2018 CIAA Basketball Tournament Deposit $50.5 million into Charlotte Economy

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) made a significant impact during the 13th hosting of its annual men's and women's basketball tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This year's tournament delivered record attendances at many of the conference's annual community service events, crowned Virginia Union University men's and women's basketball teams as tournament champions and created welcoming atmospheres both in-arena and at other official events, while boosting the local economy. 

CIAA Tournament By The Numbers

Approximately, $1.6 million were raised in scholarship funds for current and future students to receive an education across the CIAA's 12-member institutions. These dollars are generated from support provided by our sponsors, alumni and fans who purchase tickets, and tax dollars generated from visitors traveling to town to be a part of the CIAA tournament experience. 

According to the 2018 CIAA Post-Tournament survey and economic impact report conducted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority:

• $28.8 million in direct spending was made by visitors on hotel accommodations, local transportation, food, shopping and entertainment during their tournament week stay
• $9.7 million in indirect spending was made by local businesses who increased their advertising and communications efforts, and purchases of miscellaneous supplies and services to meet the incremental demand of CIAA tournament visitors
• $12 million in labor wages were earned by the high volume of workers needed to support activities during tournament week and re-spent by those employees within the local economy. 

These figures combine for a total economic impact of $50.5 million, which is a 6.5 percent increase from 2017, and supportive of 436 jobs.

"This year's tournament was truly a homecoming celebration for CIAA students, alumni and fans," said Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. "We are grateful for the continuous support of our alumni and fans who attend from near and far, member institutions, and local and national partnerships. The combined efforts play a key role in the annual successes of the CIAA Basketball Tournament, and we look forward to forging stronger partnerships with the hospitality community to ensure that the support of our alumni and fans can benefit our CIAA institutions."

For the second year, the conference held early round games sessions at Bojangles' Coliseum on Tuesday and Wednesday and continued with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship finals at Spectrum Center on Thursday through Saturday. The collective game attendance for both venues was 73,343—a 5.8 percent increase from 2017.

"We are pleased with the continued growth we've been able to achieve by moving our early-round games to Bojangles' Coliseum," stated Dr. James Anderson, Chairman of the CIAA Board of Directors. "Not only have we created an exciting atmosphere for our student-athletes, alumni, and fans; but we've been able to deepen our relationships and persistently expand our engagement within the communities outside of Uptown Charlotte." 

CIAA Supports The Community

Throughout tournament week, CIAA staff, student-athletes, and corporate partners demonstrated their commitment to service through CIAA Supports community initiatives.

Approximately 5,544 high and middle school students from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and surrounding counties were reached during the annual CIAA Education Day program. Approximately 537 high school seniors were admitted to CIAA member institutions on-site.

Approximately 95 volunteers, including 40 student-athletes, distributed 800 pairs of new shoes to Nathaniel Alexander Elementary students. This initiative was a part of the 4th Annual Shoes of Hope project in partnership with Samaritan's Feet and Coke Zero.

The CIAA Career Expo drew a record crowd of 550 attendees, providing over 60 vendors inclusive of employers and recruiters with the opportunity to meet recent graduates, graduation candidates, current students from CIAA member schools and area universities, as well as local residents seeking job opportunities.

The CIAA Minority Business & Leadership Symposium drew in 215 minority and small business owners, and featured a panel discussion of candid conversations with business leaders on building and achieving generational wealth and prosperity through business ownership. President & CEO of Black Enterprise, Earl "Butch" Graves Jr., delivered a keynote address to attendees.  The CIAA also provided leadership development training to 40 of its student-athlete leaders from across all 12-member institutions.

The 2018 John B. McLendon CIAA Hall of Fame ceremony welcomed 508 attendees who celebrated the four individual inductees and the 13 members of the 1967 WSSU men's basketball team (under the leadership of legendary Head Coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines) into the new class.

Toyota Fan Fest and Super Saturday, part of the tournament's annual lineup of free activities for families, welcomed over 23,000 students, alumni, and fans to the Charlotte Convention Center.

CIAA Tournament Remains in Charlotte

The 2019 CIAA Tournament will be held in Charlotte from February 26 to March 2, 2019.

Early-round basketball games will be played at Bojangles' Coliseum on February 26 and 27, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals competitions at Spectrum Center from February 28 to March 2.

The conference plans to continue building upon its past year's efforts of weaving the Charlotte community and beyond into the fabric of the CIAA experience from basketball games and family-friendly activities to community programs that focus on components such as employment, diversity and inclusion, and entrepreneurship.

For more information about the upcoming 2019 CIAA Tournament and the conference, visit CIAATournament.org and TheCIAA.com.

About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first African American athletic conference and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 16 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. For more information on the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit CIAATournament.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

CIAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

S.C. State Porcher Headlines 2018 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Former South Carolina State standout and All-Pro defensive end Robert Porcher headlines the latest class to enter the 2018 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

The Mount Pleasant, South Carolina native made history in 1992 when he became the first Bulldog player to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Porcher was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 26th overall pick. In his 13-year career with the Lions (1992-2004), he led the team in sacks in eight seasons and earned three trips to the NFL Pro Bowl (1998, 2000 and 2002). Porcher retired in 2004 as Detroit's all-time sack leader.



Following his professional football career, Porcher became actively involved in the Detroit community. He currently has a foundation for cancer research and relief that raises thousands of dollars for programs at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. He was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Bulldogs retired his jersey (#94) in 2001. He was recently inducted into the Black College Football and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame in 2017.

The 2018 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Class
Robert Porcher- Detroit Lions
TJ Duckett-Michigan State
BJ Armstrong- Detroit native and longtime Chicago Bulls guard
Daedra Charles-Furlow-Detroit native and Tennessee basketball star
Charlie Coles-Basketball Coach
Cullen Finnerty-Grand Valley State
Kate Sobrero-Markgraf-USWNT (Bloomfield Soccer Standout)
Mick McCabe – Detroit Free Press Writer

For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.

Filmmaker and Alumnus Rob Hardy Introduces FAMU Rising Campaign

“FAMUly” we need you to invest in our students as we continue to grow a prosperous Florida A&M University. Join us today and contribute to FAMU’s transformational future! Donate at www.myfamu.edu/famurising.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

2018 College Baseball World Series Odds: Texas Southern vs. Texas Preview and Pick

AUSTIN, Texas -- After the Texas Southern Tigers won their third SWAC Tournament Title in four seasons (2015, 2017, 2018), they drew a tough matchup in the College World Series: the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns (37-20) landed the No. 1 seed in the region.

The top-seeded Longhorns, who dropped both games in the Big 12 championship (to Kansas and Oklahoma), will host Texas Southern Friday at 9 p.m. EST. It will be the second game of the regional doubleheader, which kicks off with Texas A&M versus Indiana at 5 p.m. EST. The No. 4 seed Tigers will face a tall task in this bracket.

1. 

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Texas coach Pierce learned not to underestimate Texas Southern

AUSTIN, Texas — Before emerging from the home dugout at Disch-Falk Field to meet with the media, Texas coach David Pierce gathered his team and spun a yarn he hoped would hit home ahead of Friday’s NCAA tournament opener against SWAC tournament champion Texas Southern (27-26).

Fourteen years ago, defending national champion Rice entered the NCAA tournament as the sixth overall seed. Pierce was in his second season as an assistant on Wayne Graham’s staff, and the Owls were a viable threat to repeat.



Future third-overall MLB draft pick Philip Humber was on the mound for Rice’s regional opener against Texas Southern, a team that at one point that season had lost 17 of 18 games. Not even the most degenerate gambler would have wagered anything substantial on the underdog.

“We played Texas Southern and got beat 4-3,” Pierce recalled, “and we were devastated. We had to go through the losers’ bracket and we started a first-rounder that day, so it’s just an interesting game. Anything can happen.”

That loss sent Rice into a tailspin, and its season ended early with a loss to Texas A&M in the Houston Regional.\

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Morgan State Women’s Basketball To Participate In 2018 Preseason WNIT

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The Morgan State women's basketball team has been announced to the 16-team field of the 2018 Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The field was announced Tuesday morning by Triple Crown Sports.

This will be the first time the Lady Bears' program will participate in the preseason tournament. Morgan State is also the only Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in this year's field.

This will be the 25th edition of the Preseason WNIT; the November event features a three-game guarantee for all teams, with first-round matchup and the bracket to be announced later this spring. All games are hosted by participating schools, with the championship game televised on CBS Sports Network.

In 2011, Morgan State made history when it advanced to the WNIT Postseason Tournament, where it faced host Virginia in the first round. It was the program's first and is still the only Division I postseason appearance in school history.

"The preseason WNIT is always prestigious in the fact that you will get tested very early against the teams your university tends to play," said Morgan State head coach Ed Davis. "And it kind of tests where you are in terms of that level of competition. We're going to do our best to compete. We will be a totally different team with the graduation of all the seniors, but hopefully we can meet the challenge."

This year's 16-team field represents 15 conferences with both Nicholls and Stephen F. Austin playing in the Southland Conference.

The field features 10 teams that won 19-plus games, nine teams that advanced to postseason play and a national champion during the 2017-18 season.

Three schools (Marquette, Miami, Nicholls) reached the NCAA Tournament, five (Delaware, New Mexico, Northern Iowa, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State) advanced to the WNIT, while Yale captured the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) title, becoming the first Ivy League team to win a national postseason women's basketball tournament.

"I've been fortunate enough to take part in the [Preseason] WNIT before and had the luxury of beating Princeton, who was ranked at the time. It gives you an opportunity to go after some good teams," said Davis on the caliber of teams in the field. "Hopefully this experience can carry over with the young kids into the rest of the non-conference season and definitely into the conference season."

Since its creation in 1994, as a preseason counterpart to the then National Women's Invitational Tournament the MEAC has been represented six previous times. Morgan State becomes the fifth MEAC school to be invited, joining two-time participants, Hampton (2005, 2010) and North Carolina A&T (2009, 2013), along with Delaware State (2007) and Howard (2011).

In 2005 Hampton became the first MEAC team to play in the event. The 2007 tournament shifted from single elimination to a three-game event with Delaware State representing the conference.

Davis recalls that Delaware State team all too well, as he was the head coach then. His Hornets would play three very competitive contests, falling to State rival the University of Delaware by seven in the opener, before losing to East Tennessee State in overtime by three points in Round 1 of the Consolation. Delaware State's second consolation game would be one to remember, as the Hornets would defeat a ranked Princeton team, 63-62 in overtime.

"For us, we thought we had a great shot to win two games. For the kids to even win against that caliber of team, it was just a big jolt and big boost for the program, said Davis whose Delaware State squad became the first MEAC team to win a game in the Preseason WNIT. "I thought we had a shot at East Tennessee State. We lost in overtime and then came back and beat a high ranked Princeton team.

"All three of those teams ended up going to the NCAA Tournament that particular year and we ended up going too. It kind of gave us a luck charm that we ended up in the NCAA against those types of teams that we played well against in the WNIT."

Davis would guide Delaware State to the program's first MEAC Tournament title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament that season. The Hornets would trail the second-seeded and 13th ranked Vanderbilt Commodores by four points (28-24) at the half and was down three points late in the game, before eventually falling in the first round.

Davis believes that the experience the Hornets gained during the Preseason WNIT helped to prepare them for an always tough MEAC schedule as well as the NCAA Tournament. He hopes it will do the same for Morgan State.

"It just made us tougher and stronger and made this particular team at Delaware State hungrier to win the MEAC and to try to get to the NCAA," said Davis. "I would hope that it would do the same thing for this Morgan team."

2018 Preseason WNIT Participants
School: 2017-18 Record - Postseason Results
Auburn: 14-15, 5-11 SEC
Delaware: 19-13, 11-7 Colonial - WNIT 1st Round
Hartford: 19-13, 9-7 America East
Iowa State: 14-17, 7-11 Big 12
Marquette: 24-10, 15-3 Big East - NCAA 2nd Round
Miami: 21-11, 10-6 ACC - NCAA 1st Round
Montana State: 16-15, 9-9 Big Sky
Morgan State: 16-15, 8-8 MEAC
New Mexico: 25-11, 10-8 Mountain West - WNIT 3rd Round
Niagara: 13-18, 9-9 Metro Atlantic
Nicholls State: 19-14, 11-7 Southland - NCAA 1st Round
Northern Illinois: 15-15, 7-11 Mid-American
Northern Iowa: 19-14, 13-5 Missouri Valley - WNIT 1st Round
Stephen F Austin: 25-7, 16-2 Southland - WNIT 1st Round
Texas State: 23-10, 14-4 Sun Belt - WNIT 1st Round
Yale: 19-13, 8-6 Ivy - WBI Champions

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

About The WNIT
The Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) is a women's college national basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year. It is operated in a similar fashion to the men's college National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and NIT Season Tip-Off. Unlike the NIT, the women's tournament is not run by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), but is an independent National Championship. Triple Crown Sports, a company based in Fort Collins, Coloradothat specializes in the promotion of amateur sporting events,[1] created the WNIT in 1994 as a preseason counterpart to the then-current National Women's Invitational Tournament (NWIT). After the NWIT folded in 1996, Triple Crown Sports resurrected the postseason version in 1998 under the NWIT name, but changed the following season to the current name.

About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, Colo., Triple Crown Sports has been producing college and youth events for more than 30 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men's and women's Cancun Challenge tournaments in Novemeber at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya. Triple Crown is also powering "WNIT" concept events in D-! softball (NISC) and volleyball (NIVC), with those two events debuting in 2017. TCS youth fastpitch tournaments (including the 900-team Sparkler/Fireworks event) draw the nation's finest club programs and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes.

Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletic Communications

Riverwood track champion, Pache Caldwell, earns full track and field scholarship to Florida A&M University.

SANDY SPRINGS, Georgia -- Riverwood International Charter School is proud to congratulate class of 2018 graduate Paché Caldwell for receiving a full scholarship to attend Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. The Division I Rattlers recruited Caldwell for their Men's Track & Field program. The Rattlers compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Caldwell is the 2018 and 2017 Georgia State High Jump Champion (Class AAAAA). His 6'10" jump in the 2018 State Class AAAAA Meet was the best across all classifications in the state. At the time of this article, Caldwell is ranked the #6 high jumper in the nation. In 2018, Caldwell also repeated as the Fulton County High Jump champion and became the back-to-back Region 6-AAAAA High Jump champ.

Caldwell served as co-captain of the Raider Track and Field team his senior year. His other track and field events include the long jump, triple jump, the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, and the 200m dash. In 2017, Caldwell was the Region 6-AAAAA triple jump champion. Caldwell played Varsity Football for the Raiders for three years as a wide receiver. Following the fall 2017 season, Caldwell was named to both the North Fulton Forsyth Touchdown Club's Chamber Bowl Senior All-Star team and the Georgia Southwestern Senior Bowl team.

A member of the Raider Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Caldwell also earned "Principal's Honor Roll" academic honors. Outside of school, he volunteers at a local non-profit sickle cell foundation and is on an AAU track team. He competed in the AAU National Championships in the High Jump and the 4x100 relay. Caldwell is the son of Staci Caldwell and Carlos Chambers of Sandy Springs.

COURTESY: Riverwood International Charter School

The College that developed College Football Hall of Famer Jake Gaither (FAMU) makes a comeback

The Historic Black College and University (HBCU) Knoxville College was established in 1875 . The Skeleton still stands strong, yet the Body was left in a heartbreaking condition. It was once a beacon of hope with a Message of "Stronger Together." Located in Knoxville and the only HBCU in East Tennessee, it was the for a Chance at Higher Education for the Urban Communities and Children who were not presented with the opportunities of the large and prestige universities. Knoxville College was that opportunity for the natives of East Tennessee and that of a far reaching beacon bringing students and families from as far north and east as Harlem NY to the West.

Knoxville College is the alma mater of College Football Hall of Famer, the late Alonzo Smith "Jake" Gaither, Head Football Coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) compiling a record of 204–36–4 for a .844 winning percentage. The legendary Coach Gaither graduated from Knoxville College, where he had played football, in 1927. Coach Gaither later completed a master's degree at Ohio State University in 1937. The Jake Gaither Trophy has been awarded to the best Black collegiate football player each year since 1978.  His legacy is celebrated with the Jake Gaither Classic each Fall as the Florida A&M University Rattlers battle their historic rivals on the  gridiron at Bragg Memorial Stadium. 

Like the legendary Coach Jake Gaither, Knoxville College is A Recovered Historic Treasure! 

COACH A.S. "JAKE" GAITHER

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — It seemed like a dream that would never come true; many had tried but to no avail, but the efforts by District 15 State Representative Rick Staples to see Knoxville College, one of the oldest HBCU schools in the nation reopened prevailed and the dream is finally a reality.

May 17th, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission voted YES to give Knoxville College back it’s accreditation. The college built by slaves in 1875 was given permission to begin receiving students this fall.

The initial classes will begin online with a goal of students returning to the physical campus by 2019.

The first degree to be offered will be an Associate Degree of Arts with four concentrations in the areas of mathmatics, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Applications are now being accepted for this historic next class of KC Bulldogs who like a phoenix, has risen yet again.

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What's Up? Media to Sponsor HBCU Athletic Director Panel on June 8

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland -- What's Up? Media, a major media company and one of the largest magazine publishers in the State of Maryland, will sponsor the panel discussion and filming of "The Culture of Sports" consisting of all of the athletic directors of the Historic Black Colleges and Universities from the State of Maryland to be held from noon to 3 pm on June 8, 2018 at the Anne Arundel County Delegation Room in the Lowe House Office Building of the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis, Maryland. James Houke, the Editor of What's Up? Media, will be attending.

Jonathan Yates, creator of The Culture of Sports, a television show, will host the forum to discuss the choices, challenges and opportunities of those working in that position.

Participating will be:

*Morgan State University Athletic Director Edward Scott
*Bowie State University Athletic Director Clyde Doughty, Jr.
*Coppin State University Athletic Director Derek Carter
*University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Athletic Director Keith Davidson
*Lincoln University Athletic Director Harry Stinson III

The Culture of Sports focuses on its business, community, economic, educational, philosophical, political, and spiritual aspects. Interviewed for the show have been Members of Congress, state legislators, county executives, coaches, sports psychologists, and athletic directors, among others. This is the first of a series of panel discussions to be filmed for The Culture of Sports.

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Jonathan Yates is the host of, "The Culture of Sports", a show that focuses on its business, community, economic, educational, philosophical, and political features.

He has degrees from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Georgetown University Law Center; and has also matriculated at the U.S. Naval War College and The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Much of his career was spent working for Members of Congress and state legislators in positions such as Chief of Staff, General Counsel, Legislative Director, Press Secretary, and Legislative Assistant. Twice he was granted "Top Secret" clearance in accordance with his duties on Capitol Hill. In the private sector, he was General Counsel for a publicly traded corporation and Assistant Washington Counsel for a major trade association. He has taught courses on government, business-government relations, and national security policy.

Thousands of his interviews and pieces under his byline on politics, sports and other topics have appeared in media outlets such as CNBC, NPR, American Politics, Atlantic Community Quarterly, Baltimore magazine, Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, Buffalo News, Charlotte Observer, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, CollegeAD, Des Moines Register, Detroit News, Foreign Policy, Fuels & Lubes, The Gazette, Hartford Courant, Houston Chronicle, Investor's Business Daily, Legal Times, Michigan Law Weekly, New York Times, News American, Philadelphia Inquirer, Toronto Daily Mail, and The Washington Post, among others.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC Football Press Luncheon Set for July 27

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the annual Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 27, at the Hilton Norfolk The Main hotel (100 E. Main Street, Norfolk, Va. 23510/ (757) 763-6200). MEAC head football coaches and two student-athletes from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view on the upcoming 2018 football season.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling the MEAC Office at (757) 951-2055. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased by 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 20 in order to obtain the special rate.

Credential information for media interested in covering the event will be distributed in the near future. One-on-one interviews will begin promptly at 9 a.m.

The 2018 season will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 25 with the ESPN FCS Kickoff featuring defending MEAC champion North Carolina A&T State and Jacksonville State in Montgomery, Ala.

North Carolina Central will travel to Atlanta, Ga. to face Prairie View A&M in the 14th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, Sept. 2 at 12 p.m. Details and ticket information can be found on www.meacswacchallenge.com.

For more information about the MEAC, log on to www.MEACsports.com.

Morgan State Signs 6-8 Forward Victor Curry

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State's basketball program has added forward Victor Curry to Todd Bozeman's 2018 recruiting class.
 
"We welcome Victor Curry to the MSU family as he adds much needed experience and maturity," said Bozeman. "Victor is an athletic forward that can in many ways scores and rebounds at a high level."

The versatile 6-foot-8, 215-pounder from Crete, Illinois spent the past two seasons at Cleveland State Community College in Ohio. He averaged 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds and shot 45.7 percent from the field last season and received All-Conference 1st team honors and finished ranked 1st in the conference and 8th nationally for rebounds. 
 
Curry was also ranked 72nd among the top 100 JUCO level players. During his two years at Cleveland State, Victor Curry played 516 minutes over 44 games played and scored a total of 596 points on 187 made field goals and 222 free throws. Curry also collected a whopping 469 rebounds, 37 assists and 22 blocks over his career as a Cougar. 

Curry joins point guard Sherwyn Devonish-Prince and guard Malik Miller as members of the Bears' 2018-19 recruiting class..

Bozeman says Curry "is a tireless worker that will strengthen our front court."
 
Curry completed his prep career at Crete-Monee High by capturing a regional championship title and being named All-Conference.

The Bears completed the 2017-18 season with a 13-19 overall record and finished 7-9 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Lang to Play Volleyball at Coppin State University

SANDY SPRINGS, Georgia -- Congratulations to Brianna Lang (Class of 2018) for signing a letter of commitment to play volleyball at Coppin State University in Baltimore. She received a full athletic scholarship to serve as a setter for the Eagles, an NCAA Division I team that competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Coppin State, part of the University System of Maryland, is a highly ranked historically black college (HBCU).

Lady Raider head volleyball coach, Nikia Bynum-Isler, remarks, "Brianna is a very agile setter with great volleyball IQ. I have watched her progress in her setting skills for the last two years and she will do well on the collegiate level. I wish her the best of luck at Coppin and I will be following her career closely as she makes her mark in the MEAC Conference"

Lang played Lady Raider volleyball all four years of high school, two on the JV team and two on Varsity. On Varsity, Lang was team captain each year and earned All-Area honors. As a senior, she made the First Team All-Area; as a junior, she was Second Team All-Area. Her team recognitions include being named a Student-Athlete of the Month and earning the Most Assists awards.

Lang was an active member of the Raider Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and was also in the Chorus. Outside of school, Lang played AAU Volleyball for four years and served as a team captain.

COURTESY: Riverwood International Charter School

Lewis Receives Howard University Track Scholarship

SANDY SPRINGS, Georgia -- Congratulations to Kennedy Lewis (Class of 2018) for receiving a full athletic scholarship for Women's Track and Field at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The Bison recruited Lewis as a sprinter; they participate in Women's Track and Field in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Lewis specializes in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash events and has been a member of the Lady Raiders Track and Field program all four years of high school. She served as team captain her junior year and returns to that leadership position for the 2018 spring season. Her 100m PR is 11.95 seconds and her 200m PR is 24.6 seconds. In addition to the Lady Raiders, Lewis is a member of the Glenarden Summer Track Club in Glenarden, Maryland, and the RSS Indoor Track Club in Atlanta.



Georgia State Class AAAAA Track & Field Championships. May 2018. Lady Raider Kennedy Lewis (white top), 3rd place (11.97 seconds).

The Honors Magnet student is a member of the Raider Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Community Service Clubs. She plans to travel with the Community Service Club to Nicaragua to serve in a rural community during spring break 2018. During her junior year, she had professional shadowing experiences at CNN and with a Georgia Tech Doctoral Candidate to gain exposure to Information Technology, Computer Science, and Physics. Additionally, Lewis participated in a three-month long Microsoft STEM Program. Lewis aspires to concentrate her studies at Howard in Audio Technology, Information Technology, and Photography.

Lewis is a lifelong member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and attended the 2017 Regional Teen Leadership Conference. She has also been involved with community service projects through both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Shades of Black Civic and Social Awareness Group. For the 2016-17 school year, she participated the ASCEND Leadership Program with the Phi Phi Omega Chapter. As the daughter of a Howard University alumnus, it has been her dream since elementary school to follow in her father's footsteps. She looks forward to joining her sister McKenzie (Riverwood class of 2016) at Howard University this coming fall.

COURTESY: Riverwood International Charter School

NCAA Verdict: North Carolina Central University failed to monitor its certification process

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- North Carolina Central did not monitor its certification process when it improperly certified 22 student-athletes in seven sports as eligible for competition, according to a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff, university and participating individuals must agree to the facts and overall level of the case to use this process instead of a formal hearing. The panel held an expedited penalty hearing because the university did not agree with some of the panel’s proposed penalties.

Download the May 2018 North Carolina Central University Public Infratcion Decision

The improper certifications came from a single, but repeated, error of counting foundational courses toward student-athletes’ percentage-of-degree completion. Outdated degree auditing and academic advising systems were another factor that contributed to the violations. Additionally, the academic support and certification groups did not have enough staff to oversee the certification process.

Because of the improper certifications, 22 student-athletes competed while ineligible. The university also did not withhold six of the student-athletes from competition before they were reinstated.

The panel noted eligibility certification is a fundamental responsibility with touchpoints throughout the university and it is a basic requirement for college competition.

The panel used the Division I membership-approved infractions penalty guidelines to prescribe the following measures:

• Two years of probation from May 30, 2018, through May 29, 2020.
• A vacation of records in which student-athletes competed while ineligible (men's track & field, men's cross country, women's cross country, women's track and field, baseball, men's basketball and football) for period 2012 through 2017 academic years. 
• Completion of an internal academic audit by the end of the 2017-18 academic year (self-imposed by the university).
• A $5,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Michael F. Adams, chancellor at Pepperdine; Thomas Hill, chief hearing officer for this panel and senior vice president emeritus at Iowa State; and Joel Maturi, former Minnesota athletics director.

Download the May 2018 North Carolina Central University Public Infratcion Decision

By Emily James
NCAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Tennessee State Men's Tennis Signs Maksims Kazijevs

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Head Coach Monroe Walker III and the Tennessee State men's tennis program announced the signing of Maksims Kazijevs (Riga, Latvia) to a National Letter of Intent. 

Kazijevs is the second to join the 2018-19 roster for men's tennis. 

"I'm very excited about having Maksims join us this fall," said Walker. "With a new direction I'm taking the tennis program, I'm looking for a lot of experience in the players joinging the team. Maksims comes with a lot of tournament experience, and he'll push the guys already on the roster."

Maksims Kazijevs | 6-1 | 150 | Incoming Freshman | Riga, Latvia

• Placed 2nd in the Latvian Masters - U18
• Placed 3rd in singles and doubles of the Latvian National Championship
• Riga Juniors Champion

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

FMU George Chery Wins National Champion Title & Nekeima Obike earned All-American

GULF SHORES, Alabama -- George Chery earned the title of National Champion in the Men's High Jump, While Nekeima Obike earned All-American Honors at the 2018 NAIA Outdoor National Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Ala.

George Chery, a sophomore from Kissimmee, Florida, won the championship with a leap of 7.0 1/4 feet" (2.14 meters).

Nekeima Obike Earned All-American Honors for her 5th place finish in the Women's Triple Jump with a leap of 37-11 1/2(11.57 meters).

Deshawn Frazier, the reigning Sun Conference 200 Meters Dash Champion, ran an impressive performance in the 200 Meters Dash in a personal best time of 21.60 for 23rd overall and 10.59 in the 100 Meters Dash.

FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fit for the pit: NASCAR recruiting HBCU athletic crew members

CONCORD, North Carolina — It takes power and finesse to make a NASCAR pit crew team.

Thirteen college athletes from eight schools competed in the third annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine at the NASCAR Research and Development Center on May 25. Participants came from North Carolina A&T, Alcorn State, Winston-Salem State, and Bethune-Cookman universities as well as Morehouse College, Kentucky Christian and Virginia University of Lynchburg, who participated in tryouts earlier in the spring. Success in the combine results in an invitation for further training throughout 2018.

“One of the biggest things to bringing an athlete into NASCAR is, because they know how to perform when a car comes down in first place, they can go out in first place,” said Drive for Diversity Crew Development Program coach Phil Horton, who is also director of athletic performance at Rev Racing. “Not only from the athletic standpoint—the bigger, stronger, faster athlete—but the mindset to be able to perform under pressure, and make sure that their car and their team is successful at winning.”



Templates for college athletes who would likely perform well as a pit crew member primarily center on football players for men, and softball and basketball players for women. Nine of the combine’s 13 participants played football.

“Basketball players tend to be a little bit too tall, unless they are a point guard, and they’re probably out of the equation,” Horton said. “It just depends on how well they fit in that template of what we’re trying to do, which includes finesse for the changers, power positions for the carriers and finesse and power for the jackmen. There’s a lot that goes into that, and especially trying to find that type of individual who can make that happen.”

Said A&T’s Joshua Patrick, a linebacker who earned a pair of HBCU national championships with the Aggies: “It’s definitely comparable to the technique of the sport. It’s definitely a technique that you have to master.”

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Florida A&M University Softball Camp June 19-21

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Lady Rattler softball staff will host their annual softball camp on June 19-21 at the Lady Rattler Softball Complex. The application is available for download on this page. More information to follow.

DOWNLOAD CAMP APPLICATION 

GSU's Kincade signs with Maine Mammoths

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The wait is finally over for the two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Offensive Player of the Year as Devante Kincade is heading north as he signed a contract on Tuesday night with the Maine Mammoths of the National Arena League.

"I'm just glad someone believed in me," Kincade said. "Last Friday, they wanted me to come in. They gave me a couple of days to talk things over with my family and make a final decision. In my eyes, this is an opportunity and I'm going to do whatever it takes."

Kincade contract with the Mammoths runs through the 2019 season, the NAL season runs from April to August, but he has the ability to leave if an NFL or CFL team approaches him with a chance. He joins the Mammoths, the NAL's newest franchise playing their first season this year. Maine sits at 1-5 through the first six games.

In 2017, Kincade guided the Tigers to an 11-2 overall record and their second-consecutive SWAC Championship. He went 217-of-368 passing for 2,905 yards and tossed 23 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He threw for a season-high 347 yards on 21-of-34 passing, with three touchdowns, in a victory over Texas Southern. On the ground, Kincade amassed 408 yards on 120 carries and reached pay dirt six times. Through the air, he finished with a 143.73 pass efficiency and registered 254.8 total yards per game.

For his collegiate career, Kincade threw for 6,011 yards in just two seasons for the Black and Gold. He was 446-of-728 passing with 56 touchdown passes and just 11 interceptions. He accounted for 811 rush yards on 228 carries and 12 scores. The Dallas, Texas native tallied 6,822 total yards of offense and averaged 262.4 per game.

Last season, Kincade had numerous honors, including being named the SWAC postseason and preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He was a Black College Football Finalist, STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Finalist and a BOXTOROW All-American honorable mention. Kincade also became the first two-time recipient of the Ben L. Cavil, Sr. "Big Ben" Award.

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GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

N.C.A&T Baseball to Face UNC In NCAA Chapel Hill Regional

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The rematch is set. Two months after losing to the University of North Carolina in a pitcher’s duel at Boshamer Stadium, North Carolina A&T baseball will get another crack at the Tar Heels in the 2018 NCAA Baseball Championship Tournament Chapel Hill regional at Boshamer Stadium, 2 p.m., Friday.

The Aggies (32-23), who earned the No. 4 seed in the region, were informed of their destination Monday afternoon on ESPNU as the team, fans and parents gathered at the Bryan Fitness and Wellness Center on N.C. A&T’s campus to watch the selection show. Joining the Aggies in the Chapel Hill regional along with the top-seeded Tar Heels are No. 2 seed Purdue and No. 3 seed Houston. The Boilermakers and the Cougars are scheduled to play at 7 p.m., on Friday.

The Aggies lost at UNC 1-0 in a midweek contest on March 13. There were only 10 hits in the game, six by UNC and four by N.C. A&T. N.C. A&T head coach Ben Hall announced after the selection show that junior right-hander Tim Luth (6-2, 3.55 ERA) will be his Friday starter.

“It’s a great feeling to play in the tournament for the team, for the fans and for the university, so I’m going to go out and do all I can do,” said Luth. “We’re all just a bunch of guys having fun. We all want to play the best that we can and see what happens.”

N.C. A&T opened the season 5-10 but they closed out the season in dominating fashion, going 27-13 over their last 40 games including a 3-0 run through the MEAC Baseball Championship Tournament to win the title for the first time in 13 years. Also in 2018, the Aggies claimed the MEAC Southern Division title, broke the school record for wins and the school record for conference wins (16).

“It’s good when guys get to see the fruits of their labor,” said Hall. “It is another stepping stone. Last year we made the conference tournament for the time in four years. We came close but we came up a little short. We talked about how the next step we take has got to be forward. We took that step, but there is no finish line until you get where you want to be. In my mind, this is just another stepping stone in a growing program.”

Only the top 16 teams are seeded in the NCAA baseball tournament. The Tar Heels (38-18) are the No. 6 seed overall after winning the ACC Coastal Division title. The winner of the Chapel Hill region will advance to play the winner of the DeLand Regional consisting of Stetson, South Florida, Oklahoma State and Hartford).

“We get to focus on Chapel Hill. The rest of it doesn’t factor in,” said Hall when asked what he thought of the region the Aggies were placed in. “It’s about one game and we’re ready to lock in on what we have to do Friday to go out and play our best baseball. It’s a four-team tournament and a one-weekend deal for them to go out and compete at the highest level against some of the best teams in the country.”

The four-team region is a double-elimination tournament. The Aggies are 0-2 in the NCAA tournament all-time after losing to Clemson and Oral Roberts in 2005. The Aggies are somewhat tournament tested after having two other tournament teams on their schedule in 2018 other than UNC. N.C. A&T lost to N.C. State 9-7 in Raleigh on Feb. 20 and they were defeated 12-2 by South Carolina on March 7 after the Gamecocks scored seven runs over their final two at-bats.

“We've been working toward this for a while now,” said four-year senior Adan Ordonez. “We are a real confident group. We know that we can pitch it, we know that we can swing it and we know that we can field it. There were several different possibilities out there. Once we saw it, it's like game on. It's real now. We played them close earlier in the year so hopefully, when we go back we can give them another good fight and win this time.”

Tickets packages for the weekend will go on sale Wednesday at noon. Single-game tickets will be available starting Thursday at noon. They will be $15 for a single game, $60 for full session tickets. Parking will be available in the Rams Head Deck for $10 and in the Craige Deck for free (levels 5-9). Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, there will also be free parking available in the Bowles Lot, the Raleigh Road Visitors Lot and on Stadium Drive. Disability parking is available for $10 in the Rams Head Deck. Ridge Road will be closed to through traffic for the weekend.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Rattler Report: May Newsletter Ready for Download

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The May edition of the Rattler Report Newsletter is available for download. See what's happening with YOUR FAMU Department of Athletics and its 300 student-athletes.  Download the PDF and enjoy the reading.  This month, we added a brand new feature.  The Photo Gallery pages give you a glimpse of events that have happened since the last newsletter.

Rattler Report - May 2018

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former Virginia Union head coach Luqman Jaaber to oversee ABA’s Woodbridge Wolves

WOODBRIDGE, Virginia  -- Familiar with the inner-workings of the American Basketball Association after playing three seasons for league teams in Richmond, Luqman Jaaber considered running his own team at some point.

Although that prospect failed to materialize, Jaaber remained intrigued by staying involved in the ABA. The chance to coach the Woodbridge Wolves offered him that opportunity.

“Things come around in a different form,” Jaaber said.



Team owner Raymond Dabney was thrilled Jaaber agreed to coach the Wolves, a first-year franchise that will begin building its 12-player roster Saturday when it holds a three-hour tryout from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Potomac High School.

Open registration is from noon to 12:30 p.m. and costs $65 at the door. Early registration is $55.

Jaaber, who will have the final say on all roster decisions, was one of three people Dabney interviewed for the opening. Jaaber’s experience was the deciding factor.

“I wanted a coach who will treat his players fairly,” Dabney said.

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Best FCS nonconference games in 2018

ATLANTA, Georgia – The best part of this year’s nonconference schedule between FCS programs is the best games go on and on.

Strong nonconference matchups are attractive, risky and ultimately good for the FCS. Following is a countdown of the best ones:

20. Bethune-Cookman (MEAC) at Tennessee State (Ohio Valley), Sept. 1 – The John Merritt Classic features two teams that have played three straight close games this decade.

18. Tennessee State (Ohio Valley) at Hampton (Big South), Sept. 15 – As FCS independent Hampton searched far and wide for opponents from five different classifications, this home game is basically the highlight of its schedule.

14. Jackson State (SWAC) vs. Tennessee State (Ohio Valley) at Memphis, Tennessee, Sept. 8 – The Southern Heritage Classic is a big draw at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. TSU escaped with a 17-15 win before 47,407 last year.

11. Prairie View A&M (SWAC) vs. North Carolina Central (MEAC) at Atlanta, Sept. 2 – The MEAC-SWAC Challenge shifts to Georgia State Stadium. Prairie View is seeking its first win in the 14-year-old series and North Carolina Central is making its first appearance.

4. North Carolina A&T (MEAC) vs. Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley) at Montgomery, Alabama, Aug. 25 – The Aggies are basically playing a road game as they put the longest winning streak in the FCS (12 games) on the line in the annual FCS Kickoff.

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MEAC Golf: Augusta's Everett picks good time for first collegiate win

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Augusta University still owns Karsten Creek.

Seven years after Patrick Reed helped lead tiny Augusta State to back-to-back NCAA Championships here in the heart of Cowboy Country, another player from Augusta won the NCAA individual title on Wednesday.

And this may have been an even bigger shocker: Augusta senior Broc Everett, the 152nd-ranked player in the country, prevailed in a sudden-death playoff over Auburn freshman Brandon Mancheno to win the biggest prize in college golf.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” he said. “I can’t even describe it honestly right now.”



Everett redshirted his first year at Augusta and heard rumblings from the coaches that he might not be good enough to stick around there. His biggest highlights during his freshman season, he wrote in his website bio, were a third-place finish at the Ottumwa Amateur and a runner-up showing at the Des Moines City Championship.

“I put up some decent scores where coach (Jack O’Keefe) was like, OK, you can stay around and keep working hard, because he saw that I worked hard every day and didn’t settle for just staying the same,” Everett said. “I was always trying to progress and keep getting better.

“Coach gave me the opportunity to just keep growing every single year.”

Everett took his greatest leaps this season.

NCAA MEN'S D1 CHAMPIONSHIP: Team Scoring
NCAA MEN'S D1 CHAMPIONSHIP: Individual Scoring

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AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY JAGUARS MEN'S GOLF IS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (MEAC).

XULA launches online store for official merchandise

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, in partnership with Advanced-Online, is pleased to announce the launch of its official athletics online store — xulagear.com — featuring XULA products.
     
XULA fans, alumni, employees, parents and students will now be able to purchase merchandise such as apparel, hats, gift items and bags representing the XULA brand using the online store created and managed by Advanced-Online.
     
"It's exciting that we're now able to offer a wide variety of Xavier items to all of our fans and friends wherever they may live," said XULA Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn. "We have roughly 20,000 alumni, and this online store will help them to proudly showcase their Xavier pride while knowing a portion of the proceeds will go to scholarships."
     
The online store will feature more than 1,600 product options and the largest selection of officially licensed XULA merchandise available online.
     
Wednesday (May 23, 2018) was the launch date of xulagear.com. The online store will offer 25 percent off T-shirts through July 31, 2018.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

WSSU Rams Women's Basketball Announces 2018 Signing Class

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina – The Winston-Salem State Rams women's basketball program will have a new look with the announcement of seven players in the 2018 recruiting class. The incoming Rams will provide the team with some much needed height and scoring punch for the upcoming seasons.

Among the several newcomers will be a pair of post players from junior colleges. Anndrea Lloyd is a 6'3" post player from McLennan Community College. Lloyd played in 27 of the Highlassies games with 14 starts last season. She averaged 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. "Anndrea is a strong post player that will command paint space," Winston-Salem State women's basketball head coach L'Tona Lamonte said.  "She will help us with her versatility and rebounding skills."

Laichelle Sparrow is 6'0" forward who attended Louisburg College. She played in 21 games with seven starts to average 8.7 points per game with 4.7 rebounds per game last season. "Laichelle will come in with three years of eligibility remaining," Lamonte added. "She is a strong post that works hard."

The Rams will also bring in a significant group of newcomers from the high school ranks, including several from the local area. One of the team's key newcomers will be freshman guard Amaya Tucker, a 5'6" guard from nearby Reagan High School. She averaged 17 points per game with five assists per game and finished her career with over 1,660 points to become the team's all-time scoring leader. She was also a four-time all-conference selection, a three-time All-Northwest Team selection, a two-time all-district selection, and the MVP of the Mary Garber Tournament. "Amaya is a great local product that is exciting to watch. She is a basketball junkie who does all of the little things and plays with so much passion and heart," Lamonte added. "She is a complete team player that has the ability to score, which will be an asset for our team."

The Rams will also welcome freshman forward Eugenia Marceilli, a 5'9" player from West Stokes High School who averaged 13 points per game with six rebounds per game. She also earned all-conference honors. She is originally from Rome, Italy earned all-conference honors. "Eugenia will add a European flair to our team," Lamonte added. "Her ability to see the floor and make good passes will be beneficial. She is another one that loves basketball."

Dajha Williams is another 5'10" guard/post from East Wake High School where she averaged 16 points per game with nine rebounds per game. She earned both all-conference and all-district honors. "Dajha is a strong, versatile utility player. She can play four positions on the court," Lamonte added. "Her ability to push that ball on a break, attack the basket, and score from outside will be good for us. She also went to the same high school as former Rams forward Briana Arnold and she has a knack for rebounding."

Joining the Rams' front court will be forward Kharma Patterson. She is a 6'1" forward from Fort Mill High School where she averaged nine points per game with eight rebounds per game. "Kharma is an agile post that can also play the wing. She will help us with her versatility and rebounding skills."

 Hailey Gipson is a 5'5" guard that rounds out the class. "Hailey is a quick, smart guard that can get to the basket with ease."

For more information on Rams women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.