Hampton Pirates bulk up with three basketball signee

Ed Joyner's 2011 recruiting class at Hampton University is proof it pays to be persistent — and that it helps to be a little lucky.

In addition to Phoebus product Dashawn Stitt, who verbally committed to Hampton in January, Joyner also has signed two players from Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C., which went 26-4 and finished the 2010-11 season ranked No. 1 in North Carolina and No. 25 in the country by MaxPreps.

The Pirates were originally focused on recruiting 6-foot-5 shooting guard Keron Brown, who averaged 14 points and six rebounds last season, Joyner said. Dwight Meikle, his 6-8 power forward/guard combo teammate who averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, verbally committed to St. John's in November.

But when Meikle was released from that commitment last Wednesday, Joyner was waiting.

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Videographer: wworldp; Hampton University Campus Tour

Videographer: wworldp; Emancipation Oak at Hampton University

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Hampton Pirates hoops coaches earn contract extensions

Hampton University men's basketball coach Ed "Buck" Joyner and women's basketball coach David Six, who each led their teams to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament titles and NCAA appearances in their second seasons, received three-year contract extensions on Wednesday.

Joyner's Pirates went 24-9, won their first MEAC tournament since 2006 and posted their first 20-win season since the 2001-02 season. "I'm just happy with the fact that they think I'm capable of leading the program into the near future, and hopefully further than that," Joyner said.

The Lady Pirates went 25-7, won the MEAC regular-season title with their second straight 20-win season and fell to Kentucky in overtime in the first round of the NCAA.  "I think the best is yet to come," Six said. "We were a stone's throw away this year, and I really believe eventually we're going to knock that door down."


Videographer: inclusiveva; 2010 Daily Press Citizen of the Year: Dr. William R. Harvey, President, Hampton University. Presented at Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities 2011 Peninsula Humanitarian Awards Dinner  

JOYNER AND SIX GET NEW CONTRACTS AT HAMPTON

HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University men’s basketball coach Edward Joyner Jr. and women’s basketball coach David Six have both received new three-year contracts after guiding their respective teams to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championships and the resulting automatic berths to the NCAA tournament.

In announcing the new contracts, athletics director Lonza Hardy Jr. praised his second-year head coaches for their “inspiring leadership and skillful coaching.”

“Coaches Joyner and Six have certainly lived up to my expectations,” stated Hardy. “Their leadership and high quality of coaching have inspired our student-athletes to excel on the basketball court as well as in the classroom. I’m proud of what they have accomplished as our head coaches and I eagerly await the outstanding things that are in store for our men’s and women’s basketball programs. With Coach Joyner and Coach Six at the helm, the sky is the limit for the heights that our programs can reach.”

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Videographer: SPEARSthruHEARTS; The seniors at Hampton University celebrate 100 days left until their graduation.

Duke too much for Hampton U; Pirates fall 87-45

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hampton University couldn't give up open looks for 3-pointers. Three of Duke's first six baskets were 3-pointers. The Pirates couldn't allow offensive rebounds. Eight of Duke's first 13 points came on second, or third, chances.

The die cast early, top-seeded Duke was too tall, focused and precise in an 87-45 wipeout Friday in an NCAA tournament West Region game at the Time Warner Cable Arena.

"We ran into a different animal," HU coach Ed Joyner Jr. said. "I mean, it was a lion. (We have) never been to the tournament before. This year was a first for us and we understood that. We made a lot of mistakes early. Those things happen when your nerves sometimes get the best of you."

Defending champ Duke wows Pirates with intensity, efficiency

New York ballers are hard to impress. They hone their games on asphalt jungles, hear tales of legends and hope to etch their names into the city's basketball lore. But Friday afternoon, reigning national champion Duke left Bronx native and Hampton University guard Mike Tuitt with indelible images.

"They looked just like Duke does on television," Tuitt said after the Blue Devils' 87-45 NCAA tournament victory over the Pirates. "They were under control and organized. They just had too much firepower."

Indeed, the game unfolded as most matching No. 1 and 16 regional seeds. Duke was too big, too fast, too deep.

Hampton perseveres in memory of fallen teammate Theo Smalling

Stories come to be told at the NCAA tournament. That’s just the way it works. Players you’ve never heard of from programs you’ve never watched play have a way of giving March its irresistible charm. Of course, there’s the appeal of the big name too. The All-American stars like Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker and the perennial powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky.



PIRATES' STELLAR SEASON ENDS WITH LOSS TO DUKE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team saw its stellar 2010-11 season come to an end on Saturday, as the Pirates fell to Duke 87-45 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Pirates, who were seeded No. 16 in the West Region, had their five-game winning streak snapped by top-seeded Duke and ended the season 24-9. The Blue Devils advanced to 31-4 and will face Michigan in the third round on Sunday.

“Seeing (Duke) first-hand gives you a different light on the way they work and just how good they are,” Pirates head coach Edward Joyner Jr. said. “They are big and long.”

Duke handed the Pirates their most lopsided loss of the season, as Hampton tied its season low in points scored and set a season high in points allowed.



Falling On His Sword

Like all good leaders, Hampton University head coach Ed Joyner Jr. placed the onus on himself for the Pirates’ 87-45 loss to top-seeded Duke. Not that Joyner could have done anything about the disparity in talent or devised some tactical maneuver that might have kept it close.

“I’ve got 13, 14 players (and) four, five coaches, they’re all hurting in that locker room,” he said. “That’s the first step to us getting better and preparing for the moment later on. Second of all, experience is the best teacher. We’ve never been here before. I don’t put that loss on my players. They did all they can do. That’s my fault.

“I didn’t understand how to prepare them for this moment, but trust me, I understand now, and one thing I’ve never been called a dummy. So, does that mean we’re going to come to this tournament and win a game next year? I don’t know.



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Hampton's Joyner learned much from family of coaches

Soon after Hampton and coach Ed "Little Buck" Joyner dispatched Norfolk State last weekend in the MEAC tournament semifinals, Joyner made his way to his team's locker room at Joel Coliseum.

As he walked in, he was holding the hand of one of his sons, 5-year-old E.J., and someone asked E.J. if he would be the next branch of the Joyner coaching tree. "He's got a lot more to learn in life before then," his father said, "but why not?"

Joyner, a Winston-Salem native, is still a young coach at age 38, but as the son and nephew of coaches, he's more of a veteran than his age would indicate.



Hampton has played Cinderella role before in NCAA Tournament

Bobby Collins says he has seen the highlight on TV about a thousand times in the past 10 years. Collins, who just completed his fifth season as the coach at Winston-Salem State, was an assistant coach at Hampton in 2001 when the 15th-seeded Pirates, playing in their first NCAA Division I Tournament, upset second-seeded Iowa State 58-57 in Boise, Idaho.

The clip that might make it to television again in the coming days shows head coach Steve Merfeld, now an assistant at Creighton, being lifted by power forward David Johnson after the victory.

"It doesn't seem like it's been 10 years, it seems like it was last year," Collins said earlier this week. "That's one of the most memorable things I've ever been a part of."

"Big Dance" Interviews: Hampton head coach Ed Joyner

Earlier today CHN writer Jon Teitel spent a few minutes with Hampton head coach Ed Joyner, whose Pirates won the MEAC conference tournament to earn an automatic bid. The 16-seed in the West Region, Hampton will take on top-seed Duke in a second round matchup on Friday in Charlotte. 

Jon Teitel: Your father and uncle are both Division II coaches. Who is the best coach in the family?

Ed Joyner: Right now I think my little cousin Steven is the best. He is the woman's coach Winston Salem State, and he just gets to sit around and talk to all of us!

JT: They grew up living next door to Hall of Fame coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines. Did you ever get to meet him yourself, and what is the most important thing you ever learned from him?

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MEAC: Hampton proves too much for Norfolk State

Hampton Coach Edward Joyner Jr.
(Photo courtesy of HU Pirates Athletics)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Norfolk State's up-and-down season suffered its final downer Friday night as the Spartans fell 85-61 to a Hampton Pirates team that has looked like the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's premier team for much of the season.

The Pirates (23-8) can prove it once and for all today when they meet Morgan State (17-13) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the MEAC's championship game (2 p.m., ESPN2 ). The winner earns the league's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

Hampton came into the tournament as the No. 2 seed, victim of a three-game losing streak late in February that let Bethune-Cookman slip into the driver's seat in the regular-season race. But with Bethune-Cookman falling 61-48 earlier Friday to Morgan State, the Pirates became the highest remaining seed.

PIRATES RUN PAST SPARTANS INTO MEAC FINAL

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team advanced to the championship game of the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament on Friday with an 85-61 win over Norfolk State in the semifinals at the Joel Coliseum.

The No. 2 seeded Pirates (23-8) have won four in a row overall and four straight over the Spartans. It was Hampton’s largest win over Norfolk State since the Pirates beat the Spartans 85-57 on Dec. 8, 2001.

Hampton will take on No. 4 Morgan State, which defeated top seed Bethune-Cookman 61-48 on Friday, in the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.

The Pirates will be looking for their first MEAC Tournament title, and automatic NCAA Tournament berth, since 2006 – when Hampton defeated Delaware State 60-56.

Junior guard Kwame Morgan II (Largo, Md.) led the Pirates with 30 points on 9-for-20 shooting, making four of his nine 3-pointers and all eight of his free throws. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) added 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

Junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with nine points. Senior guard Brandon Tunnell (Wilmington, Del.), on top of his team-high five assists, scored eight points.

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Hampton improves to 6-1 with overtime win over Georgia State

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team needed overtime for its sixth straight win Tuesday night, but the Pirates defeated Georgia State 60-56 at the HU Convocation Center.

Georgia State led 36-28 with 13:21 left in the second half, but the Pirates responded with a 16-4 run – a run punctuated at the 6:38 mark by a monstrous breakaway dunk from sophomore forward Koron Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.) to give Hampton a 44-40 lead. Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) had 13 of Hampton’s 16 points in that run.



Pellum, Hampton edge Georgia State in overtime, run winning streak to six

Unlike last season, Hampton University (6-1) is winning close games. Reigning MEAC Player of the Week Darrion Pellum scored 21 points to spark HU to its sixth consecutive victory -- 60-56 in overtime over Georgia State at the Convocation Center. Kwame Morgan had 13 points and Charles Funches 11 rebounds for the Pirates. Brandon Tunnell, who had 10 points, hit a clinching free throw for a four-point lead with 3.6 seconds to play. HU overcame 4-for-18 first-half shooting and 20 points and 10 rebounds from the Panthers' Eric Buckner.

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NEXT GAME: Dec. 4,  vs. Howard University at Madison Square Gardens

Hampton rallies to beat George Washington 62-51

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Darrion Pellum scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Hampton pulled ahead with a late 15-0 run to defeat George Washington 62-51 in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tuesday night.

With the Pirates trailing 34-28 with 13:47 remaining in the second half, Pellum scored eight straight points with a fast break dunk and consecutive 3-pointers to give Hampton a 39-38 lead. Kwame Morgan finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pirates (4-1), who won their fourth straight

Pellum scores 19, Hampton defeats Boston University 51-50 in preseason NIT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Darrion Pellum scored 19 points and Charles Funches scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half as Hampton defeated Boston University 51-50 in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday night.

Tied at 47, Funches fed Danny Agebelese for a layup and then made two free throws to put the Pirates (3-1) up 51-47 with 1:04 remaining. John Holland's three-point play brought the Terriers within 51-50 with 46.2 seconds left.

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Saturday: Kent State at Hampton Pirates

Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications

Complete Notes in .pdf

The Game
Kent State (6-6) rings in the new year with games at Hampton on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and at Temple on Monday. The Golden Flashes are beginning a three game road swing looking for their first win away from home since a Nov. 19 overtime victory over Saint Louis.

Coming off a 93-42 win over Shawnee State on Tuesday, Kent State has won three of the last four. Six players reached double figures in the game for KSU led by 2008 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Al Fisher with 16 points. Fisher, who played just 22 minutes for the game, tied a career high with four three-pointers - all coming in the first half. The Golden Flashes well balanced offense was fueled by a season high 30 assists - including seven from senior Jordan Mincy - on 36 made field goals. In the his first start of his KSU career, junior guard Tyree Evans scored 12 points and is now averaging 15.0 points and 2.0 steals in his three games Evans is also shooting 50.0 percent (9-18) from three. Freshman Justin Greene led the team with a career best eight rebounds in just 15 minutes of action.

Hampton (6-6) is coming off a 58-56 win over Yale on Tuesday. Led by a season high 21 points from Christopher Tolsen the Pirates snapped a three game losing streak with the win. Tolsen is averaging 19.5 ppg in the last two games, while Vincent Simpson leads the squad with 10.0 ppg this season.

Series Notes
• Kent State leads the series 1-0. The Golden Flashes won the only other meeting 77-71 last season at the M.A.C. Center.
• Kent State is 4-2 all-time against the MEAC after wins against Hampton and Coppin State last season.
• This is just the third game in Kent State history in the state of Virginia (George Mason, 2007; James Madison, 1987).

TV/Radio WNIR 100.1 FM (Tom Linder)

Next Up For Kent State
Kent State heads up east coast for a game at Temple on Monday.

Pdf. Game 13 - at Hampton (1/3/09)

Laurel coach appears headed to Hampton University

Hampton University head basketball coach Kevin Nickelberry (Mark's Digital Photography)

Coutreyer led Spartans to Final Four

Laurel High (Maryland) boys basketball coach Keith Coutreyer plans to sign a contract Aug. 4 to become an assistant basketball coach at Division I Hampton University in Virginia, he said July 29. Coutreyer said he interviewed in person with Hampton head coach Kevin Nickelberry in mid-July.

"I have been offered the job," Coutreyer said. "It looks like it is going to be a positive move for me. The final piece to the puzzle will be Monday." Coutreyer said he plans to meet with school president William R. Harvey and other personnel at Hampton. He said he is "98 percent" sure he will leave Laurel High, where he also teaches special education students, to take the job in southeast Virginia.

Coutreyer said he informed current Laurel High players that he plans to accept the job at Hampton. Division I schools are allowed three full-time assistants in men's basketball.

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Hampton U. suspends Smalling for two games to start next season

Hampton University announced that men's basketball forward Theo Smalling, a sophomore, has been suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament in Raleigh, N.C.

Smalling has been suspended for two games at the start of next season and will be required to perform 25 hours of community service before the start of the fall semester, according to HU athletic director Lonza Hardy.

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