Thursday, June 30, 2011

Hampton University athletic director Lonza Hardy Jr. interviews at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Hampton University athletic director Lonza Hardy is interviewing for the same post at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a Southwestern Athletic Conference school.

An email from UAPB Chancellor Lawrence A. Davis Jr., obtained Tuesday night by The Daily Press, invited university administrators, faculty and staff to a reception to meet Hardy on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

"Over the past couple of days, I have visited with officials at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff for discussions on their athletics program and their vacancy for an athletics director," Hardy said in an email Tuesday night. "Where those discussions may lead has not been decided, neither on the part of the university nor on my part. Consequently, my focus is on continuing to prepare Hampton University's athletics program for the start of a new school year and to continue getting our staff, coaches and student-athletes ready to fulfill the lofty goals that we have for all of our athletic teams."

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Clark Atlanta names Dale Brown as men's basketball coach

Atlanta, GA - In March, Clark Atlanta captured its first SIAC men’s basketball championship title in 46 years. Still, school officials saw untapped potential in the program.

“Today isn’t about what has happened in the past, it’s about building a team to ensure that we play even harder, work even smarter and aim even higher in the future,” associate athletic director D’Wayne Robinson said Wednesday upon the introduction of Dale Brown as the next head coach of the CAU men’s basketball program.

“I must say, we will win, and we will win right away,” Brown said. “My philosophy is real simple: Play hard, play smart and play together.”

Brown’s basketball résumé is extensive. During his junior college days at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Brown was named NJCAA men’s basketball player of the year in 1991.


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Pascagoula's Dale Brown named basketball coach at Clark Atlanta

Dale Brown, a Pascagoula native, has been named men's basketball coach at Clark Atlanta University, the school announced Wednesday.

Brown, 42, coached the last three seasons at Dillard University in New Orleans, but was named coach at Meridian Community College on June 10. But less than a month later, he's on the move again, taking over the program at CAU, a member of the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

FAMU Rattlers arriving early to take care of studies

Tallahassee, FL - Florida A&M running back James Owens went home to Orlando for a brief stay, then returned to the grind of offseason conditioning. This week he began an even more important chapter in his summertime routine — attending classes.

For Owens and most of the 65 other players who didn't go home for the summer, attending classes is an option they decided they'd take. It's one way of easing the fall semester workload in the classroom and keeping them on course for on-time graduation.

"I probably would be at home watching a lot of TV and doing nothing," said Owens, a walk-on who earned a scholarship following an impressive spring. "Now I'm in Tallahassee working out and studying I know I'm doing the right thing."



For the football players, who have demanding fall semesters packed with playbooks, traveling and practices in addition to their class work, summer school means they could carry fewer than the average 16 hours during the season. But there are some like defensive tackle Padric Scott, who doesn't have much of a choice when it comes to summer school because of their majors.

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Comet standout taking talents to Virginia Union

South Boston, VA - Destiny Betts has used her unique talents to help the Comets (Halifax County High School) varsity girls’ basketball team (21-2 record) reach levels of success it hadn’t enjoyed in decades. Betts, a 6-2 center who was instrumental in her team’s unbeaten (20-0) regular season run to a Western Valley District championship and a win in the Northwest Region Tournament, is taking her talents to Virginia Union University this coming season.

The Lady Panthers, coached by Barvenia Wooten Collier, are a member of the Division II CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), and Betts is happy with where she’ll play basketball.

“I’m happy I got this opportunity because at first I didn’t think I’d get a full scholarship,” said Betts, a First Team selection and Co-MVP for the Western Valley District her senior season, as well as a First Team All-Northwest Region selection.

An Honorable Mention selection to the VHSCA All-Group AAA team, she averaged 15.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game her senior season.

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Finishing well

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Daytona Chief: Fired B-CU coach refused to aid in rape case involving son

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Bethune-Cookman University's men's basketball coach, fired this week, refused to cooperate with police as they investigated a sexual assault claim involving the coach's son, Police Chief Mike Chitwood said Tuesday.

In a letter to former coach Clifford Reed, B-CU president Trudie Kibbe Reed said her decision to terminate the longtime coach on Monday was based on his "failure to cooperate and insubordination with respect to the university's investigation into allegations against the university and its men's basketball program."

A police report released Tuesday concerning rape allegations made by an 18-year-old basketball player on B-CU's women's team names C.J. Reed as the lone suspect in the assault, even though the accuser never mentioned him as her attacker.

C.J. Reed, a junior guard, was the conference player of the year after leading the Wildcats to their first MEAC championship in school history. C.J. Reed has not been arrested or charged in the case.

The investigation was closed after the accuser refused to follow through with it, police said.

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Dillard Lady Bleu Devils' Basketball Team Add Six Recruits

Coach Kiki Baker Barnes
New Orleans, LA - The Dillard University Lady Bleu Devils' Basketball Team has announced the signing of six players who will join the Lady Bleu Devils' program for the 2011-12 season.

Dillard University Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach Kiki Barnes and staff have secured the services of Kiante Ageous, of Harvey, LA, Jaliesa Hicks, of Jackson, MS, Ariel Harrell, of Jonesboro, LA, Brittany Smith of Richmond, TX, Keylantra Taylor, of Houston, TX, and Kierrariel Mitchell, of Jackson, MS.

Ageous is an athletic 5'11 shooting guard who originally signed with the University of Arizona coming out of high school. In 2010, Ageous was ranked the 116th best player in the nation at her position by ESPN Hoop Gurlz. Ageous averaged 21.2 points and 11.2 rebounds her senior season for Sam Houston High in San Antonio, Texas after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. She was a McDonalds All-American nominee as well as an ESPN/RISE 3rd Team All-Area selection for the Hurricanes.

Ariel Harrell is a 6'0 forward who attended Jonesboro-Hodge High School in Jonesboro, LA. A prospect for Hoop Gurlz, Harrell averaged 13.1 points and 15.3 rebounds as a senior. She was All-District Second Team her senior year and scored a season-high 32 points vs. state champion Winnfield High School.

Kierrariel Mitchell, a guard/forward from Jackson, MS. Kierrariel attended Jim Hill High School and averaged 13.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game her senior year. She had a game-high 26 points vs. Murrah High School, 3rd best school in state of Mississippi. She was voted All-State Honorable Mention as well as All-District and All-Metro Area First-Team as a senior, leading her team to an overall record of 26-8. Mitchell is ranked the 19th best player in the Mississippi FILA Class of 2011 Top 40.



Jaliesa Hicks is a 5'5 point guard who also attended Jim Hill High School in Jackson, MS. She averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 assists and 2.2 rebounds her senior season. She was named to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger All-Metro Team all four years of high school.

Brittney Smith is a 5'7 guard who attended George Bush High School in Richmond, TX. She averaged 16 points and 2.6 assists per game as a senior and earned 1st-Team All-District honors. Smith had a season-high 36 points vs. Fort-Bend Austin. Smith was also MVP and Team Captain her senior season.

Rounding out the class is Keylantra Taylor, a 6'0 forward who played prep ball at Klein Forest High School in Houston, TX. Taylor averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds her senior season, earning 1st-Team All District honors. She was ranked 91st overall at the wing position in the nation by ESPN Hoop Gurlz. She was voted Team Captain and MVP, leading the Golden Eagles to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in ten years.

"I am very excited about the about the six young ladies that we are adding to an already good core group of girls," said Kiki Barnes. "Not only is each one these young ladies extremely talented, but they also possess a winning attitude."

The Lady Bleu Devils open the 2011-12 regular season on Friday, November 11, 2011 in an exhibition contest at Southern University at Baton Rouge.

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Xavier Volleyball tryouts scheduled for July 16 at The Barn

Coach Christabell Hamilton
NEW ORLEANS — Tryouts for the 2011 Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball team will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 16 at The Barn.

Junior-college players, high-school students in the class of 2011 and Xavier students are eligible to try out. Prospects may bring a DVD of themselves in competition or in skills demonstration, an academic transcript and a player profile/resume.

There is no fee for the tryout, and water will be provided. Contact Coach Christabell Hamilton at (504) 520-5344 or chamilt5@xula.edu for more information.

Driving directions to The Barn, Xavier's gymnasium, can be found online by using 3999 Short Street and the 70125 zip code as the destination.



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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