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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