Tuscaloosa valedictorian with 4.56 GPA, millions of dollars in scholarships shamed online; Will Attend Florida A&M University

Filer will attend Florida A&M University in the fall on a full scholarship.  Her father also attended FAMU and was valedictorian at his high school. 

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Days after Mari Filer graduated as Central High School’s valedictorian, she’s still receiving college acceptance letters.

So far, she’s been accepted to more than 40 colleges and universities. She has a 4.56 GPA and has earned nearly $3 million in scholarships.

“I spent a lot of my time working. You just know when it’s time to work to get it done,” Filer said.

Hours after she graduated, she posted her accomplishments on Twitter and Facebook.

“I started getting like thousands of likes by the minute and it was just crazy,” Filer said.

Filer received a lot of congratulations but some are shaming her saying she’s a fraud.

“A few people were like you can’t get above a 4.0 GPA. She’s lying. $2.8 million in scholarships? I don’t believe that for one minute. One man was like, ‘Where is she going to school? Mars University?’” Filer said.

The teen is taking her 24 college credits to Florida A&M University, where she has a full ride.

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High risk, high reward: New Bern native Shawn Best transferring to JUCO from North Carolina A&T, re-opens recruitment

SHAWN BEST #76

NEW BERN, North Carolina -- Shawn Best knows the risk he’s taking. But like he has most of his life, the 6-foot-6, 322-pound offensive lineman is looking forward to proving doubters wrong.

The former New Bern High standout is transferring from North Carolina A&T to Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona. He will play a season of junior college football and re-open his recruitment – and work for a scholarship at a Division-I program for the 2017 class.

“I’m very determined. There are a lot of people who have their opinions of me now because I am transferring,” said Best. “I’m taking a big risk by leaving A&T, but I’m working to better my pastures. “I’m looking forward to proving them wrong.”

His decision is already paying dividends. Best has already received an offer from Iowa State and Idaho, and has heard from others. He leaves for Arizona on June 29. After Best plays a season at Arizona Western, he will have two more seasons of eligibility at another school.

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SUNO Women Earn Two National Championships, Finish 4th Overall

Complete Meet Results

GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Southern University at New Orleans had its most successful trip to the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in more than two decades, finishing fourth overall and producing two national champions.

The Lady Knights were led by senior Orenthia Bennett, who captured the women's 400 meter crown. Bennett was also a member of the national champion 4x400 meter relay team, along with freshman Shantae Green, sophomore Shadae Hylton, and senior Leonie Robinson.

SUNO's women compiled six top-five finishes overall, with Hylton taking third place in the 400 meters,sophomore Oshin Brooks-Gillings finishing fourth in the 100 meters, Green ran fifth in the 400 meter hurdles, and the team of sophomore Chantal Pennie, Hylton, Brooks-Gillings, and Robinson finished second in the 4x100 meter relay.

"This was an outstanding team effort", said SUNO head coach Yhann Plummer. "The team was excited to finish fourth, but they felt like they could have done even better. We left a few points out there on the track this weekend, but overall I can't be anything but proud of the work that they put in this entire season and here at the national championships."

The SUNO men's team produced three All-Americans. Freshman Danielle Richards came in fifth in the 400 meters and senior Chad Thomas finished sixth in the 400 meter hurdles. Alex Saunders was the team's top performer, earning a third place finish in the men's 800 meter run.

"We're going to lose some great athletes and leaders in people like Orenthia (Bennett) and Chad (Thomas), but I think the future is very bright for SUNO track. We'll be back next year and we'll build on this. Right now I'm just excited for our team and our university."

SUNO Outdoor Track & Field All-Americans

Women
Athlete	Yr.	Event
Orenthia Bennett	Sr.	400m*, 4x400m relay*
Oshin Brooks-Gillings	So.	100m, 4x100m relay
Shantae Green	Fr.	400m hurdles, 4x400m relay*
Shadae Hylton	So.	400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay*
Chantal Pennie	So.	4x100m relay
Leonie Robinson	Sr.	4x100m relay, 4x400m relay*
Men
Athlete	Yr.	Event
Danielle Richards	Fr.	400m
Alex Saunders	Jr.	800m
Chad Thomas	Sr.	400m hurdles

*National Champion

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TSU coach wants to play Tennessee in football

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- While Butch Jones tries to talk prospects into coming to Tennessee at the Vols' first satellite camp June 5 at Tennessee State, Tigers coach Rod Reed will try to persuade Jones to do something he would like.

Make no mistake, Reed also will pitch his program to the 400-500 high school players who are expected to show up at Hale Stadium for what the Vols are calling Tennessee Statement Camp '16.

But at some point, Reed will take advantage of having Jones on his campus and try to talk him into doing something no Vols coach ever has done — play the Tigers.

UT has played other in-state Ohio Valley Conference teams Austin Peay and UT Martin over the past few years, and it will play Tennessee Tech this season.

The Vols also played Chattanooga, another in-state Football Championship Subdivision team, in 2014 and FCS power Montana in 2011.

But the Big Orange and the Big Blue never have played.

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LaToya Jones Named Head Women's Basketball Coach at Chowan University

Head Coach LaToya Jones

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina -- The Chowan University athletic department announced LaToya Jones as the Head Women's Basketball Coach on Friday morning.

Jones inherits a program that posted a program-best 20-9 overall record in 2015-16 under former Head Coach Patrick Mashuda. The Hawks made their second appearance in the CIAA Tournament semi-finals this past season while earning their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance with an at-large bid. After twelve seasons with the Chowan Blue and White as an administrator and coach, Mashuda departs on May 31st after accepting an Assistant Coach position at Kent State University.

President Dr. M. Christopher White commented, "We are extremely grateful to Coach Mashuda for his twelve years of service to the University. He came to Chowan at a time when we were really struggling. He was patient and committed to turning the program around, and I'm proud of the success he's had here. We wish him well in his new position. I'm eager to welcome Latoya Jones and her family to Chowan. The women's basketball program is primed for a successful season and I'm excited to see all that we will accomplish with LaToya as coach."

Jones stated, "Chowan University is a place of faith, family and pride. I felt the love for community, athletics, and family when I arrived on campus. Chowan continues to grow as a campus, student body, and in the athletic realm…I am grateful to be part of a thriving University that meets challenges with innovation, opportunity with enthusiasm, and change with embrace."

Vice President/Director of Athletics Ozzie McFarland noted, "I am very excited for the future of our women's basketball program. LaToya is ready to be a head coach. She is a person of incredible character with a wealth of basketball knowledge. Patrick Mashuda left our program in great shape and LaToya Jones is the right person to take leadership of the program and to continue the program's upward trend".

Jones added, "I am looking forward to leading and mentoring a group of young ladies that has thrived on and off the court. I am excited about coaching a team that has been successful and has a tradition of excellence. Coaching is my platform to build relationships that equate to winning on the court and ultimately, in life. Fans can expect to see the Chowan women's basketball team play with purpose, passion, and excitement."

Jones takes the reins of the Chowan women's basketball program after serving at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Spartans before being promoted to Director of Basketball Operations for the 2015-16 season. Jones orchestrated alumni outreach, recruiting, and community service initiatives for the program in that capacity, while working primarily with post players.

Prior to her time at UNCG, Jones gained coaching experience on staff at her alma mater, Gardner-Webb University. The Runnin' Bulldogs posted a 27-36 record during her two seasons as an assistant, highlighted by a 23-11 record in 2010-11. That same season, the Gardner-Webb women's basketball team earned the Big South Conference Tournament crown for the first time in program history and made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Jones began her coaching career at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, she led the Chargers to two state championship appearances including a state title in 2010.

Jones earned a degree in Elementary Education from Gardner-Webb in 2008. As a four-year women's basketball student-athlete, she was named Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic four times and guided the Bulldogs to their first-ever Atlantic Sun Tournament finals appearance in 2006.

The Atlanta, Georgia native assumes the role of Head Women's Basketball Coach on June 1st. She is married to Alex Jones. The two have an infant son, Jeremiah Alexander.

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Saint Augustine's Falcons Capture Fourth Straight NCAA Outdoor Men's Track and Field Title In Dominating Fashion; Women Finish As National Runner-Ups

The 2016 NCAA D-II National Outdoor Track and Field Champions
Courtesy Matt Marriott/NCAA PhotosMatt Marriott | NCAA Photos

BRADENTON, Florida  – The Saint Augustine's University track and field program continues to roll along.

The Falcons claimed their fourth straight men's title and the Lady Falcons finished as women national runner-ups on the final day of the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the IMG Academy Track and Field Stadium on Saturday, May 28.

The title was the 38^th for the highly successful program under legendary Head Coach George Williams including their 15^th men's outdoor championship. Starting the day with zero points, the Falcons zoomed past their opponents to win in dominating fashion. They scored all 85 points on the final day to rout Tiffin University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, who both tied for second with 36 points.

"I thought the men would perform well, but I didn't expect them to win like they did," said Williams, who has won the most NCAA track and field championships of any coach regardless of division.

The Lady Falcons nearly captured their fifth national outdoor title. They were edged out by national champion Pittsburg State University 52-51 in the women's division which wasn't decided until the final event. Hillsdale College placed third with 45 points.

"I wish the women had won," Williams said. "We were right there. We gave too many bonuses away. I want all the kids to be winners. The women work hard, so I hate to see them lose by one point like that.

Had the Lady Falcons won, it would have been the first outdoor sweep for Saint Augustine's University since 2001 and the first women's crown since 2002. Still, the finish was the highest for the Lady Falcons in an outdoor meet since 2003 when they placed second.

The Falcons relied on their relay teams and depth to surge ahead Saturday. They had multiple qualifiers in four events – the 100 and 200 dashes, the 800 run and the triple jump. They scored 57 points in those four events and 20 points in the relays to take control.

Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Sr./Raleigh, NC), the team's most versatile performer, led the way for the Falcons. He gained the 200 national title, finished second in the 100 and was a member of the winning 4x100 relay team.

"I am ecstatic," said Ellis, who has been a member of six national title teams including four outdoor champions. "We've been winning since my freshman year which has been great. To finish off with another championship and finally get the 200 national championship means a lot to me. I've wanted [the 200 title] bad since my freshman year." 

Daniel Jamieson (Jr./Windsor, CT) was fourth in the 200, seventh in the 100 and ran on the winning 4x100 squad. Shaquille Dill (Fr./Pembroke, Bermuda) and Immanuel Hutchinson (Sr./San Jacinto, CA) were first and third, respectively, in the 800 and both ran on the winning 4x400 relay. Dill won his national title as a freshman.

Shawn Rowe (Jr./West Palm Beach, FL) finished second in the 400 hurdles and ran on the winning 4x400 relay while Kendall Kee (Sr./Shelby, NC) placed sixth in the 100 and ran on the winning 4x100 relay. David Shaw (Sr./St. Pauls, NC) was second and Jumonne Exeter (So./St. Vincent) placed fourth in the triple jump.

The men served notice that this would be their day in the first running event. The 4x100 team of Brent Arceneaux (Sr./Snellville, GA), Ellis, Kee and Jamieson outran the field in 39.41. When the 100 dash, the 800 run, the triple jump and the 200 dash were completed, the Falcons were ahead 75-36 over TAMU-Kingsville with two events left.

"We wanted to let everybody know we were here," said Jamieson about the 4x100 relay victory. "It set the tone."

The Falcons capped the meet with a convincing victory in the 4x400 relay. The squad of Rowe, Dill, Hutchinson and Khari Herbert, Jr. (Jr./Coral Springs, FL) won by nearly two seconds with a time of 3:05.47.

The Lady Falcons had less depth than the men but got the most out of their seven women qualifiers in the finals. The spectacular Tia-Adana Belle (Jr./St. Michaels, Barbados) provided the spark with plenty of help from Ornella Livingston (Sr./St. Ann, Jamaica).

Belle broke the championship meet record again in winning the 400 hurdles. Her time of 56.13 was one-hundreth of a second better than the previous record time she set two days ago. She finished three seconds ahead of the second-place competitor. Belle was also on the 4x400 squad which placed fourth.

Livingston provided the bulk of the points with a victory in the 100 for a national title and a third-place finish in the 200. She also was on the 4x400 relay team and the 4x100 relay squad which placed fifth.

Shamia Lassiter (Sr./Chesapeake, VA) finished second in the 100 hurdles and also ran on the 4x100 team, which included Shakinah Brooks (Jr./Raleigh, NC) and Leah Barker (So./St. Michaels, Barbados). The 4x400 squad also included Barker and Ade Hunter (So./Philadelphia, PA).

After starting the day with eight points, the Lady Falcons started climbing up the standings. Livingston's third-place finish in the 200 put her team ahead for the first time at 46-42 with three events left.

The Lady Falcons trailed 52-46 with one event left after a victory by Pittsburg State in the high jump. They needed to place third or better in the 4x400 for the national crown but finished fourth. Still, their performance in the meet was one of the best in quite a while for a Lady Falcons' squad.

"After the relay, and I saw we came in fourth, I cried, because to miss it by one point, my mind went crazy," said Belle, who anchored the 4x400 relay. "I was thinking if I did this or that, it wouldn't have happened but I'm content and proud of my girls. It was a long season."

Belle added: "I'm proud at the end of the day. We came in third [in our heat], and finished second [overall]. I'm happy. The team this year was just great, we all put in effort and fought. We lost by one point but that's the best we have done in a while and I'm proud to be apart of this team.?

Each Falcons and Lady Falcons student-athlete who finished eighth or better earned All-America honors.



In the end, Pitt State held off St. Augustine's University by one point, 52 to 51, to claim the national title. SAU entered the final event of the meet, the 4x400m relay, needing to place first or second to claim the championship to itself or place third to share the title with the Gorillas. Instead, the Lady Falcons finished fourth in the race in 3:40.28 as they were edged out of third place by .17 seconds by third-place finishing Academy of Art (Calif.).

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BCU Wildcat Great Larry Little Honored In Hometown Miami

MIAMI, Florida -- Before Bethune-Cookman, it was Booker T. Washington High School in Miami for Larry Little.

The Wildcat and Miami Dolphin Hall of Famer was honored at his high school alma mater Wednesday as a Hometown Hall of Famer presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Ford Motor Company.

The program honors the hometown roots of football’s most famous hero with ceremonies and plaque dedication events. Little’s presentation was the 102nd in the program.

"I'm really honored by it all,” Little said. ‘It’s something that I knew would happen and I’m very excited about it. With the area Booker T. is in, I’m grateful that something like this can go into my high school and be there forever.”

After Booker T. Washington, Little came to Bethune-Cookman, where he was an all-conference defensive tackle during his playing days at from 1964-67.



Undrafted out of college, he spent two seasons with the San Diego Chargers before being traded to the Miami Dolphins in 1969.

During his 14 years with the Dolphins, Little’s play on the line spearheaded the NFL’s most punishing rushing attacks of the 1970s. Paving the way for Mercury Morris, Jim Kiick and Larry Csonka, Little helped the Dolphins win consecutive Super Bowls, including the perfect 17-0 season of 1972.

He returned to Bethune-Cookman in 1983 as head coach. During his tenure, the Wildcats won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in 1984 and 1988. He would coach players that would themselves go on to Hall of Fame status, quarterback J.D. Hall (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), Jeff Parker (B-CU) and Stevie Thomas (Arena Football League).

Little was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1999, he was ranked number 79 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Many of Little’s former Bethune-Cookman players and coaches were in attendance Wednesday, as well as former Booker T. Washington players, Dolphins players and coaches and his 96-year old mother, Ida Little.

Little hopes the plaque will inspire future generations.

"As long as if you believe in yourself, you can do anything,” Little said. “I knew what I wanted to be and I never quit.”

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