell 71-56 to Loyola (La.). The second-year head coach noted what he’s learned as a coach and leader since then.

“Since getting to Kansas City, I’ve enjoyed this experience so much more than I did the first time with Talladega,” Wright said. “I was miserable to be honest, I was happy to win but I didn’t enjoy it, I survived it. When I was hired here, (former Langston University president) Dr. (Kent J.) Smith made me promise that if we ever went on a run like that at Langston that I would enjoy it. When we won the second-round game at our place I said I’m going to enjoy whatever happens the rest of the way.”

The Lions improve to 35-1 overall and advance to the NAIA National Championship game on Tuesday night, March 26, in Municipal Auditorium. Langston University faces Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (31-4) who advanced to the championship by way of defeating Grace (Ind.) 86-81 on Monday night.

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The Wildcats (29-6) entered their quarterfinal matchup boasting four players that averaged double figures in Javan Buchanan (20.5 ppg), Nathan Childress (14.5 ppg), Griffin Kliewer (14.5 ppg) and Caedmon Bontrager (13.9 ppg) while averaging 90.5 points per game as team. However, the Lion’s patented defense was on the display from the outset as they held the Wildcats to 33 percent (10-of-30) shooting in the first half while building a 37-25 halftime lead.

The defensive intensity continued in the second half as Langston University held Indiana Wesleyan to 34 percent (eight-of-23) after halftime. The Lions held the quartet of double-digit scorers from Indiana Wesleyan to a combined 12-of-41 which included a one-for-eight mark from three-point range.

“They’re a great offensive team and for us to disrupt what they wanted to do I thought was really impressive,” head coach Chris Wright said. “I’m proud of our guys, I thought they followed the game plan extremely well. We were locked in and to do that to a team that averages over 90 points a game says a lot about the character of our guys.”

“Our identity is defense and rebounding,” senior forward Cortez Mosley said. “We just knew if we defended and rebounded, we would be okay. We just pride ourselves on our defense and being the tougher team because at the end of the day the tougher team wins.”

Langston University built a 15-point lead at 49-34 at the 9:32 mark following a three-pointer by G’Quavious Lennox and free throws from Majok Kuath. The Lions led by as much as 17 in the second half, sealing the quarterfinal victory at 61-48.

Mosley led Langston in scoring with 15 points on five-of-12 shooting with six boards; Anthony Roy added 13 on five-of-13 shooting including three three-pointers. On the night the Lions hit 37 percent (20-of-53) overall and finished 16-of-21 from three throw line while holding IWU to 34 percent (18-of-53) overall and three-of-12 from three-point range.

Langston held Indiana Wesleyan to the lowest point total of the season with 48 points. Their previous low was 71 points back on January 31st versus Grace (Ind.).

Wright said getting the Langston University men’s basketball program to this point is part of the vision that was established when he was hired in April 2022.

“It’s very humbling, when (former Langston University president) Dr. (Kent J.) Smith, (Langston University Director of Athletics) Donnita Rogers and the senior leadership hired me this was their vision,” Wright noted. “So many people deserve the credit for this but it’s very humbling to be a part of. I feel tremendously blessed to be able to get our program to this point.”

The Lions improve to 34-1 overall and advances to the NAIA Fab Four on Monday night, March 25, in Municipal Auditorium. Langston squares off against the College of Idaho Yotes (32-3) who advanced to the Fab Four by way of defeating Morningside 73-56 on Saturday night.

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LANGSTON — Anthony Roy scored 23 points to lead No. 1 seed Langston University past ninth-seeded Ave Maria (Fla.) 91-61 on Saturday night at the C.F. Gayles Field House. The top-seeded Lions advance to the NAIA Round of 16 for the second straight year and will play No. 12 seed LSU-Shreveport on Friday, March 22 at 1 p.m.

“Ave Maria is a very good team and they were a tough matchup for us,” Langston University head coach Chris Wright noted. “We got down nine in the first half and our guys didn’t panic. We stayed the course and found a way to continue to get stops in the second half.”

Tied at 48-48 in the second half, Langston went on a 19-5 scoring run to seize control at 67-53 at the 8:10 mark. Ave Maria trimmed Langston’s lead to 13 points with 6:42 left when the Lions defense turned up the heat by not allowing another point from the Gyrenes until the 1:44 mark with Langston ahead 84-57.

Roy finished with 23 on nine-of-16 shooting and D’Monte Brown added 12 points and 11 boards. Cortez Mosley and Toru Dean rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 and 10 points apiece.

Collectively, Langston hit 50 percent (35-of-70) from the field and held Ave Maria to 40 percent (20-of-50) shooting on the night. The Lions outscored the Gyrenes 19-0 on points off turnovers, 16-4 in second chance points, 32-17 in bench points and 48-24 in points in the paint.

“It’s always special to make it to Kansas City,” Wright said. “I’m excited for our guys and look forward to continue to play for a national championship.”

Langston (32-1) advances to the NAIA Round of 16 and faces No. 12 seed LSU-Shreveport on Friday, March 22. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

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The 2024 NAIA Tournament brackets are out and several HBCUs are amongst the field.

Langston University (30-1 overall) got the number one seed in the Duer Quadrant. The back-to-back SAC champions will take on no. 16 seed Bellevue (Neb.) as the host team.

Located in the same bracket is Tougaloo (MS) College. The regular season champion of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) picked up a no. 10 seed after being upset in its conference tournament. It will face off against no. 7 seed Tennessee Southern in Marion, IN.

Florida Memorial University picked up a No. 2 seed in the Naismith Bracket. The Sun Conference champion will take on no. 15 Evangel of Missouri.

Texas College picked up a no. 9 seed in the Cramer Quadrant. It will face off against no. 8 Point Park (PA) in Henderson, Tennessee. 

Philander Smith picked up a no. 15 seed after winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title. It will take on Cumberlands, the no. 2 seed and the host team in the first and second rounds. 

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“MACU deserves a lot of credit for defending us the way they did,” Langston University head coach and reigning SAC Coach of the Year Chris Wright said. “They were tough, physical, and made every shot difficult. This was a national tournament type of game; we needed this tonight. I’m proud of our guys for finding a way to make enough plays down the stretch to win this one.”

It was tough sledding in the opening half with both offenses gaining no clear advantage. The Lions led 15-14 at halftime but hit only 23 percent (seven-of-30) while halting the MACU offense to 19 percent (four-of-21) from the field.

Lions were able to get a bit of breathing room, helped by two three-pointers from Roy and a jumper by Cortez Mosley to put Langston up 33-26 at the 10:40 mark in the second half. MACU’s Seth Hurd cut the deficit to five at 41-36 with 6:24 remaining but the Evangels never got any closer.

Langston University picks up its second straight SAC tournament championship to pair with its second straight SAC regular season championship they clinched back on February 15th. In addition to the conference championships, the wins have also stacked up for the Lions and Wright.

Since taking the helm of the Langston men’s basketball program, Wright holds a 61-4 win-loss record and a 41-3 mark in conference play. Tuesday’s win over MACU also gave Wright a 5-0 record at Langston vs the Evangels.

Roy finished with 25 points on nine-of-19 shooting in 35 minutes of action. This is the 13th time this season the SAC Player of the Year has scored over 20 points in a contest. Toru Dean and Majok Kuath tied for second on the team in scoring with seven points apiece.

Langston University (30-1) now awaits their tournament draw in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship Opening Round which will be unveiled on March 7 at 6 p.m. by the NAIA on their YouTube Channel. The Lions gained an automatic bid to the opening round by way of winning the SAC regular season title and will not have to travel far as they were selected as one of the 16 host sites for the NAIA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds which starts Saturday, March 15.

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The Lions were led by first-team All-SUN selection Latavious Mitchell, who finished with a team-high 12 points to go along with eight rebounds before fouling out of the contest. FMU forward Felix Uadiale added 11 points and six boards for the Lions.

Florida Memorial guard Evan Busby generated 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from downtown. Busby added four rebounds, two steals, and one assist while teammates Derrius Ward and Chanze Cruesoe both produced 10 points apiece. Ward was named second-team All-SUN while Busby was named 2024 SUN Men’s Basketball Championship Game MVP.

As a team, FMU generated 26 points off turnovers while scoring 38 points in the paint, dominating the interior.

The Lions now await the NAIA regional selections, which are set to be released next week.

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Cortez Mosley of Langston University earned the Defensive Player of the Year while Yorgo Golesis from Oklahoma City was named the conference Freshman of the Year. In addition to earning the league Player of the Year award, Roy was also named this year’s Newcomer of the Year while Eddie Smith of Mid-America Christian earned the Sixth Man of the Year Honor with Noah Boling of Southwestern Assemblies of God garnering the conference Sportsmanship Award.
 
Roy led Langston in his junior season by scoring 18.6 points per game and shooting 47 percent from the field during the year. Roy also led the conference in three-point shooting percentage by going 42 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Mosley was also a key member of the Lions starting lineup as he averaged four defensive rebounds per game in helping Langston to a league-high 59.2 points allowed per game average.
 
Golesis had an outstanding freshman season for the Stars by averaging 10.3 points per game and was eighth in the conference with 3.4 assists per contest.
 
Smith helped MACU to the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament by averaging 11 points per contest, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 2.7 assists per contest.
 
Boling earned the conference Sportsmanship Award from the coaches as he was a great example of how to conduct himself on the court during the season.
 
Wright took home his second straight Coach of the Year Award after going 27-1 this season and 21-1 in conference play. He led the Lions to a high-powered offense that scored 82.5 points per game and a defense that allowed only 59.2 points per contest.
 
The complete list of 2024 Sooner Athletic Conference postseason honorees can be found below:
 
2024 Sooner Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Postseason Awards
 
SAC Player of the Year — Anthony Roy, LU
Defensive Player of the Year — Cortez Mosley, LU
Freshman of the Year — Yorgo Golesis, OCU
Newcomer of the Year — Anthony Roy, LU
Sixth Man of the Year — Eddie Smith, MACU
Sportsmanship Award — Noah Boling, SAGU
Coach of the Year — Chris Wright, LU
 
All-Sooner Athletic First Team
Anthony Roy, LU
C.J. Hall, SAGU
Toru Dean, LU
Seth Hurd, MACU
Reggie Quezada, USAO
 
All-Sooner Athletic Second Team
Cortland Blake, SAGU
D’Michael Bellfield, WBU
Cortez Mosley, LU
Mikel Henderson, MACU
Drew Miller, JBU
 
All-Sooner Athletic Third Team
Tahjae Hill, WBU
Chris Whitten, CCC
Kristian Lafayette, Tex Wes
Adetokumbo Bakare, Tex Wes
D’Monte Brown, LU
 
Honorable Mention
DeAngelo Adkins, MACU
Cade Allen, USAO
J.J. Boling, SAGU
Noah Boling, SAGU
Quinton Coleman, WBU
Jaden Harrel, USAO
Avery Jackson OCU
Brandon Jackson, OCU
Vernon Johnson, UNTD
Jasiah Lewis, MACU
Ron Mitchell, LU
Ron Moore, SCU
Meikkel Murray, WBU
Malachi Reeves, JBU
Fred Robinson, OPSU
Eddie Smith, MACU
 
Sooner Athletic All-Freshman Team
Yorgo Golesis, OCU
Michal Wooldridge, SCU
Trae Oetting. JBU
Clayton Jewell, OCU
Amaree Brown, OPSU
 
Sooner Athletic All-Defensive Team
Cortez Mosley, LU
DeAngelo Adkins, MACU
Jay Allen Tovar, LU
J.J. Boling, SAGU
Tahjae Hill, WBU

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Langston built a 35-21 halftime advantage after hitting 43 percent (13-of-30) from the field and holding the Aggies offense to 29 percent shooting (seven-of-24). The Lions did not let up in the second half, leading by as many as 32 in the second en route to a 76-48 victory. 

The Lions improve to 25-1 overall and 19-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. Langston has two regular season games remaining before the start of the SAC Men’s Basketball championship tournament on Thursday, Feb. 29. 

In addition to clinching the title, Langston has a solid shot of going to the top of NAIA rankings. No. 1 Grace (Ind.) suffered its first loss of the season last week.

Langston clinched the SAC regular season title for the second straight year on Thursday, Feb. 15 by defeating Wayland Baptist 70-65.

Cortez Mosley led the way with a season-high 27 points and 11 boards; D’Monte Brown and Michael Wright also tallied double figures with 13 points apiece.

Langston University (25-1, 19-1 SAC) returns to action next Thursday at Texas Wesleyan. Game time is set for 8 p.m.

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Another Division I transfer, former Northwestern State forward Major Kuath, put up 13 points in the win. Several other Division I transfers, as well as former JUCO players, fill out Langston’s roster.

Langston is led by Chris Wright, who is one of the better kept secrets in college basketball. Wright led Talladega to a national championship berth two years ago. He then headed west to take over a program that was 1-27. The team went 31-3 last season, becoming the first ever HBCU to win the Sooner Athletic Conference regular season crown along with capturing the SAC Conference Tournament Championship. The Lions advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16 in Kansas City before falling to Georgetown College.

So far the team has been just as great this season as it will look to repeat as Sooner Athletic Conference champions and hope to become the first HBCU to win a national title since Virginia Union did it at the NCAA Division II level in 2005. 

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Tamar Braxton, Saucy Santana, Angela “Blac Chyna” White, Karlous Miller of 85 South, Claudia Jordan, and Nick “Swaggy P” Young have been announced as the cast for College Hill Celebrity Edition Season III. 

“I am thrilled that Xavier University of Louisiana will host BET+’s COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION,” XULA President Reynold Verret said in a statement. “As we prepare to celebrate Xavier’s first century of service, this collaboration not only showcases our rich history as the nation’s only Black and Catholic institution but also amplifies our commitment to academic excellence and dedication to service and social justice. We welcome this extraordinary opportunity for our students to share their stories and aspirations on a national stage, to highlight the unique spirit that is Xavier. As we celebrate Xavier’s centennial, the collaboration with BET shares our story, reinforces Xavier’s place in U.S. education and celebrates a century of service, education, and accomplishment, promoting a more humane and just society for all.”

College Hill initially began in the mid-2000s as a reality show based around students at HBCUs. The new format has had celebrities attending Texas Southern and Alabama State previously.

“Edmonds Entertainment, in conjunction with This Way Out Media, is thrilled to be returning to season threre of our COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION franchise on BET+ with a very fun, bold, and dynamic cast who will be navigating their collegiate journey at Xavier University of Louisiana while exploring the rich culture, history, and flavor of New Orleans,” said Tracey Edmonds, CEO and President of Edmonds Entertainment. “We are honored to be partnered with Xavier, one of the most effective teaching institutions in the country, and we know this will be a one-of-a-kind learning journey for our cast.”

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A rumbling of murmurs rolled through the crowd once the announcement that the postponement of the announcement of the winners rolled through the loudspeakers. 

North Carolina A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine, vying for the Division I title against Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South, issued what appeared to be a response to the ruling. The band had already had its “Fifth Quarter” stands performance after the official competition, and was told to load onto its busses. Instead, the BGMM broke out into another song, provoking the Sonic Boom to prepare an impromptu response of its own.

Officials quickly shut that down, reiterating that the bands needed to get to their busses as instructed and that the next band would be docked 30 points on their performance.

“Don’t even think about it,” barked Don Roberts, one of the organizers of the ESPN Band of the Year and a long-time fixture in the Atlanta band world. 

Both A&T and Jackson State, as well as the Virginia State “Trojan Explosion” and “The Roar” from Florida Memorial – will have to wait with the rest of the world to see who will bring home the hardware as the judges tabulate the scores.

Fans and bands were politely but firmly ushered out of the dome as preparations had to get underway for the Celebration Bowl, which was set to kick off in just over 15 hours. 

As the stadium workers prepared to work into the night to make the magic happen, spectators filed out of the stadium and onto the concourse of the dome with anxious energy and a tinge of bewilderment at the course of events.

A group of North Carolina A&T supporters expressed a mix of excitement and confusion after witnessing the event – particularly with no announcement of winners.  

“I mean, some of us are coming to Celebration Bowl but other people aren’t,” one Aggie supporter in a letter jacket shared. 

“Facts,” a gentleman with a BGMM (Blue and Gold Marching Machine) shirt interjected.  “It’s anticlimactic.”

“And none of the bands are performing at the Celebration Bowl so… 

“They bout to go home tomorrow,” a friend added.

“Yeah, so they’re going to find out through social media,” she concluded.

“For an inaugural event – It was quite special,” Barry Harrison said. “Still trying to work out the mechanics of the judging. But the four bands were all excellent in their own way. They all known for their own particular stylings and musicianship. But it was it was quite an event, quite an event. And I’m glad I made the trip from New Orleans to be here to see it.” 

Harrison proudly wore a vintage Southern University letterman’s jacket. He revealed he was a percussionist for the marching band under the tutelage of legendary band director Dr. Issac Greggs. Even though his beloved Human Jukebox didn’t make the cut this round, he still felt the need to come support the ESPN Band of The Year.

“Well, when you when you reach a certain age and a certain level, you just want to see all of us succeed. So like I said, I came all the way from New Orleans,” Harrison continued. “I have come here before for the Honda. I’ve come for the Heritage Bowl. I’ve come for the Pioneer Bowl between the CIAA and SIAC. And I’m just that HBCU guy who just would like to see all of us succeed.”

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“Our president had a vision four years ago to start a bad program when he wanted to bring football to the university. And in our long history, we’ve never had a band program that was established here,” Beckwith told HBCU Gameday. “I was honored that he selected me or interacted with me to get the position. However, this has been like a baby that had to be born. Once we gave birth to the program, the opportunity to just put Florida Memorial and South Florida on the map was, I think, in our hands.”

“And for us to have grown in the four years that we’ve been here to what we’re doing now and to even be recognized by the organization is a great honor. I’ve seen people come up and cry at games because they never expected Florida Memorial to get this kind of notoriety. And we’re very, very grateful as a bandstand to be able to bring this kind of attention to South Florida and to our university.”

It wasn’t easy. The first football season was set for 2020 – which brought along the COVID-19 pandemic. FMU was the only HBCU to play football that season, playing a handful of games before being shut down. 

The band continued to improve out of the purview of many in the HBCU world. Florida Memorial University competes in football at the NAIA level, and only faces a handful of HBCUs per year because of that. Even when the Band of The Year concept was announced, there wasn’t much of a buzz about FloMo, but the proof was in the rankings.

FMU ranked second in September, turning heads with its selection over marching bands in the Division II/NAIA category with much more extensive history. It maintained top three status in each of the the three months. Co-Chair Dowell Taylor, Band Director Emeritus at Jackson State University, talked about what impressed him the most. 

“I was impressed with their mannerisms, the way they carried themselves, the way they handled their instrument carriage, the way they handled their total body form,” Taylor told HBCU Gameday. “And I was very impressed with the fact that everybody was in tune with each other. Everybody knew, and I recall seeing some adjusted steps in some of your maneuvers. I saw some curvilinear forms in your maneuvers.”

Florida Memorial will be competing against one of the oldest HBCU bands, Virginia State University, for the national title at the D2/NAIA level. Whatever happens, Dr. Beckwith is proud of what his band has accomplished in such a short amount of time. 

“From the day that I was handed the position, we declared that one day we were going to be amongst the best,” he said. “Like we literally said it in the interview, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to actually showcase what we’re doing more than anything.

And I’m grateful to God for, you know, the prophecy and just being able to speak it out, walk in it every day and tell the students every day, listen, do it the right way, do it with integrity. Go hard every single time, show your your effort and good things will come. So this is a manifestation.”

The Band of The Year competition is set for Dec. 15 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

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Jackson State leads the SWAC with nearly 30k. That’s an impressive number, but it is a significant drop from its 2022 number. Norfolk State got a slight bump as it led the MEAC. North Carolina A&T got another sellout it’s first season in the CAA.

Here are the numbers of attendance at each HBCU homecoming game. All numbers were taken from official box scores from each school’s athletic website.

MEAC

Norfolk State-24,976

South Carolina State-22,269

North Carolina Central-13,626

Howard-7,684

Delaware State-6,300

Morgan State-Canceled

SWAC

Jackson State-30,947

Alabama A&M-26,391

Florida A&M-22,338

Southern-21,492

Alcorn State-21,012

Alabama State-17,995

Prairie View A&M-14,224

Arkansas-Pine Bluff-13,469

Bethune-Cookman-9,458

Mississippi Valley State-8,752

Grambling State-8,657

Texas Southern-6,352

CAA

North Carolina A&T-21,500

Hampton-13,811

CIAA

Winston-Salem State-8,200

Virginia Union-5,250

Shaw-5,022

Livingstone – 4,501

Bowie State-4,395

St. Augustine’s-3,719

Fayetteville State-3,680

Elizabeth City State-3,579

Johnson C. Smith-3,452

Virginia State-3,409

Lincoln (PA)-2,117

Bluefield State-N/A

SIAC

Tuskegee-31,726

Clark Atlanta-19,597

Savannah State-12,723

Fort Valley State-12,113

Morehouse-10,213

Benedict-8,589

Albany State-8,371

Kentucky State-2,898

Edward Waters-2,472

Lane-1,753

Allen-905

Central State-N/A

Miles-N/A

Other

Tennessee State-13,975

West Virginia State-3,954

Lincoln (MO)-3,333

Virginia University-Lynchburg-1,753

Florida Memorial-1,200

Langston-N/A

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Langston University men’s basketball entered the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll ranked fourth overall, the national office announced. 

The Lions are the highest-rated team in the Sooner Athletic Conference and are led by second-year head coach Chris Wright. Langston opens their season on November 4 versus William Woods University at C.F. Gayles Field House. 

Poll Methodology:

• The NAIA Men’s Basketball Poll is for publicity purposes only and has no weight or bearing in the selection process for national championship field consideration
• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place and so on through the list
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
• For the first preseason poll, there is no column referencing a previous ranking, as polls are new and different from the ratings system
• Frequency of polls occur bi-weekly
• For the complete Top 25 polls calendar, click HERE

Langston’s Chris Wright took over a program that was 1-27 and 1-37 over the past two seasons. Under his guidance, the Lions finished an incredible 31-3 in 2022-2023. It’s one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in college basketball history.

“Last season Langston was 1-27. This season the Lions were 31-3. What else really needs to be said about the job Chris Wright has done,” said Joe Dwyer, President of CollegeInsider.com. “It’s without question one of the best, if not the best, single-season turnaround in college basketball history, at any level. Chris Wright is an excellent coach and a quality individual.”

In his first season, The Lions went 26-2 in the regular season, making history as the first HBCU to win the Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season title and the conference tournament title. Winning the SAC earned Langston a No. 2 seed in the NAIA National Tournament, where they would go on to post wins over Southern Oregon and Southwestern College, before falling to Georgetown KY in the round of 16.

Wright came to Langston after spending the previous four seasons as the head coach at Talladega College. During his tenure, the Tornadoes have compiled a 106-25 record and reached the NAIA National Tournament in all four seasons.

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LANGSTON, Okla. — The Langston University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce they have partnered with Opendorse to launch the Langston Athletics Marketplace, the department’s official NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) market for student-athletes.

“Most small college athletic administrators do not have the budget to create a NIL department or hire an additional person to handle student athlete NIL opportunities. Opendorse serves as my NIL department,” Langston University Director of Athletics Donnita Rogers said. “This NIL platform ensures that at a touch of a button, all Langston University student-athlete NIL disclosures, personal profile pages, and current contracts are available on our NIL dashboard. Our athletes will receive valuable training on personal branding, current NIL legislation as well as tax prep information.”

Visit the marketplace here: The Official Langston University Marketplace for NIL Deals – Opendorse

Why Opendorse

• Opendorse maximizes NIL opportunities for student-athletes, while delivering security and simplicity for all involved parties.
• The Opendorse-powered marketplace is built on a decade of athlete marketing technology and experience. Opendorse has facilitated hundreds of thousands of NIL deals and endorsements with athletes at every level of sports. The marketplace is used by over 100,000 athletes to manage deals from pitch to payment, and even tax prep, every day.
• The NIL company launched its initial school-specific NIL marketplaces with partners including Oregon, Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oregon State and Memphis throughout the spring of 2022. Student-athletes at these institutions experienced a 193% increase in NIL opportunities in the first month after the marketplace’s launch.

Athlete experience

• Every Langston athlete will receive an Opendorse profile, which they can customize and promote to fans on their personal social media channels. 
• Athletes review opportunities, receive deals, accept compensation, and disclose NIL activities to their institution, all within the Opendorse app.

Partnership

• In addition to the marketplace, Langston continues its partnership with Opendorse, receiving full access to the all-in-one NIL platform.
  • Langston will continue to provide its student-athletes and staff with Opendorse’s best-in-class compliance, content, and education tools.
  • Compliance: upon completing a deal, athletes can automatically disclose activity details to their institution to ensure eligibility.
  • Content: athletes have on-demand access to share photos and videos from games, practice, and more.
  • Education: athletes receive in-person and on-demand virtual education sessions from industry leaders at companies including Meta, Overtime, Players’ Tribune, Opendorse, and more.

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LANGSTON — Langston University head football coach Quinton Morgan unveiled the upcoming 2023 football schedule, which features six home games at W.E. Anderson stadium and four road contests.

The season kicks off at home in a non-conference matchup versus MidAmerica Nazarene on August 26. Langston hosts Louisiana Christian on September 16. The Lions finishes September on the road at Texas College on September 23, then travel to Southwestern Assemblies of God on September 30.

The month of October features a homecoming matchup versus Arkansas Baptist on October 21. Last year the Lions demolished Arkansas Baptist in an impressive 45-8 victory. Home games continue with contests against Oklahoma Panhandle State on October 7 and Ottawa-Arizona on October 28. Langston football hit the road again with one contest at North American University on October 14.

Langston wraps up the regular season by hosting Texas Wesleyan on November 4. On Veterans Day they will travel to face Wayland Baptist on November 11. All game times are TBA.

General admission tickets go on sale on Saturday, July 1 at 6:00 a.m. at the link provided below. Homecoming general admission tickets will go on sale at a discounted rate of $20 until Saturday, July 15.

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MARION, Ind. – Seth Alexander became Xavier University of Louisiana’s (XULA) first NAIA national champion in track and field when he won the triple jump Friday.

Alexander – a junior pharmacy major from Arnaudville, La., and a former Breaux Bridge High School standout – set a Xavier University record of 15.39 meters/50 feet 6 inches. Alexander was the only jumper to reach 50 feet.
Alexander held the previous XULA record of 15.31 meters/50 feet, 2 3/4 inches. He did that in an April 28 victory in the Red River Athletic Conference Championships at San Antonio, Texas.
Seth Alexander produced his winning mark on his second of three jumps during the preliminary round. His first jump was 15.15 meters/49 feet, 8 1/2 inches. Alexander passed on his third attempt, fouled on his fourth attempt – that was his first of the nine-athlete final – then passed twice more.
The victory was Alexander’s third in a row in this event during the outdoor season. He won twice indoors and finished third at NAIA indoor nationals.
Teammate Blake Harris joined Alexander as an NAIA All-American in this event. Harris, a junior, placed third with 15.14 meters/49 feet, 8 inches. Harris, the RRAC runner-up, produced his fourth top-3 finish of this outdoor season.
Cumberland freshman Goodness Iredia, seeded first entering nationals with 15.93 meters/52 feet, 3 1/4 inches, did not compete. Iredia won the long jump Thursday, and Cumberlands publicist Kyle Allen said Iredia had been bothered all season with a hamstring injury. No. 2 seed Myles Lincoln of Union (Ky.) (15.37 meters/50 feet, 5 1/4 inches) placed fifth with 15.12 meters/49 feet, 7 1/4 inches.

Also earning All-America was senior Colin Rowe, eighth in the 400-meter dash in 47.87 seconds – XULA’s second fastest time since the program was revived in 2010. Rowe, in his first XULA season after transferring from the University of Maryland, ran 47.85 at the RRAC meet. Keishon Franklin of Southeastern (Fla.) won Friday in 46.57.
The Gold Rush tied for 14th with Keiser in team scoring with 20 points. It was the XULA’s highest men’s finish in this meet. Life was the champion with 55 points, and British Columbia was second with 41.
“I’m extremely proud of our men and women and my coaching staff,” said fifth-year XULA head coach Yhann Plummer, whose women tied for 37th in team scoring. “We worked hard all year. We endured lots of ups and downs with injuries – but everyone stepped up when it mattered most. It’s good to see the smiles on their faces. And we also have a national championship! Today was a great day.”

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Turner’s time ranked eighth out of nine qualifiers and broke Shalysa Wray’s XULA record of 24.11. Wray set the record on May 23, 2019, in the NAIA national prelims at Gulf Shores, Ala. Cumberland’s Praise Idamadudu (23.21) was the fastest qualifier. The 200 final will start at 4:10 p.m. EDT Friday at Indiana Wesleyan University’s Wildcat Track & Field Complex.

 XULA’s 400 relay team of Emerald Carter, Ariel Ford, Darryan Horton and Turner placed 11th in qualifying in 46.68. The ninth and final qualifier was Madonna in 46.42. William Carey was No. 1 in 44.94.

Turner was the Gold Nuggets’ representative when the NAIA honored Champions of Character athletes during opening ceremonies. Each team at the meet with significant numbers of qualifiers can nominate one recipient who best exemplifies the Champions of Character traits of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

The Gold Nuggets‘ Thursday events:
        •  2 p.m. – Carter, Jade Harris and Kyla Coleman in 100 hurdles preliminaries
        •  2:30 p.m. – Skylah Barton in 800 preliminaries
        •  2:30 p.m. – Turner in 100 preliminaries
        •  5:30 p.m. – Zoe Cordova in triple jump
        •  8:15 p.m. – Fedjine Bell, Ford, Carter and Turner in 1,600 relay preliminaries

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial football has named former NFL star Terence Garvin as Co-Defensive Coordinator.

“I’m thankful to Coach Bobby Rome, AD Horn, and the Florida Memorial community for this opportunity,” Garvin explained. “I am excited to put my hand in the pile and go to work and lead this defense to success. I am focused on the mission, and eager to attack it.”

Garvin joined FMU in the summer of 2022 as linebackers coach, defensive run-game coordinator and assistant special teams coordinator. Prior to his coaching debut, he played in the NFL for a total of six seasons, including stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Washington Redskins (now Commanders), the Seattle Seahawks, and the Miami Dolphins.

“When you ask around the football community about Terence Garvin, people consistently have a lot of respect for his knowledge of the game,” said FMU head football coach Bobby Rome. “Coach Garvin works extremely hard and values his opportunity here at FMU, and we’re happy to have him on our coaching staff.”

Following his time in the NFL, Garvin played in the inaugural Alliance of American Football League for the Orlando Apollos, then joined the XFL as a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Coach Garvin is a Baltimore native who attended and played football at the University of West Virginia. During his time with the Mountaineers, he was a member of the BCS Orange Bowl Championship team that defeated Clemson in record fashion 70-33, breaking eight separate team and individual bowl game records.

n his first season with the FMU Lions, Garvin coached the linebackers who produced the conference’s leading tackler, Joshua Mimms. The FMU linebacker finished with 100 tackles in 2022. In the same season, the Lions defense finished first in the NAIA in tackles for loss.

Garvin has been coached by NFL greats like Dick Labeu, Mike Tomlin, Pete Carroll, and many more.

“Coach T-Garv is a dog,” said Jameel Smith, who is splitting duties with Garvin as Co-Defensive Coordinator. 

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2022-23 Men’s Basketball All-America teams with Tristan Harper being named to the NAIA All-America First Team.

Hailing from Columbus, Georgia Harper capped a banner year for the Lions after being named the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Player of the Year and first-team All-SAC after leading Langston. The senior forward led the Lions with 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season. Each game Harper averaged 25.9 minutes.

Tristan Harper tallied a season-high 35 points in a 97-67 win at home over Southwestern Christian on Nov. 19. He had a season high of 12 rebounds three times throughout the season at Mid-America Christian, vs. Central Christian and vs. Science & Arts. As he continued to dominate on the court, Harper was named the Oklahoma Ford Dealers SAC player of the week for his exploits on the court Nov. 14-20.

The Langston men’s basketball team ended the 2022-2023 season clinching the 2023 SAC Men’s Basketball Championships; placing their record to 31-3 overall. During the NAIA Championship Tournament Round 16 the Lions fell 74-60 to Georgetown (Ky.). Despite the loss Harper lead the way scoring 22 points.

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Reed made his name and fortune as a rugged 6-10 left-handed center with patented jump and hook shots. He is remembered for some of the most iconic moments in NBA and Knicks history. None however more than his emergence from the locker room after a thigh injury was expected to sideline him for the seventh and deciding game of the 1970 NBA finals vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.

He was facing the Lakers with the likes of all-time NBA greats Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Reed, the Knicks’ captain. limped out of the locker room, hobbled onto the court and and scored the first four points of the game. He finished with just six points and three rebounds. But his inspiring entrance and play led the Knicks to their first-ever NBA championship in a 113-99 wire-to-wire win.

Reed was that season’s NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA All-Star Game MVP and the MVP of the NBA Finals. He was the first player in NBA history to sweep the three awards. Those awards helped secure his legendary status.

He was also on the team but a less integral part of the Knicks second NBA crown in the 1972-73 season.

Willis Reed: An NBA force from the beginning

The Knicks selected Reed with the first pick in the second round, eighth overall, of the 1964 NBA Draft out of Grambling. Reed quickly made a name as a fierce, dominating and physical force on both ends of the floor. In March 1965, he scored 46 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, the second-highest single-game total ever by the Knicks’ rookie. For the 1964—65 season, he ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring (19.5 points per game) and fifth in rebounding at 14.7 per game. He also began his string of seven straight All-Star appearances.

In his 10-year NBA career, all with the Knicks, Reed averaged 18.7 points and 14.7 rebounds. After averaging 19.5 points per game as a rookie and 15.5 points in his sophomore season, Reed averaged over 20 points per game over his next five seasons (1966-67 thru 1970-71). He also averaged over 13 rebounds per game in six of his first seven seasons in the league. As it stands, Reed, who spent his entire playing career with the Knicks (1964-74) still ranks in the franchise’s respective top ten rankings in rebounds (8,414), points (12,183), and games played (650). 

Willis Reed among greatest of all time

In 1982, Reed was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  He was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.^[In October 2021, Reed was again honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all-time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

After retiring as a player, Reed served as assistant and head coach with several teams for nearly a decade. He was then promoted to general manager and vice president of basketball operations (1989—1996) for the New Jersey Nets. As senior vice president of basketball operations, he helped to lead them to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.  

Willis Reed stars at Grambling

Before his NBA career, Reed, a Lincoln Parrish, La. native, attended and starred at Grambling. He played for legendary Grambling head coach Fred Hobdy and scored 2,280 points in his four-year career. Reed averaged 26.6 points and 21.3 rebounds in his senior campaign. He led the Tigers to the 1961 NAIA national championship defeating Georgetown (Ky). 95-75 in the title game. He also led Grambling to three Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.

Grambling lost in the NAIA quarterfinals in Reed’s freshman season (1960). After winning the national title in 1961, Reed’s Tigers also fell in the 1963 NAIA semifinals.

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“It’s been nearly seven years in the making,” Wilberforce University’s head baseball coach Roosevelt Barnes told HBCU Gameday. “We initially started conversations, you know, 2016 or so, with the Cincinnati Reds and the University. So, to actually get that first pitch thrown and after the long path to recruiting and getting the guys on the field feels good”

Roosevelt Barnes has been involved with the Cincinnati Reds RBI program for quite some time now. The organization had a large part inn reviving the baseball team at Wilberforce.

“RBI stands for reviving baseball in the inner cities,” Coach Barnes explained. “John Young, who was the founder of the RBI program many years ago, saw the need to have more young men of color playing the game. You know this is a very expensive game.”

This addition comes at a time when many HBCU baseball programs are now defunct.

“Major League Baseball and the Cincinnati Reds have been very helpful throughout the Midwest. To create that footprint to revive baseball back at Wilberforce in over 80 years I think is very historic. I’m not sure if a lot of people know this or not, but Wilberforce is the nation’s first privately owned and operated HBCU founded in 1856 and the Cincinnati Reds is Major League Baseball’s first team.”

The team is nearly midway through their come-back season and Coach Barnes is loving what he is seeing from the players on the field.

“We’ve got guys that play with swag and they kind of make their game fit their own personalities,” He explained. “There’s really good energy here and I’m really confident that we’re gonna be a force to be reckoned here here in the Midwest.”

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LANGSTON — AJ Rainey poured in a season-high 32 points and led the No. 5 Langston University Lions past the Southwestern (Kan.) Moundbuilders 87-65 before a capacity crowd Wednesday night at C.F. Gayles Field House in the second round of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament.

Langston established their dominance from the outset, leading 24-6 at the 11:03 mark in the first half. The Lions led 45-30 at halftime and pushed their lead to as much as 19 points in the second half before closing out with back-to-back three pointers from Rainey to seal the 87-65 victory.

Rainey finished 11-of-14 from the field including seven three-pointers in 35 minutes of action. Toru Dean chipped in with 19 points, six boards and five assists followed by Tristan Harper and Cortez Mosley who tallied 11 and 10 points respectively.

Collectively, Langston University hit 45 percent from the field including 12 three-pointers and finished 17-of-21 from the free throw line. The Lions held the Moundbuilders to 47 percent (23-of-48), five-of-15 from the three-point line and forced 17 turnovers.

Langston moves to 31-2 overall, finishes a perfect 16-0 in home contests this season and advances to the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament Round of 16 where they’ll face Georgetown (Ky.) College on Tuesday, March 14.

The last time the Lions advanced to the round of 16 took place during the 2016-17 season when Langston defeated Dillard 84-74 on March 17, 2017. Game time vs Georgetown (Ky.) is set for 1 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

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The NAIA announced pairings Thursday evening. The Gold Rush (22-8) will play Hope International (20-10) at 5 p.m. MST Tuesday in the opening round at the College of Idaho’s J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The facility was built in 1991, and its basketball gym seats 2,422.

The XULA-Hope International winner will play the College of Idaho-Westcliff winner at 7 p.m. Wednesday for a chance to advance to Kansas City, Mo., for the last four rounds March 16-21.

XULA is seeded eighth and Hope International ninth in the Naismith Quadrant. College of Idaho (30-1) is a No. 1 seed and was unanimously atop the most recent coaches poll.

Previous lengthy trips for the Gold Rush this season were to South Bend, Ind., Uncasville, Conn., and Hobbs, N.M.

XULA qualified for nationals with an automatic bid, the result of beating 17th-ranked LSU-Shreveport 79-63 Sunday in the championship game of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament at Alexandria, La.

 Xavier Reaves – a 6-foot-6 forward and a graduate transfer in his only season at XULA – leads the Gold Rush with per-game averages of 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals. Reaves was MVP of the RRAC Tournament.

XULA qualified for NAIA nationals for the fourth straight season, the fifth time in six seasons – all under current head coach Alfred Williams – and the 15th time in 19 seasons.

Hope International finished third out of 10 teams in the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season, beat 25th-ranked The Master’s in the GSAC Tournament semifinals but lost 71-69 to Ottawa (Ariz.) in the championship game. Jalani Horn, a 6-7 junior forward, leads the Royals with 17.8 points per game and shoots 54.8 percent from the floor. Horn is one of four double-figure scorers on his team.

Hope International defeated XULA 61-52 in the opening round of NAIA Division I nationals in 2014.

This will be the second time a XULA team travels to College of Idaho for NAIA nationals. Women’s volleyball lost 25-18, 25-11, 25-14 to the 15th-ranked Yotes in the 2015 opening round.

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OKLAHOMA CITY — The No. 5 Langston University continued their storybook season on Tuesday evening, knocking off Wayland Baptist 80-68 to clinch the first ever Sooner Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament championship in program history at the Gaulke Activity Center.

Wayland Baptist led 41-40 at the 17:30 mark in the second half when the Lions roared to life on a 12-3 scoring run that pushed Langston in front 52-42 with 13:15 left to play.

The Pioneers worked the lead back down to six points with under ten minutes to go but Langston countered with an 8-2 scoring run, putting them up 68-54 at the 5:42.

The Lions never let Wayland Baptist closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Toru Dean led Langston in scoring with 17 points on the night. AJ Rainey added 14, Tristan Harper added 12 and D’Monte Brown picked up his fourth double-double on the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

“This was a really big win for us. Wayland Baptist is a talented and well-coached team. They are very explosive offensively and I was proud of the way we were able to guard tonight,” Langston head coach Chris Wright said. “To win both the regular season and the conference tournament was very validating. We had six of the other eleven SAC coaches pick us to finish fifth or sixth. We took that very personally and it motivated us to run away with the conference the way we did.”

Rainey was named the SAC Tournament Most Valuable Player for his efforts after tallying 22 points versus John Brown University on Feb. 23, 21 points versus Southwestern Assemblies of God on Feb. 27 and 14 points tonight versus the Pioneers.

Harper also picked up postseason accolades as he was also named to the All-SAC Tournament team.

Langston switches focus to NAIA National Tournament

Langston improves to 29-2 overall on the season and have cemented their place in program history by becoming the first HBCU to win the Sooner Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship in the same season.

The Lions will now turn their attention to the NAIA National Tournament which begins on Tuesday, March 7th on the campus of Langston University at C.F. Gayles Field House. The Lions received an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament after claiming the SAC regular season championship and were awarded the opportunity to host the opening rounds.

Each first and second round site will feature four teams and will play single elimination on Tuesday & Wednesday, March 7-8. The winner of the final game will go to the NAIA National Championship Final Site in Kansas City, Mo.

The Lions will find out their opponent in the NAIA National Tournament on Thursday, March 2 when the NAIA Men’s Basketball selection show premieres at 7:00 p.m. CST. on the NAIA YouTube Channel.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Sooner Athletic Conference announced its 2022-23 Men’s Basketball All-Conference team and individual awards with several Langston Lions receiving honors. SAC regular-season champion Langston gathered multiple awards including player of the year (Tristan Harper) defensive player of the year (Cortez Mosley), newcomer of the year (Harper) and the John Hudson coach of the year (Chris Wright).

Offensive Player of the Year

Harper led Langston with 15.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season. Harper a 6-foot-6 senior from Columbus, Ga., lands on the all-conference first team for the first time. He had a season-high 35 points in a 97-67 win at home over Southwestern Christian on Nov. 19. He had a season high of 12 rebounds three times throughout the season at Mid-America Christian, vs. Central Christian and vs. Science & Arts. He was named the Oklahoma Ford Dealers SAC player of the week for his exploits on the court Nov. 14-20.

Defensive Player of the Year

Mosley averaged 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season. Mosley had a season-high 21 points versus UNT-Dallas on Feb. 16, 2023, and Midland University on Nov. 7, 2022. He was also selected to the All-SAC second team for his efforts.Wright took home league coach of the year honors after one of the most remarkable turnarounds for a program in history. Wright was named the Lions’ head coach last spring, inheriting a program that went 1-27 in 2021-22. He retooled the team, leading them to an overall record of 26 wins and 2 losses and a 20-2 mark in conference games, leading to a regular-season conference championship. It was the first regular-season championship for the Lions since joining the SAC.

Rounding out the selections were Toru Dean and AJ Rainey who were named to the All-SAC Third Team and All-SAC Honorable Mention Teams respectively. Dean and Mosley were also named to the SAC All-Defensive team.

Dean averaged 10.1 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and 2.2 steals per game. He posted a season-high 26 points on Feb. 11, 2023, versus Texas Wesleyan.

Rainey averaged 12.6 points per game, 3.4 assists per game and 3.0 rebounds per game. He posted a season-high 20 points versus USAO on January 5, 2023.

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Tied at 65-65 with 42 seconds remaining, UNTD moved in front behind back-to-back free throws from Vernon Johnson to make it 67-65. On the ensuing offensive possession, Anthony White missed a three-pointer that would’ve put Langston in front with seven seconds remaining.

Toru Dean led LU with 15 points and 11 rebounds. AJ Rainey added 12, D’Monte Brown and Tristan Harper both finished with 11 and Cedric Roland chipped in 10. Collectively, Langston hit 35 percent (19-of-53) from the field and finished 25-of-29 from free throw range.

Langston (16-1, 10-1 SAC) returns to action on Thursday, January 19th versus Mid-America Christian at home. Game time is set for 7:45 p.m.

Langston women get it done on the road

LANCASTER, Texas — Three players scored in double figures for the Langston University Lady Lions as they rolled the University of North Texas-Dallas Trailblazers 84-43 on Saturday at Cedar Valley College.

The Lady Lions never trailed in Saturday’s contest, entering halftime in front 38-31. In the second half, they pulled away by outscoring the Trailblazers 32-10 in the third and 14-2 in the fourth quarter to move to 12-5 overall and 7-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Kameron Shelley led LU, posting a season-high 22 points. Koreea Kirksey added 11 and Jamya Rogers chipped in 10. Collectively, Langston knocked down 46 percent (33-of-71) from the field and finished 12-of-28 from three-point range.

Langston (12-5, 7-4 SAC) returns to the court on Thursday, January 19th versus Mid-America Christian. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Langston University men’s basketball team enters the top five for the first time since the 2018-19 season in the fourth edition of NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced.

Langston is the only undefeated team in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll at 15-0 and ranked third overall with 520 total votes and also received one first-place vote. The Lions are the highest-rated team in the Sooner Athletic Conference and ranked in the NAIA Top 25 for the third consecutive NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll. 

Today’s poll marks the highest that Langston University has been ranked in the NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll. The previous high was fourth overall on January 2, 2019.

Statistically, Langston University is in steals per game (3.7), second in the NAIA in net efficiency (0.326), third in points allowed per game (59.7) and sixth in offensive efficiency (1.177). Langston is also outscoring opponents by an average of 24.2 points per game.

Langston University returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 12 versus Southwestern Assemblies of God in Waxahachie, Texas. The Lions next home matchup is set for January 19th versus Mid-America Christian.

Poll Methodology:

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
• Frequency of polls occur bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) beginning in the 2016-17 academic season. This change will allow raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work in between rating periods.
• For the complete NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, click here.

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Back At It … ??

D'Monte Brown – 19 pts
AJ Rainey – 15 pts
Cedric Roland/James Ellis – 10 pts#goLions #FeartheRoar pic.twitter.com/vrhCAjv0d4

— Langston Athletics (@LangstonSports) December 7, 2022

Collectively, Langston hit 58 percent (31-of-53) from the field and 15-of-22 from the free throw line. The Lions also outscored Arkansas Baptist 42-22 on points in the paint, 26-9 on points off turnovers and 16-2 in fast break points.

Langston (10-0) returns to Sooner Athletic Conference action on Saturday, Dec. 10 versus Oklahoma Panhandle State at home. Game time is set for 3:45 p.m.
 

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Langston is currently undefeated at 8-0 and ranked 15th overall with 287 total votes. The Lions are the highest rated team in the Sooner Athletic Conference and ranked in the NAIA Top-25 for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

On Tuesday night Langston defeated Central Christian College 87-50 for its 7th straight victory under first-year head coach Chris Wright. Thursday, the Lions returned to action at home versus Oklahoma City University. They improved to 8-0 with a 62-55 victory over OCU.

Poll Methodology:

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appears on.
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
• Frequency of polls occur bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) beginning in the 2016-17 academic season. This change will allow raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work in between rating periods.

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The AAUL HBCU Basketball Invitational seeks to elevate HBCU sports as a key driver of sports entertainment, but its impact extends beyond the court. “This invitational is the first of the exciting programming we want to develop as part of the AAUL HBCU Live Xperience,” said Quincy Dunlap, President and CEO, Austin Area Urban League. “We are committed to creating programs that make a discernible change in our community and continue to drive support to HBCU academic and sporting programs.”

HBCU College Fair

In addition to the games, the AAUL will host its Full Court Prep for Success youth program, College Fair and Career Expo. The youth development initiative will provide personal development skills for underserved boys and girls, ages 10-16, in cities across Central Texas. The college and career fair will feature a host of colleges and universities to engage with prospective students and top employers who are interested in diverse recruitment opportunities. These efforts will bring together various employers, experienced professionals, community-based organizations, and job seekers under one roof to deliver a best-in-class experience.

“While one team may walk away with the top prize, it’s our hope that everyone who attends, participates, or supports the tournament walks away feeling like a champion,” said Mario Davis, Special Initiatives Coordinator, Austin Area Urban League. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this.

About Austin Area Urban League (AAUL)

Founded in 1977, the Austin Area Urban League is a nonprofit organization aimed at enriching the lives of citizens within the greater Central Texas Region. The Austin Area Urban League is one of more than 90 affiliates of the National Urban League providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of thousands in the Central Texas region. Aligning with the Empowerment pillars of the National Urban League, the Austin Area Urban League seeks to meet the needs of underserved populations in the Austin and Central Texas region by focusing on programming and services in the areas of Education and Youth Development, Workforce and Career Development, Health and Wellness, Housing and Community Development, and Justice and Advocacy.

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