Stillman defends SIAC baseball title

OZARK, Alabama  --  Stillman College won the SIAC Baseball Tournament for the sixth time in seven years after defeating Tuskegee University 12-6 on Saturday.

The Tigers (30-14) scored six runs in the fourth inning and negated a comeback attempt by Tuskegee by adding another six runs in the final innings. Fernando Tanaka finished with three hits, three RBIs, including a solo home run, to lead Stillman.

Tyler Vails came on in relief, pitching three innings to pick up the win. Tanaka faced four Tuskegee batters to pick up the save.

Tanaka was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament team along with pitchers Vails and Kyle McNorton.

Tuskegee, making its first appearance in the SIAC championship game since winning its last tournament in 1989, left 15 men on base, including ending two innings with the bases loaded.

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Get to know Brandon Hepburn: Detroit Lions add biochemist-linebacker to the mix with final pick

Brandon Hepburn
Detroit Lions
(Courtesy FAMU Athletics)

DETROIT, Michigan  --  With the 245th pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions selected linebacker Brandon Hepburn out of Florida A&M University.

Hepburn is 6-foot-2, 240-pounds. He had 86 tackles (9.5 for a loss), 5.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior.

Here's a little bit more on Hepburn:

The path from Division I-AA walk-on to being selected in the NFL draft has been "a process", according to Brandon Hepburn. It was an uphill battle from the start.

In April, Hepburn presented the results of his findings for a cure for cancer to an international audience at the American Chemical Society conference in San Diego, Calif. 

Hepburn redshirted in 2008. In 2009, he mostly was relegated to special teams duties and had 13 tackles on the year. The following year, Hepburn played in all 11 games, recording 63 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. In his final season, Hepburn racked up 86 tackles, 5.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, and one forced fumble. 

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SU Board of Supervisors approve Roman Banks’ contract

COACH ROMAN BANKS
(Courtesy Southern University Athletics)

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  A little more than a week after Southern University announced it had come to terms with men’s basketball coach Roman Banks on a contract extension, the agreement became official Friday when the SU System Board of Supervisors approved the new deal for the coach.

Banks, whose original Southern contract was set to expire after the 2013-14 season, has a new five-year deal that will have him making $165,000 per season in base salary.

Banks could make in excess of $200,000 by triggering a number of performance-based incentives included in the contract.

The extension comes on the heels of Banks leading Southern to its first NCAA tournament in seven years and a scare of No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the first round. Banks was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s co-coach of the year after the Jaguars posted a 23-10 overall mark, finished second in the SWAC’s regular season and won the SWAC tournament title.

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Decatur To Host SWAC Softball Championship May 8-11

DECATUR, Georgia  --  The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has announced Wilson Morgan Softball Complex in Decatur, Ala., will be the site of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 SWAC Softball Championship Tournament. The Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Decatur’s Parks and Recreation Department will host the event for over 200 athletes and coaches, along with their families, traveling from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama.

The 2,000-seat facility will serve as host venue for the 13 game double-elimination tournaments May 8-11, 2013, May 7-10, 2014, and May 6-9, 2015. The top eight teams in the SWAC East and West Divisions qualify for the championship tournament and teams are seeded based on regular season results among the conference programs.

Daily admission is $6/adult and $3/child and weekend passes are $20/adult and $10/child. Parking is free. Wilson Morgan Softball Complex features six lighted fields, centrally located concessions, quad, press box and batting cages. Each field has a clay infield and beautiful grass, maintained by electronically controlled underground irrigation systems. Located at 300 Beltline Road, the facility can seat over 2,000 spectators with additional seating available. For more information on Wilson Morgan Softball Complex, visit www.decaturparks.com.

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Howard University Bison signs heralded basketball player

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --  Howard University announces the signing of JT Miller to a national letter of intent. Miller is a 6-3, 190-pound talented guard from Clinton, NC, who brings impressive credentials to the Hilltop. At Mount Zion Academy this past season, Miller averaged over 26 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game while leading his team to a 19-14 record and the USA National Prep championship.

Before coming to Mount Zion, Miller starred at Clinton High School where he scored over 1,800 points in his career and was named to the all-state team his senior season.

"TJ gives us a guard with the rare combination of size, outside scoring ability and the explosiveness to play above the rim," said an excited Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry. "His leadership abilities, work ethic and family values stood out to me as much as his exceptional talents on the court. We are excited to add him to a great group of newcomers for 2013-14."

Added Rick Lewis from Phenom Hoop Report, "The undeniable adjective that attaches itself to Miller's game is explosive. Without question, Miller is a big time athlete who plays above the rim."

After mulling over several offers from Divison 1 programs including LaSalle, St. Joseph's and Florida Gulf Coast. Miller selected Howard University to showcase his talents and pursue his education.

"After visiting Howard twice, learning the rich history of the University and developing a personal relationship with Coach Nickelberry, I knew that Howard was the place for me, " said Miller. "I fell in love with the school, the people and the basketball program immediately. I realized that there was no school better for me to flourish academically and athletically. A degree from Howard on my resume sticks out like no other and would be a great accomplishment."



Miller joins an outstanding group of newcomers that include James Daniel III, Damon Collins, Kofi Andoh, Keon Hill, Marcel Boyd and James Carlton.

• A 5-11 guard, Daniel was the state of Virginia Tri-Player of the Year from Phoebus High School in Hampton, VA.
• Collins is a 6-5 forward who played at nationally renown Prime Prep.
• Ando, a 6-3 guard, was a Washington Post honorable mention selection from CH Flowers High School.
• A 5-7 point guard from Riverdale Baptist, Hill sat out with an injury and will be a red-shirt freshman this coming season.
• Boyd is a 6-10 center who prepped at Mack Academy this past season after having an outstanding career at Gwynn Park; and
• Carlton is a talented 6-8 forward from Winterville, NC, who sat out last season after transferring from the College of Charleston.

"These newcomers allowed us to address some of our needs which was depth, athleticism and scoring ability inside and out."

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION, HOWARD-BISON.COM, AND COACH NICKELBERRY.COM

VSU leader: End ‘outdated rituals’

ETTRICK, Virginia  --  Marvell Edmondson and Jauwan Holmes were “young men of promise, young men of potential” whose legacy can serve to help end the type of behavior that led to their deaths, Virginia State University President Keith Miller said Friday.

“Outdated rituals performed in the name of brotherly love have no place in building a better world,” Miller told about 500 people at a memorial service in the VSU gymnasium.

“As an institution, as a community, we will not tolerate this behavior,” Miller said. “We must learn the lessons of Jauwan and Marvell to ensure that these young men’s deaths were not in vain.”

The two freshmen drowned April 20 as they tried to cross the Appomattox River on river rocks as part of an initiation for an unsanctioned social club called Men of Honor. Chesterfield County police on Friday confirmed through the medical examiner’s office that the cause of death was drowning.

Four men, including two VSU students, have been charged with hazing in the deaths.

Miller urged the mourners to “walk the walk, not just talk the talk. We must be the sermon, not just speak the sermon.”

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FSU Womens Basketball to host Skills Camp and Summer Shootout

(CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- The 2013 CIAA Southern Division Champions Fayetteville State women's basketball program will be holding two camps this summer in Felton J. Capel Arena. The Second Annual Lady Broncos Basketball Fundamentals & Skills Camp will be held from June 18-20. A Summer Shootout at the Broncos Corral will follow on June 22.

The Fundamentals and Skills Camp is open to girls from third grade up to rising seniors in high school. The three-day camp will last from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Campers will receive quality instruction from both college coaches and student-athletes. 2013 CIAA Player of the Year Kristen Hanzer and local standout Shuanda "Shaq" Ashford (E.E. Smith) will be on hand to assist with the camp. The two are currently pursuing WNBA opportunities.

The cost of the camp is $75; which includes lunch. Campers will also receive a camp T-shirt and certificate. Discounts are available for returnees and family groups with two or more participants at $60 each.

The Summer Shootout at the Bronco Corral will take place at both Capel Arena and Lilly Gymnasium on the FSU campus. The cost of the shootout is $175 for a team; guarantee of three games. A $50 non-refundable deposit must be made by Wednesday, May 1. Teams must have a minimum of seven players and provide their own jerseys and warm-up balls. Every player participating will have to complete a waiver form.

For more information, contact Assistant Coach Tyreece Brown by phone at (910) 672-2564 or e-mail at trbrown02@broncos.uncfsu.edu; or Head Coach Eva Patterson-Heath by phone at (910) 672-1513 or e-mail at epatters@uncfsu.edu.

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION