Auburn adds in-state FCS opponent Alabama State to 2021 schedule

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn's 2021 schedule took another step toward completion on Friday.

The Tigers scheduled a nonconference game with Alabama State for the 2021 season, ASU announced on its official site on Friday afternoon. The Hornets will face the Tigers on Nov. 20, 2021.

The two in-state schools have never met on the football field but now have two future games scheduled. The Hornets will visit Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time during the 2018 season when the two teams square off on Nov. 17 that year.



The 2021 meeting now gives Auburn two nonconference games scheduled for that season. The Tigers will also play against California in Berkley, Calif., in 2021 to complete a scheduled home-and-home series with the Bears.

With the scheduled game against the Hornets that season, Auburn has room for two more non-SEC games that year.

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New look on The Bluff: Defensive coordinator Trei Oliver handles one of many reworked roles for the Southern Jaguars

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- First-year Southern defensive coordinator Trei Oliver is in the unusual position of working for the man he replaced.

Jaguars head coach Dawson Odums decided to relinquish defensive coordinator duties after last season, then hired Oliver away from North Carolina A&T to take over.

When asked recently about that unusual dynamic, Oliver quipped, “The one thing you’re not going to do is talk about the last guy that was in your position.”

Actually, the new defensive coordinator is a lot like the old defensive coordinator. Odums and Oliver were teammates at North Carolina Central, and they were assistant coaches together at their alma mater under current North Carolina A&T defensive coordinator Sam Washington.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel,” Odums said. “He’s got a mindset like mine in that he’s going to put an emphasis on stopping the run, be simple and have guys flying around to the football.”

The one difference is that Odums’ background is up front, having played defensive end, nose guard and linebacker, while Oliver’s is on the back end, having been a safety and a standout punter.

“He’s a genius when it comes to the fronts; I’m more of a secondary guy,” Oliver said. “We’re not going to change a whole lot of what they did last year up front per se, but we’re going to do a lot more on the back end as far as coverages.”



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North Carolina A&T Men's Basketball Brings In 10 Newcomers

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- The look of the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team will be drastically different than it was in 2015-16. Entering his first full season as the Aggies head coach, Jay Joyner announced the arrival of 10 new players on Thursday. 

The Aggies have eight returning players inSam Hunt (6-foot-2, 175-pound guard, Greensboro, N.C.), Nick Reese (6-7, 210, forward, Los Angeles), Jamin Lackey (6-8, 200, F, Los Angeles), James Whitaker (6-5, 180, G, Portsmouth, Va.), Austin Williams (6-1, 175, G, Queens, N.Y.), Amari Hamilton (6-1, 165, G, Durham, N.C.), Mike Owona (6-9, 250, center, Bel Air, Md.) and Martin Jones (6-1, 171, G, Cincinnati, Ohio).

Three of the Aggies signees will sit out next season, giving the Aggies a roster of 15 players.

The Aggies focused on getting immediate experience for the 2016-17 season. Aaron Scales (6-9, 233, C, American Basketball Institute, High Point, N.C.), a graduate transfer out of Cleveland State, will play one season for the Aggies.

Joyner pulled heavily from the junior college ranks as well with signing of Eliel Gonzalez (6-2, 170, guard, Florida Air HS, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Cayey, Puerto Rico), Donte Watson(6-6, 185, F/G, Riverdale HS, Copiah Lincoln CC, New Orleans) and Davaris McGowens (6-6, 230, F, Gary Military Academy, Gulf Coast State College, Taylors, S.C.). The three high school signees are Raymon Pratt (6-3, 197, G, Ben L. Smith HS, Greensboro, N.C.), Josh Mullins (6-2, 180, G, Nash Central HS, Nashville, N.C.) and Dalen Datson (5-11, 160, G, Moravian Prep, Matthews, N.C.).

Aaren Edmead (5-10, 165, G, Deer Park HS, Deer Park, N.Y.) and Japhet Kadji (6-7, 205, F, Gulliver Prep, Douala, Cameroon), both transfers from Wagner, and Olufemi Olujobi (6-8, 233, F, Brentwood HS, Long Island, N.Y.), a transfer from Oakland (Mich.), will all sit out next season. Each player has two years of eligibility remaining. Two players the Aggies signed in December, Antanee Pickard (6-4, 190, Lancaster, Pa.) and Markques Houston (6-5, 195, Houston, Texas), have de-committed.

“Our recruiting class gives a chance to compete and win. In this business that is all you can ask for,” said Joyner. “In the short period of time I had to recruit, I think we have players who fit into the way we want to play this year. We are a little more versatile offensively. We have some enforcers down low and we were able to bring in scoring and experience. But again, we have to stake our reputation on playing defense. If we do that, we have a chance.”

Graduate Transfer Scales is a local product out of High Point. Scales played 72 games at Cleveland State before graduating with a communications degree. Joyner called Scales a back-to-the basket player who will be difficult to handle in the post. “We expect him to play physical and tough,” said Joyner. “We’ve needed toughness in the paint around here, and I think he is going to bring it to us.”

Junior College Signees Gonzalez will compete for the starting point guard position in 2016-17. He started his collegiate career at Division I Hofstra before transferring to Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. During the 2014-15 season at Hofstra, he played in 19 games and averaged 4.1 minutes. Last season for the Bulldogs, he posted 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He knocked down 27 of 64 3-pointers (.422). Joyner says he is a good passer who sees the floor well and makes good decision.

The Aggies are looking for Watson, a left-hander, to provide some scoring from the wing. Watson played two seasons at the junior college level where he averaged 15.3 points per game as a sophomore. He also averaged 4.6 rebounds and shot 41 percent from the field and 70 percent from the line. As a freshman he averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds on 45 percent shooting. Joyner says Watson is good at getting to the basket, but he can also knock down perimeter shots with consistency.

McGowens will add some physicality to the Aggies lineup. He shot 53 percent from the floor as a freshman at Gulf Coast State College while averaging 9.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 29 games played. As a sophomore, he was a 59 percent shooter from the floor and averaged 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 28 games played. Joyner says he is a player the Aggies can give the ball to in the post and feel confident in coming away with points. “I don’t think we have to live and die by jump shots every night with him on the floor,” Joyner added.

Prep Signees
Pratt will join junior Sam Hunt as a Greensboro native on the Aggies roster. Pratt was a do-it all player at Smith where he averaged 21.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a senior. He was also a 1,000-point scorer for the Golden Eagles. He scored 18 points to lead the Golden Eagles to the Metro 4-A conference championship. Joyner says Pratt is a perfect defensive fit for the Aggies because he has a build that will allow him to guard point guards, power forwards and wings.

“He is going to bring a lot of intensity from day one,” said Joyner. “You need guys out there with high motors defensively, and he definitely has a high motor.”

 Before his career is over Mullins could be considered a steal for the Aggies at the point guard position. Joyner said he was surprised someone with his upside was not signed. Mullins is another guard who could be good for the Aggies defensively with his long arms and athleticism. He averaged 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a senior at Nash Central. He also shot 44 percent from 3-point range.

Dotson gives the Aggies a speedy guard who loves to attack the basket. He is also a good passer. He attended Providence High School before the 2015-16 when he played for Moravian Prep in Lenoir, N.C. Dotson averaged 10.0 points and 6.0 assists at Moravian Prep but was hampered by a hand injury. As a senior at Providence, he averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 assists. Joyner called him an underrated player for his skill set. “I think he is going to come in motivated because he feels like he was overlooked,” said Joyner.

Division I transfers who will sit out the 2016-17 season

In two seasons at Wagner, Edmead scored 285 points and dished out 83 assists in 62 games played. Edmead started five times in over his first two seasons including both of the Seahawks’ NIT games last season as they advanced to the second round. He posted a career-high 16 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range against St. Brooklyn Francis on Jan. 28, 2016. He scored in double figures six times at Wagner.

Newsday and LongIslandBasketball.Com named him Long Island Player of the Year when he was a prep star at Deer Park. “He is not a flashy guy, but he gets the job done. He runs the show extremely well, and he has a knack for hitting big shots,” Joyner said.

Kadji will join Edmead at N.C. A&T as a transfer from Wagner. Kadji played 51 games in a Wagner uniform with 14 starts. He scored 196 points and grabbed 120 rebounds during his time as a Seahawk. Kadji also knocked down 29 3-pointers. As a freshman he posted 10 points and nine rebounds at Fairleigh Dickinson. He had a career-best 14 points at St. John’s during the 2015-16 season.  Joyner described as pick-and-pop shooter who can also put the ball on the floor to score.

Olujobi played 56 games with nine starts during his time at Oakland. He posted 76 points and 85 rebounds. He had a career-high nine rebounds last season at Milwaukee. As a high school standout at Brentwood he helped his team win the Long Island championship. He was named All-Long Island and had a pair of triple doubles as a senior. Joyner says Olujobi will be a big active body in the post that will cause opponents problems offensively and defensively. 

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Central State returning to Circle City Classic

XENIA, Ohio -- Central State University and Kentucky State University will continue their longstanding rivalry at the 33rd Circle City Classic this September. This year’s game will take place at 3 p.m. on Sept. 24 in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“It is truly an honor to be playing in one of the premier HBCU football classics. This will be our third year playing on this stage and we can’t wait for another opportunity to showcase our talent,” CSU head coach Cedric Pearl said. “We continue to show our appreciation to the Indiana Black Expo and the city of Indianapolis for allowing Central State to continue to be a part of this great event.”

The game will be the third straight year the Circle City Classic has played host to the CSU-KSU rivalry, which dates back to 1947. CSU currently owns a 35-20-1 advantage in the all-time series with the only tie coming in 1957. KSU has found recent success in the series, including last year’s 21-14 win. CSU senior defensive back Clim Robbins talked about the team’s mindset about the 2016 rematch.

“KSU edged us last season on the final drive of the game and we are determined to come back to Lucas Oil Stadium and deliver our best performance and hopefully we can come out on top.” Robbins said. “It is truly a blessing to be a part of this game and our team is working extremely hard this offseason to get better and build on last season’s 5-5 record. We all believe that the harder we work, the harder it is to lose.”

With CSU joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2013, the game has also held significant implications in the SIAC West Division standings. SIAC Commissioner Greg Moore expressed the conference’s excitement about two of its teams playing on a great stage.



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VUU's Kiana Johnson to Play Pro Ball in Finland

DUBLIN, Ohio -- The reigning NCAA Div. II Player of the Year, Kiana Johnson, will travel to Forssa, Finland later this summer to play professionally for the Forssan Alku club of the top Finnish league for women. Forssan Alku finished fourth in the league last season and has a rich history, winning nine league titles in a row in the 1990s.

Kiana's agent, Matthew C. Krejci, Esq., of MK Sports and Entertainment LLC (Dublin, OH) said, "The Finnish league is good competition with 25 or more American players spread around the 9 teams in any given year. It will be a good test for Kiana, but I believe she will shine on the court and put up big numbers as she did last year at Virginia Union." Kiana led all of NCAA women's basketball last season in scoring average at 29.2 points/game. She was also second in NCAA Div. II in total assists (268) and shot 40% from 3-point range. Kiana headlined the WBCA All America First Team, was CIAA Player of the Year, and was named the VaSID Player of the Year and the Virginia Player of the Year by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She led the Virginia Union Panthers to a 28-3 record and an Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA Div. II Tournament.

Jari Marjamaki, coach of Forssan Alku said, "We are happy to have signed Kiana as our first American player this season and look forward to building the team around such a talented player."

Kiana will graduate from Virginia Union later this year with a degree in psychology. She played her first three years at Michigan State University, starting in 58 games. Kiana is a product of Whitney Young High School, Chicago, Illinois.



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Benedict Lady Tigers Sign Latta Star Ta'Keria Legette

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Benedict College head women's basketball coach James Rice has announced the addition of guard Ta'Keria Legette from Latta, S.C. (Latta High School).

Legette, a 5-foot-9 guard, signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Lady Tigers. She will enroll at Benedict in the fall as a freshman and will have four years of eligibility.

"Ta'Keria committing to our Tiger family has us overwhelmed with excitement," Rice said. "She is a versatile guard who has the ability to play and defend multiple positions on the floor. She has the necessary offensive skills to make an immediate impact on any college level. She has great court vision and loves to pass but her ability to get to the basket and accuracy shooting the long ball will set her apart."

During her high school career, Legette led Latta to the 2014 Class A State Championship, a runner-up finish in 2015, and into the Lower State semi-finals in 2016 under coach Curtis Jackson. She averaged 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists during her senior year.

"Numbers don't lie and she has been known to fill up the stat sheet," Rice said. "We are so happy about her officially becoming a part of our Tiger family. What's satisfying is that we were able to sign a big-time player from the state of South Carolina. We are definitely heading in the right direction towards competing for a national championship with the addition of Ta'Keria to the program."

Benedict finished 29-3 overall last season, won the SIAC championship for the second time in three years, and advanced to the NCAA DII South Region championship game. Benedict will open the 2016-17 season at home against USC-Aiken on Nov. 16.



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Claflin University Softball Earn Third Straight National Statistical Award

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — For the second straight season, the Claflin University softball team has earned the national award for stolen bases per game. This is the third straight season that the Lady Panthers have earned a national statistical title. During the 2014 season, Claflin was crowned softball statistical champions in runs per game and doubles per game.

The national awards were released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Friday (July 8).

Claflin finished the 2016 season averaging 3.67 stolen bases per game. The Lady Panthers earned its second straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Eastern Division Title and finished third overall in the conference this past season.

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Kentucky State stays close to home with hirings for men’s and women’s basketball

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- In front of a crowd filled with family and alumni Friday, Kentucky State University interim president Aaron Thompson introduced the two coaches who will look to guide the school’s basketball programs.

For the women’s team, Thompson announced the move of assistant coach Terrance Slater to the new head coach of the Thorobrettes. For the men’s team, the university stayed close to home again with the hiring of KSU graduate Jamaal Jackson.

Slater served under previous head coach Serena King-Coleman, who had been at KSU since the start of the 2010-11 season. With King-Coleman leaving for Fayetteville State University, Slater will be able to come right in and build on the Thorobrettes’ recent success.

Slater arrived at KSU with an already-impressive résumé. He was a standout player at Western Michigan University, and before coming to KSU served as director and coach of the Illinois MeanStreets AAU program in Chicago where he worked with the likes of Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis and Tyler Ulis.

The KSU women are coming off a 24-5 season and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.



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Rio Bound, Coppin State Christina Epps Leaps Personal Best to Qualify for U.S. Olympic Team

EUGENE, Oregon -- On Thursday, July 7, Coppin State University graduate Christina Epps (Morristown, NJ) punched her ticket to Rio when she placed second at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the women's triple jump at the historic Hayward Field with a mark of 14.17 meters (46-6).

Epps, a 2014 graduate was more than ecstatic, "I really can't describe this feeling, it's so unreal. Happy doesn't do my level of excitement justice. I've been through so much throughout my career. I'm just grateful God has given me this opportunity to pursue my dreams."

After fouling her first two attempts, Epps landed a 45-5 in round three, earning three more attempts. Again with the pressure mounting, and opportunities dwindling, Epps came through on her fifth jump.

After her fifth attempt, Epps commented on the tension on waiting for the announcement. "Oh man, my stomach was dropping. I had butterflies and I was just like, 'Please just let it be 14.15m.' I think I can go further. I'm excited."



It's been 20 years since the United States has sent three ladies at one time to compete in the triple jump in the Olympics. Keturah Orji from New Jersey and Andrea Geubelle also qualified in the triple jump for the US Olympic Team. Olympic triple jump competition is currently scheduled to start August 13 at 9:40am.

"Being the first Olympian of the best HBCU on the planet, my alma mater, Coppin State means the world to me. I hope I've not only made my school proud but have inspired my fellow Coppinites to know that it doesn't matter where you come from or what other people are doing, but with God, the right mindset, hard work, and dedication anything is possible!"

"My experience at the US Olympic trials was an amazing experience, something I can't describe in words. It was my first trials and definitely one I will never forget!" Epps added, "I've been chasing the dream of making an Olympic Team since 2012, when I tore my ACL. Watching the 2012 Olympic Trials at home when I was injured made me realize how much I had taken my talent for granted and motivated me to work harder to achieve my goal of making an Olympic Team!"

Christina Epps is an academic advisor within the Coppin State athletic department. Epps continues to train at Coppin State where she is guided by her former collegiate coach, and Interim Athletic Director of Coppin State University Alecia Shields-Gadson. "She showed up and God showed out! It is such an honor to represent your country, your family and Coppin State University," said Shields-Gadson.

Shields-Gadson added, "This has truly been a journey and Christina has persevered and is reaping the benefits of the hard work, sacrifices, and discipline it takes to be a world class athlete. We are still taking it all in, but that will be short lived as its back to Coppin to resume training."

For more information on Coppin State University track & field, please visit www.coppinstatesports.com.

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Douglas County alum Johnson prepares for sophomore season at FAMU

HIRAM, Georgia -- Following a solid freshman season at Florida A&M, Douglas County graduate and point guard K’Ja Johnson is aiming to add to that success during his sophomore campaign.

Last season in 24 games, Johnson averaged 28 minutes of playing time, eight points, three assists, three rebounds and one steal for the 8-21 Rattlers of Tallahassee, Fla.



“My freshman year was terrific — I liked it,” Johnson said. “The campus was great. The people there were friendly and supportive. Basketball-wise it was fantastic. We didn’t have the season we thought we would have but we bonded as a team.

“We bonded with our coaches and community,” Johnson said. “We did a lot of community service. My freshman year was pretty much a success. I got a lot of playing time. A lot of freshmen don’t do that around the country at D-I colleges. I was very proud of that accomplishment and I’m just ready for next season.”

To prepare for the 2016-17 campaign, Johnson is spending some of his time at the gym at Jesse Davis Park.

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Top 5 skill players JSU will face in 2016

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Earlier this week, The Clarion-Ledger examined the top five quarterbacks who will face Jackson State this fall.

Some of those quarterbacks will be able to distribute the ball to some pretty talented skill players.

Here's a look at the five best skill players who will line up against the Tigers in 2016.

Honorable mention

Martez Carter, Grambling: Martez Carter, a running back, posted 1,663 all-purpose yards last season, which is the top mark among any returning player in the conference this season. He's a big-play threat, who is capable of scoring nearly every time he touches the ball.

Top five

5. Marquis Warford, Alcorn State: Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Marquis Warford made his presence felt toward the end of last season. Warford rushed for 120 yards in the SWAC title game and caught two touchdown passes. He hurt Jackson State in the regular season finale with a kickoff-return touchdown. In total, Warford amassed 1,431 all-purpose yards. Alcorn State's coaching staff decided to move Warford to running back this offseason, so he'll tote the ball a bit more out of the backfield in the fall.

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Howard's James Daniel is going for another national scoring title, but for him, that's not enough

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The nation’s scoring champion was quietly absent from the NCAA Tournament last year. Actually, Howard’s James Daniel, who averaged 27.0 points per game, didn’t hoist a shot in any postseason tournament. That didn’t sit well with the soon-to-be senior guard.

"We’re trying to build something that’s going to last a long time," Daniel told the Las Vegas Review-Journal back in November, when his name had shot to the top of the national scoring list to begin the season. "Nobody likes to lose. But we’ve got a group of guys who really get along and care about each other. We all want to make this team successful and that’s more important to me than leading the country in scoring."



Unfortunately for Daniel and coach Kevin Nickelberry, nothing was built last season, at least in terms of postseason appearances. The Bison went 12-20, including 6-10 in MEAC play, and lost in the first round of the conference tournament to North Carolina Central. This was a step back from a 16-16 (10-6) campaign the year before, and showed that despite Daniel’s scoring, losing James Carlton to graduation was too much.

Yet Daniel makes Howard a team to watch next season, and history has placed an exciting opportunity in front of him. No player has repeated as the country’s leading scorer since Saint Peter’s Keydren Clark did so in 2003-04 and 2004-05. And here sits Daniel, who is perfectly positioned to make the repeat a reality in a league that registered the lowest conference RPI in 2015-16.

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Grambling Legends return to help induct 2016 class

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State is amid trying times both institutionally and as an athletic department with the revolving door of presidents that have come through the university of late.

The most recent news came when Willie Larkin resigned as president last month, a move that signified more uncertainty for the Grambling faithful.

This weekend, dozens of prominent former athletes will be on campus in hopes of providing a bit of positive reinforcement to the legacy of Grambling. A star-studded cast of the likes of Doug Williams, Willis Reed, Willie Brown and Shack Harris, to name a few, will all be in attendance Saturday to help introduce new members of the 2016 Grambling Legends Hall of Fame class.

"It's important we come together and try to have a positive reflection on Grambling regardless of what we're going through. If we remain strong, we got a chance of hopefully ending up with a stronger administration that can keep growing like it's been going since 1901," Williams said Thursday before he left for north Louisiana.

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ASU's Jackson Announces Men's Basketball Signing Class

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama State University men's basketball coach Lewis Jackson has announced the signing class for the 2016-17 Hornets.

Of the seven signees, two are incoming freshmen while the other five are transfers. Four of the seven are from the state of Alabama.

The two freshmen are from here in Montgomery. Reginald Gee (6-3, 205) is a guard from Edgewood Academy. He averaged 25 points and nine rebounds per game in leading Edgewood to a state title. He also averaged three assists and two steals during his senior season.

Following the season he was named Third Team All State and First Team All-Metro.



The other freshman is Austin Rogers, also a guard. At 6'4" and 185 pounds the Brew Tech graduate averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was named All State and All Metro following the season.

Rogers name is a familiar one around the ASU campus and the SWAC. His father Steve, Sr., is currently a member of the Hornets coaching staff and a 2015 SWAC Hall of Fame Inductee. His older brother Steve, Jr., will enter his junior campaign with the Hornets and was the 2014-15 SWAC Freshman of the Year.

The Hornets have also signed a talented shooting guard in Rodney Simeon (6-5, 195) from Lawson State Community College. The Miami native averaged 15 points, five rebounds and two assists per game. The sharp-shooter shot 45 percent from beyond the three point line.

ASU signed another guard in Mehdy Ngouama (6-1, 175) from Chipola Community College. He is from LeBlanc Mesnil, France and averaged eight points, three assists and two rebounds per game.



Artis Cleveland (6-11, 220) will add some nice size to the ASU lineup. He played at Lawson State Community College the past two years and hails from Birmingham. He averaged six points, six rebounds and two blocks per game.

Forward Demetrius Houston (6-7, 210) will transfer to ASU from Mississippi State. Houston is a Montgomery native and played at nearby Carver High School. He averaged just over three points and two rebounds at Mississippi State when he played during the 2014-15 season.

At Carver he averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals during his senior season. He was named the 6A Alabama Player of the Year and the Metro MVP. He was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game and finished with nine points and three rebounds.

A player who can play at forward or center is Amir Warnock (6-8, 240). The Suwannee, Georgia native will transfer to ASU from South Georgia Tech College. As a sophomore he averaged seven points and six rebounds per game. He played his high school basketball at Peachtree Ridge High School.



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Alabama State assistant coach to compete in Olympic Trials

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Jacquelyn Coward came to Alabama State in August of 2015 to help the young ASU runners reach for the best they could be and in the process has found herself on her way to Eugene, Oregon for the 2016 Olumpic Trials which will run Monday-Friday, July 4-8.

Coward will compete in the 100 meter hurdles and has been training with ASU assistant coach Charles Ryan, who coached Coward when she was a Knoxville, Tenn., teenager several years ago. ASU Head Coach Richie Beene and assistant Michael Snapp have also been helping the Central Florida graduate along the way. It is an opportunity she is ready for after qualifying for the trials back in April at the Florida Relays.

"I'm excited and ready to go and compete against some of the best runners and right now my event is the hardest team to make," Coward said. "I'm excited and very confident. Coach Charles Ryan has implemented a really good program for me to use to go and compete. I'm taking his advice, I'm taking the lessons I've learned from Coach Beene and Coach Snapp. I am going to go out there and let the chips fall where they may."

This is not the first trials for the Central Florida graduate who finished her collegiate career a six-time All-American in both indoor and outdoor events. She was good enough coming out of high school to earn her first trip to the Olympic Trials and then again four years later coming out of college.

Olympic Trials Schedules

"The first time I went to the trials I was 17 years old. I was a young lady that didn't know what was going on and was star struck. So at 17 I was not supposed to make the team, but four years later coming out of college I was 22 and I had learned a lot since my first time. It was different because I was older, but I still made small mistakes. Fast forward four years later and life has taught me a lot of lessons of how to persevere, how to be strong, how to continue to go after the things that you're passionate about," Coward added.

As Coward used her experience to teach the ASU runners she found out she was learning some things herself just by teaching. Coward said, "Being around the ASU runners has taught me a lot as far as developing my own craft and getting better. So going into these trials I think I have a little advantage because I have been through a lot and I have taught it to other people to help them get better and it has helped me learn some things as well."

Coward will be flying to Oregon Monday with the 100m hurdles actually running Thursday. So she will be able to get to Oregon and do some training there before the excitement begins and she is looking forward to another shot at the Olympics.

"I am more confident than I have been in the past and I am healthier now than I have ever been, I am happy and this is a great opportunity for me," Coward said. "These (Olympics) only roll around every four years so I have prepared a lot and doors have opened up. People have been pouring into me giving me donations here and there and words of encouragement and it has all been a blessing. I'm excited and ready to see what happens."

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SIAC: Spring Hill College Men's Basketball Adds Nine for 2016-17 Season

MOBILE, Alabama -- Spring Hill College (SHC) men's basketball head coach Aaron Niven has announced the commitment of nine student-athletes for the upcoming 2016-17 season. "We are very proud of this year's class," Niven said. "Not only is it deep in numbers, but it is an extremely talented class that will help us improve our program not only this season, but for years to come."

Arguably the most noteworthy addition to the Badger roster is 6-foot, 2-inch transfer guard Andrew Dotson  who joins SHC after spending his freshman season at NCAA Division I member the University of New Hampshire where he appeared in six games and averaged 1.5 points per game. Dotson prepped at Arlington Martin High School in Texas where he was the 2014-15 District Offensive MVP and finished his senior season as the second highest scoring player in his Area with 20.3 points per game. Also in 2014-15, he earned a spot on the Star Telegram All-Area Super Team and played in the Metroplex 24 All-Star Game. As a junior in 2013-14, Dotson earned 1st Team All-District accolades while averaging 15 ppg. He was the 2012-13 District Sophomore of the Year with an average of 14 ppg after earning a spot on the varsity team as a freshman in 2011-12.

"Andrew is a player that can really score the basketball," said Niven. "He has the ability to create shots off the bounce as well as off the catch. With a year of Division I experience under his belt we feel that he will be very valuable to our team this season."

Brandon Fischer is a 6-foot, 7-inch forward from Buford, Ga. He played his freshman season at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., and appeared in 24 games with one start for a 1.5 ppg average, 1.7 rebounds per game, and a season high of 11 points versus Merrimack on January 16, 2016. He played is prep career at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, N.Y., where his team won the New York State Championship in 2014-15. In his senior year, Fischer was a New York State All-Star Honorable Mention player, a Suburban Council All-Star and a Saratogian 1st Team Basketball All-Star.



"Brandon is a big, strong player who is very tough," Niven said. "He finishes well with either hand around the basket and has the ability to hit shots from the perimeter, as well. We feel that he will help add toughness and experience to our frontcourt."

Forward Ryan Littel is a 6-foot, 7-inch player from Enterprise (Ala.) High School who earned his team's Most Improved Player Award in 2015 while also appearing on the Alabama South All-Star Team roster. He won the 2016 Marcus Hornsby Mr. Basketball Award at EHS and was named to the 2016 Dothan Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team. Littel won the Southeast Sun Defensive Player of the Year Award as well as the EHS Team MVP Award as a senior. "Ryan is a long, athletic big man who can hit shots from the perimeter and really runs the floor well," says Niven. "We think that with his athleticism and his ability to run the floor he has the chance to develop into a very good player for us."

Hailing from Madison Preparatory Academy in Baton Rouge, La., William Loyd is a 6-foot, 4-inch wing/forward who won the 2015 Scouts' Focus Dunk Contest as well as the 2015-16 Louisiana State Championship. He held the highest GPA on his team and won The Advocate Player of the Week Award in January of his senior year when he also earned a spot on the All-District 1st Team. "William is a strong, athletic wing who can really get to the rim off the bounce," Niven said. "He also has the strength and athleticism to guard multiple positions well and is a very good rebounder. Will is a winner and will be able to do a lot of things to help our basketball team."



Standing 6-foot, 5-inches, Shawn Moore is large for a guard, but Niven likes his style of play. "Shawn is a long point guard who sees the floor well and can really defend well," he says. "We think his length and ability to knock down shots will allow him to be a very good player for our basketball team." He prepped at Avon High School in Indiana where his team won the Conference Championship in 2014 and was Sectional Runner-Up in 2016. He was the Team MVP in 2015and a 1st team All-Conference selection. Moore led the conference in steals as well as performing in the classroom as a Presidential Scholar Award winner and making his school's High Honor Roll. He completed his career with the seventh most steals in AHS history and the ninth most career blocks.

Gresyn Rogers is a strong 6-foot, 5-inch wing player who prepped at Casa Grande (Ariz.) Union High School under head coach Gino Crump where he was named Team MVP as a senior. "Gresyn is an athletic wing who is very skilled with the basketball," said Niven. "He has the ability to knock down open shots and is both athletic and strong enough to get to the rim and finish through contact. We believe Gresyn's best basketball is ahead of him."

Forward Jeffery Pharr joins the parade of 6-foot, 7-inch student-athletes signed by the Badgers this summer. He prepped at Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and All-District 2nd Team. He earned Academic All-District and Academic All-State honors while winning two varsity basketball letters. "Jeffery is long forward who can really run the floor," says Niven. "We believe that his athleticism and length will allow him to be an asset to our basketball team."

Danny Bajrami is a 6-foot, 2-inch guard from Cypress Lakes High School in Houston, Texas, where he won recognition as a 2nd team All-District athlete on the court as well as Academic All-District honors in the classroom. "Danny is a very athletic guard who can get to the basket off the bounce and knock down the open jumper," Niven said. "We believe with his athleticism and his ability to score in a variety of ways, Danny will be a good addition to our basketball team."

Deandre Lacy is also a 6-foot, 2-inch guard who joins the Badgers after playing his freshman season at Bishop State Community College in Mobile. Lacy played his prep career at Greenwood (Miss.) High School where he graduated with honors and was a member of the Greenwood Commonwealth All-Star 1st team. He was the GHS Basketball Team MVP and a member of the GHS baseball and football teams. "Deandre is an experienced guard who can play a variety of positions," says Niven. "With his ability to get to the rim off the bounce and hit shots, we believe Deandre will help our basketball team immediately."

The Badgers will open the 2016-2017 season at the annual Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)/Gulf South Conference (GSC) Challenge hosted by Union University in Jackson, Tenn., beginning on Friday, November 11, versus Shorter University.

COURTESY SPRING HILL COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

LuWanna Williams Named Acting Director of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

LuWanna Williams

FORT VALLEY, Georgia -- Fort Valley State University president Dr. Paul Jones has named an experienced athletics administrator and compliance expert as acting director of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

LuWanna Williams' appointment was effective July 1. Williams, who is currently the associate director of athletics, compliance director and deputy Title IX officer at Fort Valley State University, is replacing Dr. Joshua Murfree, who resigned, but will assist with the transition through August 1. Williams will also be actively engaged in the process of selecting the next athletics director.

"I'm pleased that Ms. Williams has accepted my invitation to provide leadership for the athletics department during our search for a permanent replacement," Jones said. "I am confident she will provide strong leadership and be a tremendous asset during this transition."

For the past eight years, Williams has served in a variety of capacities at FVSU, including overseeing all aspects of student-athlete recruiting and certification by the university, ensuring adherence to all rules and regulations set forth by FVSU, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Williams earned her bachelor's degree from Mercer University in middle grades education and a Master of Science degree in education from Troy State University.

Williams has served on several FVSU committees, including: Judicial/ Student Conduct, Academic Appeals, Registration, Title IX and the Scholarship Committee. She successfully spearheaded the completion of the NCAA Compliance Audit and Blueprint Review visit in 2010 and the NCAA Institutional Self Study in 2012. Williams was selected to attend the 2010 NCAA Effective Facilitator Workshop, the 2015 and the 2016 NCAA Advanced Compliance Director Seminar and Training.

Before joining the Wildcat family, Williams was the executive director of a small school initiative with Communities In Schools of Georgia, Inc., where she was responsible for the oversight of more than 29 small schools spanning six different states. Williams managed and renewed a $6.1 million grant with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was one of the keynote speakers at the foundation's small school initiatives conference.

Williams was a member of the 2001 class of Leadership Macon. She also is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and a life member of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and Youth Affiliates, where she was named Woman of the Year on three separate occasions.

COURTESY FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Top 5 quarterbacks Jackson State will face in 2016

JACKSON, Mississippi -- There were a few opposing quarterbacks who had their way with Jackson State's defense in 2015.

The Tigers will face some more dangerous signal callers this fall, which will be Tony Hughes' first as JSU's coach.

In preparation of those challenges, The Clarion-Ledger has decided to take a look at the top five quarterbacks the Tigers will face in 2016.

5. DeVante Kincade, Grambling: DeVante Kincade originally attended Ole Miss, but announced his intention to transfer to Grambling in January. He was a three-star dual-threat prospect coming out of high school, but couldn't find much playing time with the Rebels. Kincade, who attended Skyline High in Dallas, is slated to replace SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Jonathan Williams. The return of Martez Carter and Jestin Kelly at running back and Chad Williams at receiver provide Kincade with plenty of weapons with which to work.



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North Carolina A&T Joyner Hires New Staff

GREENSBORO, North Carolina – North Carolina A&T head men's basketball coach Jay Joyner announced the hiring of three assistant coaches and a director of basketball operations on Wednesday.

Ray Martin, Will Jones and Marque Carrington will serve as Joyner's assistants as he heads into his first full season as the Aggies head coach. Adrian Powell will serve as the director of ops.

"I think the staff assembled here is going to have a major impact on A&T's program because they have tremendous knowledge of the game, they're passionate and they have the ability to build great relationships," said Joyner. "Those attributes are vital on the recruiting trail, in ensuring our players are strong academically and in our practices."

Martin has been in the college basketball coaching profession for five decades. Martin played basketball for four years under head coach Digger Phelps at Notre Dame where he was a team captain and a member of the Fighting Irish team who ended UCLA's 88-game winning streak on Jan. 19, 1974. After earning his degree in 1977 in economics from Notre Dame, Martin began his coaching career as the freshman coach at Harvard during the 1977-78 season. Martin then spent eight seasons (1980-88) as an assistant coach at North Carolina State under head coach Jim Valvano.

The Wolfpack won two ACC championships (1983, 1987) and made six NCAA tournament appearances including a national championship title run in 1983 during Martin's tenure. Other assistant coaching stops for Martin include Southern Methodist (1988-89), Tennessee (1989-93), Shaw (1994-95, 2002-03, 2004-05), Florida Atlantic (1995-96), Miami of Ohio (1996-98), Fordham (2003-04), South Carolina State (2006-07), North Carolina Central (2007-11), University of Maryland-Baltimore County (2011-2015) and Grambling State (2015-16). Martin spent three seasons as head men’s basketball coach at Long Island University (1998-01), and he served as an assistant coach to John Thompson during the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo.

At N.C. A&T, Martin will be responsible for coaching the Aggies big men, scouting, assisting with academics, putting together the Aggies game schedule each year and making sure the players have housing.

"Ray is a consummate professional who has been involved in college basketball for a long time," said Joyner. "I've known him for 13 years. He has a sterling reputation in the college basketball circles and will bring knowledge and wisdom to our staff."

Jones comes to N.C. A&T after spending the 2015-16 season at Florida A&M. Joyner said Jones will take the lead in recruiting for the Aggies. Jones' other responsibilities include player development, some aspects of academics and scouting. He will also serve as the defensive coordinator.

Jones started his career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee State (2003-05). Jones then earned an assistant coaching position for two seasons at Northwest Florida State College, a junior college in Niceville, Fla. He also served as an assistant at Charleston Southern (2009-11) and Jacksonville University (2011-2014). Before his time at FAMU, he spent one season (2014-15) as the head basketball coach and physical education instructor at West Nassau High School in Callahan, Fla.

"Will and I worked together at Tennessee State, so I know how hard he is going to work each day," said Joyner. "He is a go-getter when it comes to recruiting, so I think he is going to have a major impact on the program from that standpoint."

Carrington's new assistant coaching position is a return home for the 2002 N.C. A&T graduate. Carrington averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals during his 85-game career at N.C. A&T. At N.C. A&T, Carrington's duties include organizing community service events, scheduling team travel, setting team practice times and scouting.

Carrington spent the past two seasons at Division II Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh as an assistant men's basketball coach. Prior to his time at Saint Augustine's, he was the boys varsity basketball at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh for six years. In 2010 his Cardinal Gibbons' team won the Carolina 6 conference championship, and he was named conference coach of the year. Before becoming the head coach at CGHS, Carrington served as the school’s junior varsity head coach and assistant boys varsity coach.

"I'm excited to have Marque comeback as a former Aggie," said Joyner. "As long as I'm here, I'm going to try to have some type of Aggie representation on my staff because I think that is important."

Powell is certainly a familiar face to Aggie fans having recently led the Aggies to their latest MEAC title as the tournament’s 2013 Most Outstanding Performer. Powell is one of 30 players in N.C. A&T history to score 1,000 career points. Powell will be in charge of the everyday aspects of the administrative work in the men's basketball office. He will also be in charge of organizing the summer basketball camp, assisting with team travel and monitoring classes.

"Adrian is really excited about the position, and I am excited for him," said Joyner. "He is going to be able to relate to the guys because of his age. I'm hoping within those relationships, he can tell the story of what it took in terms of the pain and agony of going through the first three years of not winning a title, before turning it around as a senior to win the championship."

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Former St. Al coach Thompson hired as assistant at Alcorn

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Five months after stepping down as St. Aloysius’ basketball coach, Delvin Thompson is getting back in the game.

Thompson was hired last week as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team at his alma mater Alcorn State. He’ll be responsible for the development of the team’s point guards and editing game film.

It’s Thompson’s first coaching job on the college level.

“It feels really great going back home to Alcorn State because they have provided stability for me on and off the court,” Thompson said in an email interview. “I received my Bachelors and Masters Degree from there, so now this is my opportunity to give back to the school as a whole, but more importantly to give back to the basketball program that I was once a part of.”

Thompson played at Alcorn from 2004-07. He was the Southwestern Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year in the 2004-05 season, and also earned first- and second-team All-SWAC honors during his playing career.

He took over as the head coach of St. Al’s boys and girls varsity teams in 2010 and held that position until the end of this season, when he resigned to focus on his career as a mental health therapist.

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Clark Atlanta vs Central State at 2016 Chicago Football Classic

CHICAGO, Illinois -- Ninety degree days, cool breezes off Lake Michigan, neighborhood festivals, and community block parties; that is what summer in Chicago is all about. Add one more activity to the list: Tickets are on sale now, for the 19th Annual Chicago Football Classic, Saturday, September 10th at 3:30PM at Soldier Field, when the Clark Atlanta University Panthers will battle the Central State Marauders in this Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) rivalry.

“The Chicago Football Classic is excited to announce that tickets are on sale, now. This demonstrates the commitment that the City of Chicago and Chicago Park District have towards the Chicago Football Classic, and the experience that is provided to the families of Chicago”, Tim Rand Co-Founder of the Chicago Football Classic.

Tickets for the 19th Annual Chicago Football Classic are available for purchase in-person at Midway Wholesalers, 41 W. 84th Street, Rite-Way Huggins, 1030 E. 87th Street and online at Ticketmaster.com and priced from $17 to $45.

“The NFL held their draft here in April, and the teams signed their rookies, who are living their professional football dreams. That is what the Chicago Football Classic is about, exposing students and families to Historically Black College Universities and the academic and athletic opportunities they provide to make their dreams come true. We have been doing this for 19 years, and this year we are starting earlier than ever before.



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Florida A&M transfer Malcolm Bernard back on market

RICHMOND, Virginia -- According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, Florida A&M transfer Malcolm Bernard is back on the market and looking for a new school to play for.

After initially committing to play for Richmond in April, Bernard now tells Borzello that he is on the move again. As a grad transfer and at whatever school he ends up at next, he will be eligible to play immediately next fall.

As the Richmond Times-Dispatch stated on Tuesday, there has been no clarity on Bernard’s pledge to the Spiders, even though he tweeted back in April he was joining the program. Richmond never officially addressed his transfer.

Bernard, a 6’5”, 195-pound versatile forward from Middleburg, Florida is coming off a 2015-16 season in which he averaged 14.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, which were all team-highs. That across-the-board production will likely make him a wanted commodity among coaches.

Bernard talked about his decision to move on a few months ago with Jordan Culver of theTallahassee Democrat. More from Culver:

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Williams ready for next step as Gold Rush head coach

NEW ORLEANS — Alfred Williams is back, and he's prepared for any challenges that await him at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Williams, named this past week as Xavier's 12th head men's basketball coach, met Tuesday with media, the XU community and fans — about 100 people in all — during an introductory news conference on the concourse of the Convocation Center. Williams was a three-year player (2004-05, 2006-08) and six-year assistant coach (2009-15) for the Gold Rush and returned to his alma mater after one season as head coach at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis.

His brief tenure at Harris-Stowe will be remembered as one of the best turnarounds in NAIA Division I this past season. The Hornets improved by 7 1/2 games under Williams, exceeded their victory total of the previous two seasons combined and defeate
d a pair of NCAA Division II opponents.

Harris-Stowe was a great start for Williams, and it was a change of scenery he views as vital to his career.

"It was very beneficial to go to Harris-Stowe," Williams said. "There were things that I was not able to see or not able to gain the experience for while I was an assistant at Xavier. Being head coach at Harris-Stowe prepared me physically, prepared me mentally, prepared me emotionally. My time-management skills got a lot better."

The Hornets improved from 6-24 in 2014-15 to 14-17 in 2015-16. But there will be no starting from scratch for Williams at Xavier, a perennial NAIA power which has current consecutive streaks of 16 winning seasons, six 20-win seasons and six appearances at the NAIA's Division I national tournament. Each of the last three head coaches — Denny Alexander (212-129 in 12 seasons), Dale Valdery (234-136 in 12 seasons) and Dannton Jackson (294-130 in 13 seasons) — left the Gold Rush as the program's career leader in victories.

"I'm super-excited," Williams said, "to lead Xavier into the next era."

Williams knows the challenge. Xavier was eliminated in the first round at nationals each of the last six seasons. The most recent victory at nationals was in 2007, when a Williams block and ensuing layup in the closing seconds keyed an 82-79 upset of third-ranked Georgetown (Ky.) in the opening round. Xavier is 4-17 all-time at nationals, including 16 defeats in the last 17 attempts.

"It's easy to sell Xavier," Williams said. "I can sell Xavier's high academics, I can sell the facilities, I can sell the city. Once people know that you care about student-athletes, it will allow us to recruit them and bring them to our university. And hopefully they'll be able to graduate."

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
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SIAC: Catcher Alex Jones of SHC signs with Marlins organization

Catcher Alex Jones signs with the Miami Marlins

MOBILE, Alabama – Spring Hill College (SHC) graduate Alex Jones signed to play for the Miami Marlins organization on Friday afternoon. Originally assigned to the Marlins of the rookie level Gulf Coast League, Jones was promoted on Tuesday to the short season-A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Pennsylvania League in Batavia, N.Y.

A native of Pensacola, Fla., Jones appeared in 44 games with 44 starts in 2016. He tallied 70 hits including 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 51 runs scored and a school-record 66 runs-batted-in for a .452 batting average. He added 23 walks and three hits-by-pitch for a .510 on-base percentage with 125 total bases for an exceptional .806 slugging percentage. In the field, Jones made 255 put outs with 40 assists at catcher while cutting down five attempted base-stealers for a fielding percentage of .974.

Jones was the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Player of the Year and a 2016 Academic All-America 1st Team member.

The Badgers completed the 2016 season with a 29-16 record including a conference-leading 18-3 mark in the SIAC.

COURTESY SPRING HILL COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Ammons to remain at FAMU

Dr. James H. Ammons

DSU had announced Ammons's hiring in May

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Former Florida A&M University President James Ammons announced Sunday that he will remain as a faculty member rather than accept the position of provost at Delaware State University.

Ammons and his wife, Judith, were expected to be given a send-off by Bethel AME Church’s Pastor Julius McAllister and church members during its 7:45 a.m. Sunday service, which Ammons and his wife usually attend.

When asked to come forward, Ammons did so. He then said he and his wife had decided to remain in Tallahassee, where Ammons holds a tenured position as a professor of political science.

Ammons could not be reached for comment on Monday or Tuesday. McAllister was traveling on Tuesday and not immediately available for comment.

FAMU did confirm that Ammons had a signed annual contract with the university for the upcoming school year.

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