No Tears for Hampton's Jerica Jenkins in Fight With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hampton, VA - When doctors told Hampton point guard Jerica Jenkins that she had cancer, she cried for a long time that April day.

It's an understandable reaction, even more so for a high school freshman, which she was at the time of the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

That day ended, and, so too did Jenkins' tears, as it's coming up on seven years since that day, and she hasn't wasted any water on her cancer.

"I was shocked," said Jenkins, a 5-foot-4 junior from Lancaster, Tex. "I didn't believe it. I was 14. I was like, 'There's no way I have cancer.' I just couldn't believe it. I cried right then. Then, I realized that I had to deal with it and move on."

LADY PIRATES TO CLOSE OUT SEASON AT HOWARD

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hampton University women’s basketball team will close out the regular season at Burr Gymnasium on Thursday, when the Lady Pirates take on Howard at 6 p.m.

The Lady Pirates (21-6, 14-1 MEAC), in their second season under head coach David Six, won their ninth straight game on Saturday, beating Delaware State 77-64 at Memorial Hall. Junior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) led the Lady Pirates with 16 points, while sophomore forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) added 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) added 13 points and 10 assists for her fourth double-double of the season.

Howard (13-16, 9-6 MEAC) had its three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 53-50 loss at Maryland Eastern Shore. Sophomore forward Saadia Doyle led the Lady Bison with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore guard Tamoria Holmes added 12 points and sophomore guard Cheyenne Curley-Payne scored 10 points in the loss.

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Six takes over HU women's program

Former Hampton High girls basketball coach David Six was named the interim women's basketball coach at Hampton University late Tuesday in a quick move by athletic director Lonza Hardy. Six will replace four-year coach Walter Mebane, whose contract expired Tuesday and was not renewed. "I'm very excited," said Six, who coached 14 years at Hampton High before resigning in May 2008 to become HU's Director of Intramurals for the 2008-09 school year. "It's a tremendous opportunity for me. I'm very appreciative for the administration at Hampton University to think that I can come in and do a good job."

Six won two Group AAA state titles (2001, 2007) and compiled a 331-93 mark in his time at Hampton High. Six also coached Gloucester's boys basketball team from 1995-97 and went 24-39. Six officially was named the interim coach for the upcoming season, but Hardy is looking beyond. "Our thought process was that this would evolve into a permanent position," Hardy said late Tuesday. "We wanted to get him started and have him get our program back on track. We have every intention of making it a full-time position after the upcoming season.

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Hampton U. picks up basketball transfer

Photo: George DeGrout, #31 averaged 19.03 ppg, 10.52 rpg, 1.27 apg, 1.14 steals while shooting 62 percent from the floor for Allegany College of Maryland.

A former star forward at Norcom High School commits to Hampton University's men's basketball team.

George DeGroat, a former standout at Norcom High in Portsmouth, has given a commitment to Hampton University's men's basketball team.

The 6-foot-5 forward has played the past two seasons at Allegany Community College in Maryland, and prior to that spent a year at Genesis One Christian School in Mendenhall, Miss. He averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds this past season.

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Hampton Lady Pirates defeat rival Norfolk State, 76-52

Photo: Chinyere Ukoh scored a double/double in 18 minutes of action scoring 17 points/11 rebounds. The 6-3 junior forward is from Woodbridge H.S., Woodbridge, VA.

HAMPTON, Va. – In the 74th meeting between the Hampton University Lady Pirates and the Lady Spartans of Norfolk State University, the Lady Pirates defeated NSU 82-61 in Hampton’s Convocation Center on Saturday night.

The Lady Pirates, 14-12 overall and 7-6 in the MEAC, led the Spartans, 5-19 overall and 1-12 in the MEAC, by 26 at the half, 54-28.

“We had great momentum heading into halftime and I told the girls that in the second half we had to come out and play with that same intensity,” said HU head coach Walter Mebane.

The Lady Pirates, who lead the all-time series against the Spartans 40-33, went on 19-0 run after spotting NSU a 3-0 lead at the outset of the game, taking a 19-3 lead with 16:14 to play on a Mikki Clayton jumper. But the Lady Spartans would battle back with a 7-0 run of their own to narrow their deficit to 19-10 with 14:08 on the clock. That was about as close as NSU would get after that.

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Healthy Hampton a winner over Norfolk State

Photo: Hampton Pirates 6-1 Sophomore guard Vinny Simpson, from Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal Dougherty, hit for 18 points, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds to help beat NSU Spartans.

HAMPTON, VA - Remarkable what healthy bodies and successful jump shots will do for a basketball team. Two days off last week and five days between games gave Hampton University its full complement of players, and seemed to restore the Pirates' perimeter effectiveness.

If Saturday's second half against rival Norfolk State is any indication, the Pirates are capable of a run in the upcoming MEAC tournament. Playing perhaps their best half of the season, HU carved up the Spartans 87-72 at the Convocation Center.

"We had everybody there," HU coach Kevin Nickelberry said. "When we have everybody there, we're a pretty good team.

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He lives for weekends: HU Pirates Assistant Coach Eric Williams

Basketball provides a weekly break for Hampton University men's assistant coach Eric Williams, whose battle against cancer is at the same time teaching and inspiring the Pirates.

If you didn't know, you might not notice the suit getting a little looser each game. Or the yellow "Live Strong" bracelet peeking out from under the sleeve. It might be easy to write off the fatigue in the face to too much time on the road recruiting and too many long nights reviewing game film.

But Eric Williams is working much harder than a typical first-year college assistant basketball coach. And he only coaches on game days.

His real task is during the week, when he undergoes radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer. The 44-year-old transitioned from the high school to college ranks last fall in the midst of a medical crisis.

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Williams is a native Washingtonian, a 1986 graduate of Saint Augustine's College, coached previously at Norfolk's Norview High School, Washington, D.C. Archbishop Carroll High School and at Central High School in Prince George's County, MD. He also coached Boo Williams Nike Elite AAU team from 2002-06.

A shipload of folks know Williams at all levels in life, so let us lift this brother up in collective prayer. Amen.

Hampton Pirates avoid upset by Coppin State

Photo: Michael Freeman led the Pirates in scoring with 19 points and 9 rebounds. The 6-8 sophomore star forward is from Alexandria, Va./Brewster Academy.

HAMPTON - Scoring was at a serious premium, but Hampton University's men's basketball team converted a few more opportunities than Coppin State. The Pirates held off the Eagles late in a close Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest Saturday night to win 56-54 at HU Convocation Center. Hampton (11-6, 5-0) remained unbeaten in the MEAC, Coppin State (4-16, 0-6) winless.

Mike Freeman's 19 points inside and nine rebounds were the difference-maker for Hampton against an Eagles team that tried to slow down the Pirates' running game. HU coach Kevin Nickelberry had emphasized post play in his pregame preparation.

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The long anticipated clash for MEAC supremacy is scheduled for Monday with Morgan State University visiting the Hampton Pirates.

Hampton University Freeman returning to form

It wasn't that Mike Freeman was ineffective for Hampton University early this season — he just wasn't as dominant. This led to rumblings of a sophomore slump for the 6-foot-8 forward, who was last season's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the year.

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Photo: 6-8 Sophomore power forward Michael Freeman is a man among boys in the MEAC.

Has anyone checked the Hampton University basketball roster lately. It looks like an NBA roster with a five player practice squad, totalling 19 active players. By comparison, Florida A&M has only 12 scholarship players. Who's advising the Pirates athletic department--Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys?

Seriously, Hampton has put together a team that has all the potential of a mid-major powerhouse, with only four seniors on the roster. With three 6-10 guys, a 6-8 and 6-9 forward, the Pirates have the size and talent to go deep within the NCAA Tournament. But, their greatest difficulty is playing the peewee teams like FAMU and other MEAC clubs that specialize in small ball.

Until Hampton learns to cope with this irritating form of basketball, Coach Kevin Nickelberry and team will be siting at home watching the NCAAs like the rest of us and the MEAC in '08.

-beepbeep