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Two-sport standout wants to run track & field and play basketball
ALBANY. Georgia — Bryshea Jackson admitted she stayed up late Tuesday night responding to all the congratulatory social media posts, texts and emails she received after signing with Savannah State.
The Westover High School two-sport standout signed a track & field scholarship with the Division I Tigers Tuesday afternoon. But the best part about signing with the school is she will be able to play both sports.
“I’m up for the challenge,” she said.
Jackson won the region title in the triple jump three times during her high school career and placed fifth at the Georgia High School Association state track & field meet this past season.
She was also a four-year starter for the Lady Patriots’ basketball team, helping them finish second in Region 1-AAAA and make the first round of the state tournament.
Jackson led the team in scoring at 14 points per game and also averaged 10 rebounds. She said it was on a basketball visit where the track & field coach also expressed interest.
Florida A&M's 3-time Super Bowl winner Henry Lawrence says Lincoln helped prepare him for his pro career. Lawrence played for the NFL Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders for 13 seasons as an offensive tackle earning 2 Pro Bowl appearances. He was selected in the 1974 NFL draft in Round 1/Pick 19. Video by Alan Dell
MANATEE, Florida -- The 2016 college football season will mark the 50th anniversary of Ray Bellamy’s signing with the University of Miami.
A historic moment changed the landscape of college football in the country forever. With his signature, Bellamy became the first African-American to play football for a major college program in the Southeastern United States.
In a short time, it opened the floodgates for talented black athletes to play college football on the highest level in the only area of the country left that was closed to them.
Some may wonder how Lincoln, a small all-black high school nestled in the migrant farm area of Manatee County in those days, became the epicenter of a movement that would forever alter the landscape of college football.
In the coming weeks, the Bradenton Herald will highlight some of the people who helped put the school on the map.
It’s impossible to write about everyone, but Lincoln, devoid of the amenities that the all-white schools had at the time, showed a remarkable resiliency and wherewithal to conquer enormous odds.
Ray Bellamy is the face of this movement, but he will tell you, it was a collective effort. The coaches and teachers and current and former players at Lincoln had a camaraderie and dedication to each other that enabled them to succeed despite numerous roadblocks. They had a true brotherhood in every sense of the word.
BRADENTON, Florida -- Waite Bellamy was destined to be a standout football player, but he did what many people would consider the unthinkable. He fell in love with basketball and switched sports.
A highly touted center and offensive tackle on Lincoln’s successful football team during his sophomore and junior years, Bellamy decided he couldn’t turn away from his true passion, though he admits the transition was not easy.
Bellamy (no relation to Lincoln great Ray Bellamy) turned himself into one of the greatest basketball players to ever come out of Manatee County. Some even consider him a step above Clifford Rozier, the county’s only first-round NBA draft pick.
Bellamy also was an excellent student and president of the Lincoln student body when he walked the through the graduation line in 1959.
Ray Bellamy, who broke the color barriers for major college football players in the southeast in 1966, said Waite Bellamy was one of those guys who made it happen.
“He was also captain of the football team and student body president. You don’t do things like breaking down those barriers alone. It takes a lot of people,” Ray Bellamy said. “He was an excellent student and set an example for all of us both in the classroom and in athletics. He was an inspiration for me.”
Waite Bellamy went to Florida A&M, where the coaches gave him the choice of playing football or basketball. At 6-feet-4 and possessing a variety of skills, he chose the latter, which arguably turned out to be the right decision.
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Former Jackson State sprinter Anaso Jobadwana is Rio bound after qualifying to compete in the 200 meter dash at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Jobodwana, who joins fellow Tiger alum Michael Tinsley as JSU standouts who are heading to Brazil, will compete in his second-straight Olympiad and will represent his home country of South Africa. In 2012 during the London Olympics, the then-sophomore posted an eighth-place result in the 200m finals, along with a time of 20.27 seconds.
Since then, Jobdwana has bettered his personal record in the 200m, most recently claiming the bronze medal during the 2015 IAAF World Championships at Beijing. His time of 19.87 seconds during the race currently stands as the South African record for best mark in the event.
Jackson State University's track and field star, Michael Tinsley is Rio bound after finishing third in the 400 meter hurdles finals Sunday evening during the 2016 US Olympic Trials. Tinsley posted a time of 48.82. Tinsley, who won the 400 meter hurdles silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics while setting a personal best time of 47.91, makes his second straight trip to the Olympics.
Tinsley, who won the 2012 Olympic Trails, posted a semifinal win (49.15) on Saturday. He followed up his London Olympics silver medal with a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
While at Jackson State, the Little Rock, Arkansas native became the first track and field Tiger to win an NCAA Division I title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2006.
In addition to Tinsley, JSU's Anaso Jobodwana is also headed to Rio to represent his homeland of South Africa in his second straight Olympics. In the 2012 Olympics, at age 20, Jobodwana recorded a personal best time of 20.27 in the 200 meter dash semifinals. The time was just 0.09 behind Usain Bolt, before finishing in eighth place in the finals.
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin -- The Marquette athletic department has been slowly (or, if you prefer S-L-O-W-L-Y) releasing the men’s basketball non-conference schedule since July 5th. The plan, apparently, was to announce MU’s home games as part of the 2K Classic as they popped up, but ESPN apparently holds the right to announce the bracket for the event.
During the day on Monday, the Bison released their entire 2016-17 schedule, all the way down to the MEAC conference tournament in March. As a part of that release, they included a road trip to Marquette on Monday, November 14th, which would be the home opener for the Golden Eagles.
I can’t prove this now, though. Someone over in Washington, D.C., realized that there’s an embargo on the 2K Classic games and if you check out the press release now or the schedule page, there’s no mention of their contests against Marquette or their subsequent trip to Michigan.
Well, almost no mention. Whomever they put in charge of editing the page forgot that the statement from head coach Kevin Nickelberry mentioned the games.
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- As training camp draws closer the 90 day series shifts it’s attention to an explosive rookie interior linemen
Player: Javon Hargrave
Position: Interior Line
School: South Carolina State
Overview:
The selection of Javan Hargrave and his potential of sliding into the NT position for the Steelers is a real embodiment of the shifting nature of their defensive philosophy. It seems like a sign that the days of Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork type 2 gap, block eating monsters have ended, for now. Enter Hargrave who played his college ball at South Carolina State as an accomplished pass rusher who put up some eye popping numbers including tying and FBS record with six in a single game.
Granted, stepping into the NFL from the MEAC conference will be a major challenge, but after 2015 where Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt really led the charge much of the time on the pass rush it will be interesting to see how he fits into the game plan.
While it seems unlikely that Hargrave will win a starting spot coming out of camp it’s more than plausible for him to see time subbing in on obvious passing downs and replacing for Tuitt or Heyward when they need breaks.
NORFOLK, Virginia – Head coach Robert Jones and the Norfolk State men's basketball program officially announced their full 2016-17 schedule on Tuesday. NSU will host four non-conference games in the early part of the season and play six of its first nine MEAC games at home as well.
The Spartans play two teams from the SEC, one from the Big Ten and one from the Big East as part of their non-conference schedule. Overall, four of Norfolk State's opponents competed in the NCAA tournament last year.
"This year's schedule is as tough as it gets," said Jones. "We will be tested early and often by some of the top high- and mid-majors in the country. This schedule is also a product of recent success during a five-year span. It is becoming more and more difficult to schedule like opponents, thus the level of competition willing to play us has increased."
The Spartans host Shenandoah University and renew one of their longest rivalries with Elizabeth City State to highlight their early home schedule. NSU also welcomes Northern Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky to Joseph Echols Hall before diving into conference play. In addition, the Spartans will play an open exhibition game at Virginia State on Nov. 5 in Petersburg.
"Renewing these two old rivalries with Virginia State and Elizabeth City State is something we thought would be good for the fans," stated Jones. "Despite it being an exhibition against the Trojans, we know everyone will be chomping at the bit for that game. Exposing our players to a hostile environment before the season starts against the defending CIAA champion, a Division I caliber team in my opinion, will pay dividends down the road for us."
The regular season starts off with a Friday night contest at Mississippi State on Nov. 11. NSU's busy opening week includes the home games with Shenandoah on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. and Elizabeth City State on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The Spartans then hit the road for a week straight, competing at Vanderbilt on Nov. 18 and at Butler on Nov. 21 – both NCAA tournament participants last year – as part of the 2016 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational.
Following the game against the Bulldogs, NSU will fly out to Las Vegas for two games at Orleans Arena on Nov. 24 and 25. On its side of the bracket, Norfolk State plays Bucknell on Thanksgiving and then either Sacred Heart or Northern Colorado on day 2.
"We are extremely excited to be invited to this tournament," Jones continued. "It is an honor for this program and university to face the likes of SEC-member Vanderbilt, a very tough Butler team that could possibly be top 25, as well as top mid-majors in Bucknell, who competed in the NIT last year, and Northern Colorado and Sacred Heart."
NSU will close out the opening month of the season with a contest at Loyola Chicago on Nov. 30. The Spartans then return home to host Northern Kentucky on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m., followed by road games at Niagara on Dec. 10 and at Evansville on Dec. 14, the latter of whom did not go to the postseason last year but nevertheless finished 25-9 overall and as the runner-up in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
The last non-conference home contest takes place on Dec. 19 against Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m. NSU then closes out non-conference play with a game at NCAA participant Purdue on Dec. 21 and at Bowling Green on Dec. 30.
"It will be a difficult challenge facing Mississippi State in the season opener, a team that has a top 10 recruiting class in the nation and a future Hall of Fame coach in Ben Howland," added Jones. "Purdue was one of the best teams in a strong Big Ten conference last year, and of course Northern Kentucky, Evansville, Bowling Green, Loyola and Niagara will be extremely tough as well."
Six of the Spartans' first nine MEAC games will be at home this year, all in the month of January. NSU will thus play just twice at home after Feb. 1, closing out the regular season with five of seven games on the road. Of the program's eight home MEAC games, six will take place on Saturdays this year.
The MEAC schedule begins with a game at Morgan State on Jan. 4, followed by a home weekend against Savannah State on Jan. 7 and South Carolina State on Jan. 9. The Spartans stay in Echols for a contest against North Carolina Central on Jan. 14 before traveling to Delaware State to play the Hornets two days later on Jan. 16.
The Battle of the Bay against Hampton will be held on Jan. 21 at Echols Hall, and again NSU will hit the road for a Monday game, this time at Coppin State on Jan. 23. To close out the month, the Spartans host Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 28 and North Carolina A&T on Jan. 30.
They make the return trip to South Carolina State and Savannah State on Feb. 4 and 6, respectively, to begin the second part of the MEAC season. The following weekend, the Spartans host UMES on Feb. 11 before making another long weekend trip to Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 18 and 20, respectively. The last NSU home game occurs on Feb. 25 against Howard, and like Savannah State, S.C. State and B-CU, NSU will also play Hampton twice this season. The second of those two matchups against the Pirates will be on Feb. 27 at Hampton.
Following the conclusion of the regular season in the second Battle of the Bay, NSU will compete in the MEAC tournament, scheduled to run from March 6-11 at Scope Arena in Norfolk.
"This year the MEAC schedule will be extremely balanced and of course as difficult as it always is," said Jones. "Our challenging non-conference schedule will really help us grow as a team and get prepared for the rigors of 16 conference games."
NSU was one of four teams in the MEAC to compete in the postseason last year, joining Hampton (NCAA) and S.C. State and Savannah State. The Spartans joined the latter two schools in competing in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
The Spartans will welcome eight newcomers to this year's team, including three Division I transfers, and return six players from last year's squad. NSU finished 12-4 and in second place in the MEAC as well as 17-17 overall in 2015-16. Mike Bello, Asst. SID COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
Two-sport standout wants to run track & field and play basketball
