North Carolina A&T Lawrence Qualifies, Goes After National Title

EUGENE, Oregon  --  Durham native Desmond Lawrence qualified for the NCAA 100 meter national championship final on Wednesday by running a personal-best 10.12 in the semifinal to finish tied for third. 
 
By earning a spot in the finals, Lawrence has earned first-team All-American honors. He is the first Aggie to earn first-team All-American honors in the 100 meters.

“We have a motto on this team,” said Duane Ross, A&T’s director of track and field programs. “It’s either feast or famine. After that we’ll take whatever we get. But at this point, it’s all or nothing. We’re going out here to try to win it.”

Lawrence will compete for a national championship in the 100 Friday night at 8. If he wins, Lawrence will become the Aggies' first-ever national champion. Lawrence finished third behind in his heat behind Baylor's Trayvon Bromwell (9.92) and USC's Aaron Brown (10.10). 

“My preparation for the race was good, so I felt good coming into the race” said Lawrence. “The competition here helps me a lot. Once you get out into your drive phase, the guys to each side of you are going to push you to run faster. It gets pretty intense pretty fast.” 

Lawrence led the race for the first 60 meters before Bromwell made his move into the lead. Ross said Lawrence showed his majority by putting together an excellent strategy for trying to win the race.

“He needs to stand taller, stay in his lane like he did today and just compete for a title,” said Ross about winning on Friday. “When you are at regionals and nationals, all you do is compete because the competition is so good.”

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M's Jasmine Grice Receives NCAA Award For Steals

Jasmine Grice
Courtesy Florida A&M University Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M University guard Jasmine Grice received her marble plaque signifying her status as the 2013-14 NCAA Division One Women’s Steals champion.

The 5-9 backcourt ace, who came to FAMU from nearby Quincy, Florida as one of the most decorated prep players in decades, finished this past season with 119 steals, good for a 3.83 per game average, making her the third Lady Rattler player to capture a national steals title.

Grice joins all-time NCAA Division One Steals leader Natalie White (1992, 1994, 1995) and Shelly Boston (1990, 1991), as FAMU players to win national steals championships.

White still holds the NCAA career steals mark with 624, while Grice ranks fifth all-time in FAMU history with 273 steals.

Grice is the fourth Lady Rattler to have 100 or more steals in a season, joining April Manning (1988), Boston (1989, 1990, 1991) and White (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), and the third to have at least two seasons (2013, 2014) with 100 or more takeaways.

In addition, Grice was a prolific scorer, with 1,796 career points in 103 games, ranking her third all-time on the FAMU charts, and her 25.2 scoring average this season is tops in the MEAC and fifth in Division One.

She is the only FAMU Women’s player, to score 700 points in a season, finishing the 2014 campaign with 782 points, after scoring 14 points in an 84-75 loss to Savannah (Ga.) State in the March 13 quarterfinal bout.

She scored 32 points in the opening game of the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament March 10, leading FAMU to an 86-58 victory over Delaware State on March 10.

The Monday before (March 3), Grice scored 40 points against Morgan State, the second 40-point game in her career, and it was her 10^th game of 30 or more points in the last two seasons.

Grice will be continuing her basketball career in the next few weeks, travelling to Finland to play professionally.

 COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU is school-record 42nd in NAIA all-sports ranking

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana placed 42nd, the highest finish in XU history, in the NAIA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings of 2013-14.
    
The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets bettered the previous school mark of 50th in 2011-12. It's the fifth time in six years that Xavier placed among the top 100 and the third straight year that XU ranked in the top 60. Xavier was 56th a year ago.
    
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today newspaper. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 12 sports — six women's and six men's. This is the 19th year of the NAIA all-sports standings.
    
Xavier scored a school-record 305 points after a tie for third place nationally in women's tennis, a tie for fifth in men's tennis, a tie or ninth in women's basketball, a tie for 17th in men's basketball, 25th in women's track and field and a tie for 25th in women's volleyball.
    
"Many have contributed to our best ranking ever, from the student-athletes, to the coaches, the support staff, faculty, staff, alumni and certainly the administration," said Jason Horn, XU director of athletics and recreation. "Xavier University is committed to achieving excellence in everything that we do, and it takes more than one person or a small group of people to reach the high levels that our department reached this year."
    
Xavier was the only HBCU (historically black college or university) with a top-50 finish this season from the NAIA or NCAA divisions II or III.
    
The top three NAIA schools were Oklahoma Baptist with 907.5 points, Oklahoma City with 763.25 and Lindsey Wilson with 756. Oklahoma Baptist led for the second consecutive year.

Xavier in NAIA all-sports standings
2013-14: 42nd
2012-13: 56th
2011-12: 50th
2010-11: 102nd
2009-10: 83rd
2008-09: tie-92nd
2007-08: 141st
2006-07: 156th
2005-06: no teams (Hurricane Katrina)
2004-05: not in top 100
2003-04: 86th
2002-03: tie-163rd
2001-02: tie-238th
2000-01: tie-199th
1999-2000: not in top 234
1998-99: tie-210th
1997-98: tie-194th
1996-97: 164th
1995-96: 146th

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Loman Adds His Name to List of Tennessee State Signees

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The number of Tennessee State men’s basketball commitments has now reached double-digits, as Montez Loman (Boiling Spring Lakes, N.C.) has signed a Letter of Intent to play for Dana Ford this upcoming season.

“Montez is a combo forward who is blessed with incredible athleticism,” Ford said. “He has a seven-foot-two wingspan and I like his ability to score around the basket and alter shots. He also has a tremendous motor and energy level, and I look forward to bringing him into the program.”

 

Loman will have two years of eligibility left as he has spent the last two seasons playing for Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C.

 

The six-foot-six small forward started 29 of 32 games as a freshman, shot 50-percent from the floor, led the team in blocked shots and ranked second in rebounding. He averaged 6.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.

 

He contributed more as a sophomore as he led the Dolphins in rebounding, blocked shots and steals while also ranking among the top scorers. He averaged 10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 1.6 steals to earn second-team all-region honors and the Region 10 Defensive Player of the Year award.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Byron Samuels Named FAMU's New Head Basketball Coach

The new Rattler coach has three perevious head coaching stints to his credit and an extensive resume spanning 26 years

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Collegiate coaching veteran Byron Samuels will embark on a new chapter in his career with his appointment as head men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU).

Samuels comes to FAMU from the University of Georgia, where he served as the basketball operations coordinator since June of 2013.

While at Georgia, Samuels was responsible for oversight of the players' day-to-day schedules and their academic performance, assisting with the program's on-campus recruiting efforts, summer camps and community outreach.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Samuels has built an extensive coaching resume spanning 11 schools in 26 years. His career experiences include three head coaching posts, two at four-year schools, and one in the junior college ranks.

Samuels' first head coaching job came at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Hampton University. During his two-year stint (1995-97), he helped the Pirates with their transition to NCAA Division I status.

His teams broke 14 team and individual records and both of his recruiting classes were ranked No. 1 in the MEAC.

Samuels left Hampton in 1997 to join his college coach, Jerry Green, as an assistant on his staff at the University of Tennessee. In each of their four years at UT, the Vols earned NCAA Tournament berths, highlighted by an SEC co-championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000.

Samuels was the head coach at Radford University from 2002-07 after serving one season there as an assistant coach. His tenure with the Highlanders included an appearance in the league's tournament championship game, as well as several player and team accolades, both on the court and in the classroom.

Over the entirety of his coaching career, Samuels helped guide six teams to post-season bids. In addition to the four Tennessee squads, teams at Washington State and Tulsa earned NIT berths.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Indianapolis Colts again sign free agent wide receiver Greg Moore, Lane College

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- The Indianapolis Colts today signed free agent wide receiver Greg Moore and waived center Thomas Austin.

Moore, 6-4, 197 pounds, was originally signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2014 and was waived on May 19. He finished the 2013 season at Lane College with 59 catches for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to All-SIAC accolades. He also had three 100-yard receiving contests. Moore started 10 games as a freshman in junior college at Mesabi Range before transferring to Lane and starting nine contests as a sophomore.

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TSU Women’s Basketball Holds Successful Play Day

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- This past Saturday the Tennessee State University women’s basketball program welcomed high school girl's basketball teams from across the country to the Gentry Center for a Play Day.
 

“I feel like our Play Day was great for TSU women’s basketball but even better for our university with the local teams as well as teams from the Indiana and Memphis areas having a chance to learn about TSU,” said head coach Larry Inman. “We wanted to show them what a great place TSU is as an institution and what type of women’s basketball program we have and I believe we did that. We heard nothing but positive comments and promises to return from those that participated.”

 

The Play Day which featured teams from Nashville, Memphis and Indiana drew a crowd of more than 300 spectators throughout the day.

 

“We put on a play day to give local teams and future recruits that might be interested an opportunity to be on our campus and meet the coaching staff.

 

The first game of the day began at 8 a.m. with the final game concluding at 9 p.m. Each team played three games. Following two 20-minute halves of action, the teams had the opportunity to go through situational plays.

 

Head Coach Johnnie Luckett, from Memphis’ Whitehaven High School talked about the importance of his team participating in Play Days.

 

“We came her to get experience playing other teams,” he noted. “In Memphis we have a style of ball that we play while East and Middle Tennessee teams have their own style. What we wanted to do is get a taste of how other Tennessee teams play so if we make it to the playoffs, we will already have an idea of what to expect.”

 

There were eight teams that participated in TSU’s Play Day including Whites Creek, White House Heritage, Evansville Mater Dei, Maplewood, Antioch, Brentwood, Centennial and Whitehaven.

 

TSU will host another Play Day on June 18 in the Gentry Center.

 

“We are very excited about our next play day and we are already making plans to make it even better,” coach Inman continued. “This is such a great opportunity for the teams that attend to hone their skills and come together as a unit. It should be another great day of basketball!

 

For more information contact assistant coach Joe Bonham (615) 963-5903.

COURTESY TENNNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Dodgers draft JSU signee Deion Ulmer

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State baseball had its first player selected in this year's MLB Draft.

But he's not on the team's current roster.

JSU signee Deion Ulmer was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 26th round with the 789th overall pick Saturday.

"I was in touch with a couple of other scouts (Saturday) morning and was sitting around by the computer listening to the draft all day long, and I got kind of discouraged because I wasn't hearing my name called," he said in a story on the school's website. "I actually left to work out and lift weights when my dad called me and said 'You are a Dodger son.' I just broke down in tears right there in the car on the road. I couldn't believe it. It's an amazing feeling."

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FAMU close to naming men's hoops coach



KELLEN WINSLOW SR.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Florida A&M could name its next men's basketball coach before the end of this week, Athletic Director Kellen Winslow said Monday.

"We have decided who we're going to hire," Winslow said by telephone from Orlando, where he is attending a conference.

"We want to get the paperwork processed, and we hope to make an announcement soon when it's all done."

Winslow said he wouldn't name the candidate for the job that has been opened since the firing of Clemon Johnson in April.

However, Winslow said the hiring process could be completed in the next 24 to 48 hours.

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Tickets for 10th Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney On Sale Now

ORLANDO, Florida  -- Tickets for the 2014 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney are on sale now.  The 10^th annual matchup will showcase the North Carolina A&T State University Aggies of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

 

Tickets to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney can be purchased through Ticketmaster online, by calling 800-745-3000 or by logging on to www.meacswacchallenge.com.

 

The game, slated to be televised on ESPN Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 at 11:45 a.m. ET, will be played for the first time at Bright House Networks Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida (UCF), while the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium undergoes renovations.

 

The yearly event, which features teams from two prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), brings approximately 20,000 fans to Central Florida over Labor Day Weekend for the start of college football season. Offering More Than Just a Game, weekend events also include a high school career seminar, band showcase and a Legends’ Reception. The event will mark the first meeting between the two storied programs.

 

Travel options to attend the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando are being offered by Anthony Travel, the event’s official travel provider. Travel packages will include discounted hotel accommodations, game tickets and specially-priced Walt Disney World Resort Theme Park Tickets. For more information, visit www.AnthonyTravel.com/MEACSWAC or call 888-632-6951.

 

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN. For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, or to join the event’s following on Facebook and Twitter, visit the event’s official website at www.meacswacchallenge.com.

 

ESPN Events ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes two Labor Day weekend college football games; 11 college bowl games and eight college basketball events, which accounts for approximately 200 hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over a half a million attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

 

Xavier SID Cassiere receives 2 NAIA writing awards

Ed Cassiere

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Ed Cassiere received two awards Monday in the NAIA's 2013-14 Dr. W. Jack Bell Writing Contest.

Cassiere was honored for a pair of game recaps. He placed seventh for his XU-Spring Hill men's basketball story on Dec. 17 and ninth for his account of the finals of the NAIA Unaffiliated Group 2 Tennis Tournament on April 26.

Cassiere — who in July will begin his ninth year as Xavier's sports information director — has received 19 NAIA writing awards the past six years, including four firsts. During the past three years, Xavier and Cassiere's 11 awards are the most by a university or individual in the Dr. W. Jack Bell Writing Contest.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Tougaloo College Athletics Gear Up For Basketball Camp

TOUGALOO, Mississippi  -- The Tougaloo College Athletics Department is gearing up for its 2014 Bulldog Basketball Camp.  The camp is scheduled for June 11-13, 2014 in the Dawg Pound.

The Tougaloo College Athletics Department is geared up and ready to go for its 1st Annual Bulldog Basketball Camp.  The coaches, volunteers and participants are all excited and ready to work.  There have been a lot planning and preparation for this camp and everyone is ready to put it to work. The camp will begin on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 8:00 A.M. There are two sessions of the camp. 

Session I is from 8:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. and it will have the participants ages 6-10 years old.  Session II is from 1:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. and it will have the participants ages 11-15 years old.

Local and statewide coaches will be on hand to demonstrate and teach technique, form, and other drills necessary to be an effective basketball player.  The camp is open to boys and girls.

When asked about his thoughts on the 1st Annual Bulldog Camp, Dr. James C. Coleman (Athletic Director) had these words to say: "We are excited about the growth of the program and we excited to have these young kids be apart of our growth.  I commend Coach Yolanda Cartlidge and her staff for an outstanding job in planning this camp, and I know it will be a great success because of the planning and preparation to ensure that the participants get the full benefit of the camp."

COURTESY TOUGALOO COLLEGE BULLDOGS ATHLETICS

The Southern Heritage Classic Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

Photo courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics

MEMPHIS, Tennessee  -- The Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx announced today that the popular event will celebrate its 25^th anniversary when football rivals Jackson State University and Tennessee State University go head-to-head Saturday September 13, at 6 p.m. (CDT) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis.

The Classic, which last year ranked 4th in attendance among historically black college and university (HBCU) classic football games in the country, has become a driving force for increasing revenue for Jackson State and Tennessee State. After the 2014 Classic, both colleges – collectively – will have earned more than $9.8 million since the Classic’s inception in 1990. The Classic also has had an economic impact on Memphis where these competing teams play annually. Last year’s Classic generated $21 million dollars to the local economy.

 

“The Classic has become much more than a platform where two of our historically black colleges and universities come together in Memphis,” said Fred Jones Jr., Southern Heritage Classic founder and producer. “For the two colleges, it’s created an annual economic stream that they could depend on. For Memphis, it’s been an economic powerhouse to the community.”

 

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. said the Classic also has impacted communities beyond the boundaries of Memphis.

 

“In bringing together universities from Nashville, Tennessee and Jackson, Mississippi in Memphis, the Southern Heritage Classic has for many years been one of the most anticipated and widely regarded events on the Mid-South region’s social calendar,” Wharton said. “What escapes many people, however, is that this game and calendar of events have also become a strong, dependable economic engine for Memphis and the Mid-South.”

 

Wharton continued, “What Fred Jones has accomplished in building this Classic from a small football game between regional rivals into a week of activities that generates a $21 million economic impact is remarkable. This is why he deserves appreciation not only from Jackson State and Tennessee State Universities and their fans, but also from the small business owners, Chamber of Commerce officers, hotel general managers, governmental officials, and all of those who have benefited from the financial footprint the Southern Heritage Classic continues to make. To be clear, every Memphian has benefitted from the positive imprint of the Classic.”

 

While the Southern Heritage Classic and other HBCU classics still attract big crowds, college sports revenue in general has become much more competitive.

 

“The football classics are historical in their importance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as a revenue source for sustainability,” said Dr. Vivian L. Fuller, Director of Athletics for Jackson State University. “As the climate of intercollegiate athletics and sports change so will the classics. Twenty-five years is a true measure of the sustainability and leadership.

 

“The Southern Heritage Classic, over the previous twenty-two years, has not only been a significant revenue source for Jackson State, but participation in the event has also been a point of cultural and institutional pride for Tiger nation. The pageantry surrounding the Classic, including the concerts, parties, golf tournaments and the battle of the bands all lift the Southern Heritage Classic from a football game to one of the premier events on the collegiate level,” Dr. Fuller said.

 

Some funding sources also have declined as black students have considered increased educational opportunities beyond historically black colleges and universities.

 

“College athletics is a much different entity than it was during the days of John Merritt at Tennessee State,” said Teresa Phillips, Director of Athletics for Tennessee State University. “As top student-athletes were given the option to attend majority schools, HBCUs have found it difficult to continue to compete at the highest level. Funding issues are at the center of our circumstance. Facilities and support services abound at top athletic programs. For them, money is not really a concern while it is at the center of our daily challenges.

 

Ms. Phillips continued, “One of the constants for Tennessee State has been the Southern Heritage Classic. Through the leadership of Fred Jones this event has stood the test of time and has benefitted TSU directly through the strong financial guarantee paid to the athletic program and university band. Indirect benefits have also been noted through corporate relationships for the university and student recruitment. TSU has been blessed by this relationship for twenty five years and we are looking forward to another quarter of a century of involvement with the Classic. It's truly been one of the most consistent sources of external support for our athletic program during my 25 years at the university.”

 

Jones credits the Classic’s overall success and ability to evolve to its loyal sponsors. Besides FedEx – the Classic’s presenting sponsor – other major sponsors include Allstate Insurance Company; AutoZone; Nike; Governor’s Highway Safety Office; Carrier Corporation; and MillerCoors. While sponsorships contribute the lion’s share of money for the Southern Heritage Classic, loyal alumni and other fans from across the U.S. also play a large part in the success and longevity of the annual celebration.

 

“When people say they enjoy the event each year it’s real; it’s not manufactured,” Jones said. “People schedule their vacations and plan their family reunions around the Classic.”

 

“All the Way LIVE at 25” is the theme for this year’s 3-day Classic from September 11-13. Classic events scheduled for Thursday, September 11 include Gladys Knight, with special guest, Jammin Jay Lamont. Continuing on Friday, September 12, Classic events include V101’s The Tom Joyner Morning Show; the Classic Music Festival – which is new this year – with performances by Charlie Wilson, Joe and Mint Condition; plus the Classic Comedy Jam starring Lavell Crawford with Dominique, Cocoa Brown and Jammin Jay Lamont. On Saturday, September 13, traditional events before the Classic game with football rivals Jackson State and Tennessee State include the Classic Tailgate – which drew more than 10,000 people last year; the Classic Parade; the Classic Fashions & Brunch; the Ed “Too Tall” Jones Golf Classic; and the Classic College Fair.

 

About the Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx

The Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx began in 1990 and last year ranked 4th in attendance among historically black college and university (HBCU) classic football games in the country. The Classic brings fans from across the U.S. to watch rivals Jackson State University and Tennessee State University play annually at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis. For more information on the Southern Heritage Classic, visit www.southernheritageclassic.com. 

Courtesy: Cecelia Payne Wright
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Westchester’s Sowell picks N.C. A&T

HIGH POINT, North Carolina  — Myles Sowell knew he had a good opportunity to play baseball at a high level. And now he looks to make the most of it.

After working hard throughout his high school career, Sowell, a recent graduate of Westchester Country Day, got looks from a couple NCAA Division I schools. But, with the early signing period nearing a close, he decided his best choice was to sign with N.C. A&T State University.

“It’s great,” says Sowell, the son of Broadus and Kimberly of Greensboro, of signing. “It’s a good feeling to get this chance — one a lot of people want and they don’t get. So, I’ll try to take advantage of it the best I can.”

Sowell remembers playing baseball from his earliest days growing up. He dabbled in other sports like basketball and football when he was younger. But over the years, they fell to the wayside as he focused more and more on baseball.

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Albany State’s Dexter Moody hopeful for roster spot on Ravens

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Dexter Moody never used the word “dream.”

Not when talking about his ascent into the NFL, or his recent three-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens or his arrival at the pinnacle of the football world.

 

Instead, all he talked about was work.

 

“It’s not just about coming out and playing football anymore,” he said. “It’s about knowing where you need to be, and it takes a lot of studying. You actually need to know the game.

 

“At this level, everybody is as good as you are. No one will give you anything. You have to earn everything you get at this level.”

 

In a recent phone interview with The Herald, the former star Albany State University safety and Ravens rookie said he likes his chances of earning a spot on the team’s 53-man roster this fall. Moody went untouched in the NFL Draft in early May, but in a matter of days he accepted a 3-year, $1.53 million contract with the Ravens — and some in the Baltimore media think Moody could even be fighting for a starting safety spot this season.

 

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Tampa Bay Rays draft UAPB's Isias Alcantar in MLB Round 36

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Isias Alcantar,  who played shortstop for the Golden Lions but is projected as a catcher in the pros, went to the Tampa Bay Rays in the 36th round with the No. 1,087 pick. The 6'0" 215lbs player is the son of Abel Alcantar, the head coach at D2 power Chico State.  He also was a transfer to the Golden Lions from Laney College in California.

MORE TO COME...

Texas Rangers Select North Carolina A&T's Tendler In MLB Draft

LUKE TENDLER
COURTESY NCA&T SPORTS INFORMATION

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- North Carolina A&T senior shortstop Luke Tendler (6-0, 195, Wilmington, N.C.) was selected with 876^th overall pick in the 29^th round of the 2014 MLB amateur draft by the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Tendler became the seventh Aggie selected in the MLB draft in the last 10 years.  He is the 18^th player in school history to be drafted. He also joined two former teammates – Xavier Macklin in 2011 and Kelvin Freeman in 2013 – as draftees.

“It was a great experience for me,” said Tendler, referring to the past two days. “I was nervous the whole time.”

The nerves began for Tendler on Friday when the Rangers called him and told him he would be selected in the eighth round. When that didn’t happen, he was told to stay by his phone. He then received a call from the New York Yankees on Saturday saying they were going to take him in the 28^th round. That never occurred, but the Rangers did eventually follow through by taking the Aggies star player.

“I enjoyed my time at A&T,” said Tendler. “Being around our coaching staff and learning from them made me mature as a player. It made me a good enough prospect to be a professional player.”

Tendler is expected to sign Saturday or Sunday. The team has not indicated where he will be assigned, but the normal protocol is to send college draftees to Arizona for a short spring training before assigning him to a league for a short season.

“I’m just focused on making the big leagues,” said Tendler. “I want to do all I can do to make it to the next level, the top level.”

Tendler led the Aggies in batting in three out of the seasons he played, while starting 199 out of the 200 games he played at A&T. His career highlights include being named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American as a junior and he was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year in 2013.

He is a career .349 hitter with 24 home runs and 179 RBI. He also finished with 66 doubles, 15 triples and a .561 slugging percentage. As a junior, he was fourth in the nation in doubles per game.

“We thought he would go a little higher, but the bottom line is, he’s got a shot. He’s got an opportunity,” said A&T head baseball coach Joel Sanchez. “The Texas Rangers are a great organization. If he goes in there and puts up the numbers and performs like we know he can, he will do well.”

Sanchez said the Rangers drafted Tendler as an outfielder. Tendler proved during his career he can play multiple positions, which should help him at the next level.

“This is good for Luke and this is good for the program,” said Sanchez. “It gives the program credibility when you consistently have guys drafted to the professional ranks. To have (Kelvin) Freeman drafted last year and Luke drafted this year, it gives the program notoriety, good publicity, it’s just a win/win for everybody.”

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Three Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Selected in 2014 MLB Draft

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  For the 23rd year, a Bethune-Cookman player’s name was announced among those selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, with the Wildcats notching three players in 2014, the most for the program in a decade chosen to join the professional ranks. Pitchers John Sever, Montana Durapau and Keith Zuniga each earned selections on Saturday (June 7), in addition to one Wildcats signee.

“Any time the guys are rewarded with the honor of getting drafted after working so hard, they obviously have a lot of ability,” Head Coach Jason Beverlin said. “You’ve got to give a lot of credit to the whole team in addition to the great job those three guys did. That’s one thing we talked about all year is the deeper we go in the postseason, the more guys that will get drafted, and that really proved true today.”

COURTESY B-CU SPORTS INFORMATION

A junior pitcher, Sever became the first Wildcats’ player to be selected in the MLB draft since Rayan Gonzalez was chosen in the 21st round of the 2012 Draft by the Colorado Rockies. Sever was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 26th pick in the 20th round (611th overall). At 6-5 and 190 pounds, the B-CU left-hander from Travelers Rest, S.C. was a first-year player for the Wildcats and finished the season with a 3-5 record and team-best four (4) saves, logging a 4.27 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 59 innings in the Maroon and Gold.

“I’m just ecstatic and it’s a dream come true; I’m happy to be a Pirate,” Sever said. “And to have an opportunity to play on the same team as a college teammate, that’s just the best, that would be awesome.”

Joining Sever in the organization and picking up the Wildcats’ second selection in the 2014 Draft, fourth-year senior Montana Durapau was also chosen by Pittsburgh, with the 26th pick in the 32nd round (971st overall). A native of nearby Deltona, Fla., the 5-11, 175-pound right-handed pitcher accumulated career program-record marks of a 25-15 record and 287 strikeouts in a record 350.1 innings pitched, logging a 3.19 ERA across 66 games for the Wildcats.

“I’m just excited right now,” Durapau said. “Being a smaller guy, you’ve got to give everything you can and hope that somebody rolls the dice on you. I’m glad that Pittsburgh did that with me and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to show them they made the right choice, and to represent B-CU and my family and see how far I can go.”

At the time of initial release, the first destinations for Sever and Durapau in the Pittsburgh organization have not yet been determined.

Rounding out the trio of current Wildcats in the 2014 MLB Draft, junior Keith Zuniga was chosen by the Miami Marlins with the second pick in 35th round (1,037th overall). The 6-0, 185-pound right-hander from Nogales, Ariz. was also a first-year player for the Wildcats and earned a record of 8-4, picking up the decision in B-CU’s win over Columbia, the first NCAA Regional victory since 2002. In 100 innings pitched in the 2014 season, Zuniga logged a 2.70 ERA and 57 strikeouts.

“It’s always been a goal of mine,” Zuniga said. “Finally being able to make it happen in my junior year after winning a championship and being able to win a Regional game with Cookman, I think all the pieces came together and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Zuniga is expected to begin his professional career in the Miami organization at the Advanced-A affiliate Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League South Division.

In addition to the current Wildcats, 6-2, 215-pound catcher signee Dominic Blanco out of Gulf Coast High School (Naples, Fla.) was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the sixth pick in the 28th round (831st overall).

The three draftees are the most active Wildcats selected in the same season for Bethune-Cookman in 10 years, tying for the most in one season in program history. In 2004, Sebastien Boucher was selected in the seventh round by Seattle, Mumba Rivera was selected in the 21st round by Seattle and Juan Figueroa was chosen in the 37th round by the then-Florida Marlins.

In a pitching-heavy draft, having three pitchers chosen is evidence of the benefits of having two experienced pitching coaches at the ready for the Wildcats’ pitching staff.

Beverlin was selected in the fourth round of the 1994 draft by Oakland and went on to play 13 years professionally, while first-year pitching coach Jason Bell was drafted by in the second round of the 1995 draft by Minnesota and played seven years professionally. Under the guidance of the tandem, the Wildcats’ team ERA improved to 3.63 from 4.16 a year ago.

The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (27-33) concluded the 2014 season in the NCAA Coral Gables (FL) Regional with a 1-2 postseason record after collecting the program’s 17th Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in Norfolk, Va. at the conference tournament.

For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feeds, @CookmanBaseball or @BCUathletics, or "Like Us" on Facebook at BCUathletics.

To join the conversation on social media, be sure to tag your B-CU-related posts with the official hashtag of B-CU Athletics, #HailWildcats.

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State Hornets Amion, Gonzalez Selected In MLB Draft

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Alabama State University center fielder Richard Amion and catcher Richard Gonzalez were selected on day three of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft.

Amion was selected in the 18^th round by the San Francisco Giants, while Gonzalez was selected in the 29^th round by the Houston Astros.

"Amion is one of the hardest working players I've ever coached," Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. "For him to realize one of his goals is a great accomplishment. He was a difference maker for our program, putting up great numbers."

Amion (5-11, 185, Jr., Cutler Bay, Fla.), a 2014 first-team All-SWAC selection, set career highs in  batting average (.336 – second on the team) and home runs (four) with 27 RBI. He was 10^th in the SWAC in average, first in runs scored (66), second in both hits (71) and walks (37), third in on-base percentage (.452), and tied for fifth in stolen bases (17), reaching base in 51 of 54 games this season. Amion led the Hornets with 25 multi-hit games, including a career-high four hits at Jackson St. (3/22 – game 2) and a five-RBI game at a Samford (3/18/14). For his career, Amion hit .299 with five triples, six home runs, 86 RBI and 87 stolen bases.



"Today my dream of playing professional baseball has come true," said Amion, who started 156 of his 161 games as a Hornet. "I want to thank Coaches Melendez, (Jose) Vazquez, (Drew) Clark, and (Matt) Crane for shaping me into the player I am today. Without them I would not have matured as a man on and off the field. I am grateful for everything ASU has done for me. I am excited about embarking on the next chapter of my life. Go Hornets!"

Gonzalez (5-10, 205, Jr., Caguas, PR) was a three-time All-SWAC selection, earning first team honors this past season in hitting .270 with a career-high four home runs and 33 RBI. He was fifth in the SWAC in runs scored (48), and had 47 hits, including eight doubles and two triples. Gonzalez had a .406 on-base percentage and a .408 slugging percentage, and stole seven bases. He had nine multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games this season. Defensively, he threw out 16 runners trying to steal this season and had a .982 fielding percentage. For his career, Gonzalez hit .303 with 27 doubles, nine triples, five home runs and 100 RBI, and threw out 70 runners attempting to steal.

"Vince has been our workhorse the last three years," Melendez said of Gonzalez, who started all but one of his 162 games in a Hornet uniform. "He has led our team on and off the field and we're excited he's getting this opportunity. He will be a great professional player. His defensive skills are as good as they come, and he was a great offensive player for us."

Gonzalez hit .270 or above all three seasons, highlighted by a career-best .348 average in 2013.

"I want to thank the coaching staff because they made be better, not just as a player, but as a person," Gonzalez said. "I want to thank all my teammates as well. The Hornets are my family, and without them I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this."

The duo joins seventh-round draft pick SS Emmanuel Marrero in giving the Hornets three players in the 2014 MLB Draft class. Arguably the most decorated trio in program history, ASU baseball won 89 games over the past three seasons, including notable victories over #4-ranked Miami, Auburn, Troy and South Alabama during that time.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Florida A&M's Bennie Robinson Selected in the 28th Round by Arizona Diamondbacks

COURTESY FAMU SPORTS INFORMATION
BENNIE ROBINSON

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M 1B/RF Bennie Robinson was selected in the 28^th round (840 overall) of the 2014 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday afternoon. The number 28 is fitting as Robinson becomes just the 28^th FAMU player ever to be drafted and first since Derek Shaw was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 41^st round of the 2010 draft.

"I feel honored to be selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks and represent Florida A&M University," Robinson said. “It’s an amazing feeling that you just can’t explain after working so hard in the game I love to be drafted. Thanks to the coaches and all my teammates for pushing me this year and I know there will be many more draftees for FAMU in the future."

Robinson finished his senior season reaching base in 48 consecutive games and became the Rattlers first ever MEAC Player of the Year and made the MEAC All-Tournament Team. Robinson hit.390, which ranked 15^th nationally, while leading the conference in hits (83) and tied for the lead in doubles (15). He also had 26 multi-hit and 14 multi-RBI games as well as a 15 game hitting streak in 2014.

FAMU finished the 2014 season tied for first in the MEAC Southern Division with a record of 26-26, 14-10 MEAC, marking the first time the Rattlers ended a season with a .500 or better record since 2003 (31-21, 12-6 MEAC). The 14 MEAC wins were the most in program history.

Read more news regarding FAMU sports at FAMUATHLETICS.COM

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MSU Bozeman adds six names to 2014-15 men's basketball roster

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Morgan State University men's basketball coach Todd Bozeman added six newcomers to the Bears 2014-15 roster. The newcomers are compiled of five freshmen and a transfer.

The five freshmen consists of, Jahleem Montague, Jamar Redmond, Jerell Cooke, Jeremiah Curtis and A.J. Vernon.

Jahleem Montague helped Atlantic City High School win a pair of Group IV state titles in 2012 and 2013. Montague, who stands at 6-foot-9, completed his senior season averaging 9.9 points and 5.9 rebounds, despite playing with an injury. He was at his best in the postseason, averaging 12.7 points in 11 postseason games. Montague attended prep school at The Robinson School where he averaged 17 points , 14 rebounds and three blocks. He recorded a triple-double versus Pioneer Science Academy by posting 29 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks.

Jamar Redmond is a 6-foot-3 guard from Roselle, New Jersey. He was a standout shooting guard at The Robinson School, where he was also teammate with Jahleem Montague. Redmond averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. H e also had a career-high 32 point outing against Laurel Prep.

Jerell Cooke averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.1 steals as a senior at Randallstown High School.  The 6-foot-3 shooting guard helped lead his team to a 22-4 record and 10-1 in conference.

Jeremiah Curtis is another big man who will be joining the Bears. Curtis was a 6-foot-8, 230 pound post player at the Middleburg Academy (Virginia) where he averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds during his senior year.

Anthony 'A.J.' Vernon was a standout power forward at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. The 6-foot-8 Brooklyn native was one of the most improved big men in the highly competitive conference and helped lead his squad to the CHSAA title game.

Joining the incoming freshmen will be 7-foot transfer Zech Smith (...first name is pronounced "Zach").  Smith joins the Bears roster after spending a season as a CSU Bakersfield Roadrunner where he shot 58 percent from the field his redshirt-junior year.

Todd Bozeman has led NCAA appearances in 2009 and 2010. Morgan State has won three MEAC Tournaments (1977, 2009 & 2010) and made its sixth championship appearance in eight seasons under Coach Bozeman. The Bears finished the 2013-14 season with a 17-15 record.





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Albany State football coach Mike White hosts annual youth camp

Mike White is entering his 15th season as coach of the Rams

ALBANY, Georgia  -- Albany State football coach Mike White has instilled his knowledge in area youth players for 12 years through his annual football camp, which kicked off Thursday at ASU’s campus and runs through today.

The camp has been a staple in the Good Life City and gives kids ages 8-18 a taste of the ASU experience. Participants get the chance to spend the weekend in student dorms, eating in campus cafeterias and meeting current ASU players.

 

“We show them around campus, talk to them about what it takes to be a student-athlete, talk to them about leadership, what it takes to be an athlete on this level,” White said. “If they want to get here we show them what that takes.”

 

While most kids enjoy the time with their peers away from home, White sees the camaraderie developed between the campers and current student-athletes as the camp’s biggest draw.

 

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NC Central basketball coach visits Daniels, his former middle school

HEAD COACH LEVELLE MOTON
NORTH CAROOLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH North Carolina  --  N.C. Central men’s basketball coach Levelle Moton shared his playbook with a different team Friday.

Moton, 39, months removed from the Eagles’ first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and NCAA tournament bid, talked with the Blue Jackets’ roster of students at Daniels Middle School about the plays that those around him drew up for him to succeed, on and off the court.

Bob Schmalfield coached Moton in football and basketball at Daniels, where he graduated in 1988. Before introducing Moton to the students, Schmalfield told them that he didn’t do anything to improve Moton’s game, making the point that everything they need to be successful as well is already within them.

“What made him great was what he brought with him,” Schmalfield said. “He brought it from inside. I didn’t have to bring it out of him.” CONTINUE READING

Former FAMU Rattlers Scott looks to catch on in CFL

COURTESY FAMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Padric Scott is getting encouragement from Toronto Argonauts assistant coach Jim Daley almost every day. His teammates are telling him how impressed they are with him, too.

It all sounds familiar to Scott, a former standout nose tackle at Lincoln High School, who is having his second go at a pro football career — this time in the Canadian Football League. Last year after graduating from FAMU, the lineman signed a free-agent contract with Arizona in the NFL.

Scott didn’t make the cut. Ten months after returning home, he signed with the Argonauts and is currently in their rookie camp.

But while he was brimming with confidence during a Friday evening telephone interview, Scott isn’t allowing himself to get too excited about the positive feedback.

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