TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M head basketball coach Robert McCullum wasted no time preparing for the 2017-18 season. Today FAMU Athletics announced the signing of two players to the Rattler basketball squad.
Forward Darian Jones is a transfer from Tulane University. Jones will come in as a sophomore after playing sparingly for the Green Wave last season. Out of high school, Jones averaged a double-double. He earned All-District honors while also averaging three blocks per game.
McCullum welcomes Jones' athleticism to the squad. “We're elated to add Darian (DJ) Jones a 6'9”, transfer from Tulane University, and Kamron Reaves, 6'1 from Champaign, IL.
DJ, played sparingly last season at Tulane as he lacked the physical strength and weight necessary to play in the AAC. But what he doesn't lack is athleticism. His ability to run & jump sets him apart from most players his size and is what attracted him to the Tulane coaching staff. He averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks as a high school senior. He was named 1st Team All District, 2nd Team All Region, and Honorable Mention All-State. In addition to “DJ's” athleticism, his versatility and tremendous upside is what gets me so excited. We can play him in different positions on both ends of the court making us much more effective offensively and defensively. He plans to major in engineering, and is the younger brother of the Golden State Warriors 2016 1st Round draft pick Damian Jones who played collegiately at Vanderbilt,” McCullum said.
Point guard Kamron Reaves will be a true freshman from Champaign, IL. Reaves' speed and ability to move the basketball are two of his top qualities. The 6'0” one guard could see action this season.
McCullum felt the team could use the assistance of a pure point guard with great distribution skills.
“Kamron is a point guard who thinks ‘pass first,' understanding the importance of getting his teammates involved, where the ball should go and why. He's very good in transition at advancing the ball via the pass as opposed to over dribbling. His ability to see the floor, and get the ball to open teammates sets him apart. While he thinks pass first, he's very comfortable shooting the three-pointer as he had three games with four three-pointers, and a season high of six in a win vs crosstown rival Champaign Central. Kamron played off the ball his senior year at Centennial high school after transferring across town from Central HS. He averaged 13 points, four assists per game scoring 20 or more six times with a season high of 30 in the first round of the district tournament. He was named to both the All-Conference and All-Area Teams.
Kamron more than held his own last summer at the prestigious Pangos All-American Camp in Cerritos, CA. The camp featured 15 of the nation's top 40 rising seniors, and 40 of the Top 100 players in the 2017 class. Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop Scouting Service rated Kamron the 14th best point guard out of the 24 that made up the 120 player camp,” McCullum said.
McCullum, whose contract was approved by the FAMU Board of Trustees on yesterday, will enter his first campaign this Fall as head coach of the Rattlers. His team will be built on the success of senior Desmond Williams, who is the lead returning player.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Saturday, June 10, 2017
B-CU's Tiller Finishes 12th At NCAA Championship
EUGENE, Oregon – Bethune-Cookman senior Michael Tiller concluded a champion's career Friday night with a 12th place finish in the triple jump at the NCAA Track and Field Championship at storied Haywood Field.The five-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion improved on his first jump of 51 feet, two and three-quarters inches with a final attempt of 51 feet, seven and a quarter inches, but did not qualify for the finals.
His 12th place finish was the highest for a Bethune-Cookman athlete at the NCAA meet since 2016 Olympian Ronnie Ash won the 110 hurdles in 2009.
"That puts him in great company and among the elite," Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Donald Cooper said of Tiller. "I'm very proud of what was a solid effort here and even prouder of a great college career."
Tiller scratched on his second attempt, and Cooper thought that contributed to him not being able to deliver a third jump that would have advanced him into the finals.
"He needed a 52 (feet)," Cooper said. "The foul put him into a tentative mode."
Tiller appreciated the opportunity to compete in his first national championship.
"To be able to be here felt pretty good," Tiller said.
Tiller will now focus on the USA Track and Field championships in Sacramento June 23-25, 2017 for a chance to qualify for the IAAF World Championships.
"Hopefully, he'll have the one jump in him," Cooper said.
Florida's KeAndre Bates won the event with a leap of 55 feet.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Five A&T Aggies Earn Second-Team All-American Nods
EUGENE, Oregon – The North Carolina A&T women's track and field team did not have anyone making through to Saturday's finals on Thursday at Historic Hayward Field, but they did earn two second-team All-American recognitions to complete their experience at the 2017 NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships.
N.C. A&T's women started their afternoon by coming one spot shy of qualifying for the final of the 4x100 meter relay. The team of freshmen Tori Ray and Taliyah Townsend and junior India Brown and sophomore Kayla White finished ninth in 44.41 to earn second-team All-American honors. The top-8 teams qualify for the finals. The Aggies could have lowered their school record run of 44.01 they set two weeks ago at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, they would have bested Kansas State's eighth place finish of 44.27.
“There was a bad exchange between our second and third legs,” said Duane Ross, the Aggies director of track and field programs, about the exchange between Brown (No. 2) and Townsend (No. 3). “That completely took us of the race. Those are the type of little mistakes you can't afford when you're going against the best in the country. But they're young. They will get another chance.”
White will also come away with second-team honors in the 100-meter hurdles. She completed the second heat in 13.29 to finish fourth in the heat and 13th overall. Two weeks prior she ran a 12.94 which would have easily qualified her on Thursday.
“When you come here, you have to run your (personal record) to make sure you're in the finals,” said Ross. “I can't pinpoint what it was with Kayla today. She just didn't seem to have the same pop she normally has.”
Ross said the same of Brown after she finished seventh in the second heat and 18th overall in 11.49 in the 100 meters. But not even Brown's PR of 11.34 would have qualified her for Saturday's final. Brown later ran a 23.43 to finish seventh in her heat and 18th overall.
“This group of young women are young. India is the only one who has been here before,” said Duane Ross, the Aggies director of track and field programs. “It is just something we have to look back on and where we went wrong in terms of preparation. I know they can do better. What I like is they're not pleased. I don't think they looked bad. They executed, but it just wasn't there today. They know today was just not their day.”
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
N.C. A&T's women started their afternoon by coming one spot shy of qualifying for the final of the 4x100 meter relay. The team of freshmen Tori Ray and Taliyah Townsend and junior India Brown and sophomore Kayla White finished ninth in 44.41 to earn second-team All-American honors. The top-8 teams qualify for the finals. The Aggies could have lowered their school record run of 44.01 they set two weeks ago at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, they would have bested Kansas State's eighth place finish of 44.27.
“There was a bad exchange between our second and third legs,” said Duane Ross, the Aggies director of track and field programs, about the exchange between Brown (No. 2) and Townsend (No. 3). “That completely took us of the race. Those are the type of little mistakes you can't afford when you're going against the best in the country. But they're young. They will get another chance.”
White will also come away with second-team honors in the 100-meter hurdles. She completed the second heat in 13.29 to finish fourth in the heat and 13th overall. Two weeks prior she ran a 12.94 which would have easily qualified her on Thursday.
“When you come here, you have to run your (personal record) to make sure you're in the finals,” said Ross. “I can't pinpoint what it was with Kayla today. She just didn't seem to have the same pop she normally has.”
Ross said the same of Brown after she finished seventh in the second heat and 18th overall in 11.49 in the 100 meters. But not even Brown's PR of 11.34 would have qualified her for Saturday's final. Brown later ran a 23.43 to finish seventh in her heat and 18th overall.
“This group of young women are young. India is the only one who has been here before,” said Duane Ross, the Aggies director of track and field programs. “It is just something we have to look back on and where we went wrong in terms of preparation. I know they can do better. What I like is they're not pleased. I don't think they looked bad. They executed, but it just wasn't there today. They know today was just not their day.”
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Belcher, NCA&T Aggies Make History at NCAA Nationals
EUGENE, Oregon – North Carolina A&T senior sprinter Christopher Belcher wasn't nervous. He wasn't intimated. He even described himself as ready to go before his three event finals Friday at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships at Historic Hayward Field. He was just running against some of the best athletes in the world.
That may have been easy to forget after Belcher's terrific performance Wednesday when he qualified for the three national finals with a 38.48 as a part of the 4x100 meter relay, a 9.93 in the 100 meters and a 20.01 in the 200m. Friday wasn't Wednesday but Belcher helped the Aggies reach the award podium twice with top-3 placements. Along with freshman Jaylen Mitchell, senior Caleb Gabriel and sophomore Rodney Rowe, Belcher helped the 4x1 team finish third nationally in 38.57.
Approximately 45 minutes later Belcher placed third in the 100m final in 10.19. After another approximate 45-minute layoff, Belcher finished fifth in the 200m final in 20.66. Belcher walked away from NCAA nationals with three first-team All-American honors. He has four for his career after earning second-team All-American honors in 2016 with the 4x1 team. He is the first Aggie to come away with multiple All-American honors from the NCAA championships.
NCAA FINALS RESULTS
“Today was a struggle, but I am so blessed to be here,” said a winded Belcher after his third event on Friday. “It's not easy to get here. Being here means the world to me. To come out here and race the best in the country, it doesn't get any better than this. I wasn't even nervous today. I already know I'm going to see the best in the world. Coming into these big events I was always nervous with the bubble guts all the time. Today, I was ready to go.”
As a team, the Aggies finished tied for 14th nationally with 16 points, the highest finish ever for an historically black college or university. N.C. A&T finished tied for third among non-Power 5 conference schools (ACC, Big 10, Pac-12, Big 12, SEC). Florida took home the team national championship. The Aggies may have gone higher, but sophomore triple jumper Lasheon Strozier fouled on all four of his jumps Friday.
“We made history this week and I'm proud of that,” said director of track and field programs Duane Ross. “There are more than 250 Division I track and field teams in America. To finish where we finished is a true achievement. I'm proud of these guys.”
The 4x1 team ran their second-fastest time of the season, finishing behind NCAA champion Houston and second-place finisher Auburn. The Aggies had a good first exchange between Mitchell and Belcher as the Aggies came out of the first split in sixth place. Belcher helped the Aggies make up some ground, but the exchange between him and Gabriel wasn't as smooth. When Gabriel gave the baton to Rowe to run the anchor the Aggies were a part of the pack. But Rowe ran past runners from Texas A&M and Texas to make one last effort to win the national title. But Rowe, who completed his split in 9.5 seconds, ran out of track as Houston crossed in 38.34 and Auburn crossed in 38.48.
"We've come a long way when you think about it," said Gabriel, who ran the third leg. "We didn't even make the final last year and this year we're No. 3 team in the country. It still hurts because we wanted to win it. We came in really feeling like we had a chance to win it."
N.C. A&T's third-place finish in an NCAA 4x1 final is the best in school history, surpassing the 2001 team of Timothy Walls, Theo Wilds, Gerald Wright and Titus Haywood who finished fifth in 39.48. "We could have run a better race. I'm sure there are a lot of the things to critique. But at the end of the day we have to be happy with the progress we've made," said Gabriel. "The good news is, the program is good enough to get back here and do better."
Belcher's chief competition in the 100m was Tennessee's Christian Coleman who ran an NCAA record 9.82 on Wednesday. Coleman jumped out to an early start on Belcher and won the national championship in 10.04. Houston's Cameron Burrell came in second in 10.12. Coleman won the 200m as well (20.25).
“He is the best starter in the world, so I definitely didn't get out the way I wanted to,” said Belcher about the 100m race. “He is a talented guy. I know what I did wrong. We're going to go out there and fix whatever needs to be fixed and get ready for U.S. championships.”
The next step for Belcher, who solidified himself as an Aggie legend this week, is the USATF Outdoor Championships at Sacramento State in California June 22-25.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
That may have been easy to forget after Belcher's terrific performance Wednesday when he qualified for the three national finals with a 38.48 as a part of the 4x100 meter relay, a 9.93 in the 100 meters and a 20.01 in the 200m. Friday wasn't Wednesday but Belcher helped the Aggies reach the award podium twice with top-3 placements. Along with freshman Jaylen Mitchell, senior Caleb Gabriel and sophomore Rodney Rowe, Belcher helped the 4x1 team finish third nationally in 38.57.
Approximately 45 minutes later Belcher placed third in the 100m final in 10.19. After another approximate 45-minute layoff, Belcher finished fifth in the 200m final in 20.66. Belcher walked away from NCAA nationals with three first-team All-American honors. He has four for his career after earning second-team All-American honors in 2016 with the 4x1 team. He is the first Aggie to come away with multiple All-American honors from the NCAA championships.
NCAA FINALS RESULTS
“Today was a struggle, but I am so blessed to be here,” said a winded Belcher after his third event on Friday. “It's not easy to get here. Being here means the world to me. To come out here and race the best in the country, it doesn't get any better than this. I wasn't even nervous today. I already know I'm going to see the best in the world. Coming into these big events I was always nervous with the bubble guts all the time. Today, I was ready to go.”
As a team, the Aggies finished tied for 14th nationally with 16 points, the highest finish ever for an historically black college or university. N.C. A&T finished tied for third among non-Power 5 conference schools (ACC, Big 10, Pac-12, Big 12, SEC). Florida took home the team national championship. The Aggies may have gone higher, but sophomore triple jumper Lasheon Strozier fouled on all four of his jumps Friday.
“We made history this week and I'm proud of that,” said director of track and field programs Duane Ross. “There are more than 250 Division I track and field teams in America. To finish where we finished is a true achievement. I'm proud of these guys.”
The 4x1 team ran their second-fastest time of the season, finishing behind NCAA champion Houston and second-place finisher Auburn. The Aggies had a good first exchange between Mitchell and Belcher as the Aggies came out of the first split in sixth place. Belcher helped the Aggies make up some ground, but the exchange between him and Gabriel wasn't as smooth. When Gabriel gave the baton to Rowe to run the anchor the Aggies were a part of the pack. But Rowe ran past runners from Texas A&M and Texas to make one last effort to win the national title. But Rowe, who completed his split in 9.5 seconds, ran out of track as Houston crossed in 38.34 and Auburn crossed in 38.48.
"We've come a long way when you think about it," said Gabriel, who ran the third leg. "We didn't even make the final last year and this year we're No. 3 team in the country. It still hurts because we wanted to win it. We came in really feeling like we had a chance to win it."
N.C. A&T's third-place finish in an NCAA 4x1 final is the best in school history, surpassing the 2001 team of Timothy Walls, Theo Wilds, Gerald Wright and Titus Haywood who finished fifth in 39.48. "We could have run a better race. I'm sure there are a lot of the things to critique. But at the end of the day we have to be happy with the progress we've made," said Gabriel. "The good news is, the program is good enough to get back here and do better."
Belcher's chief competition in the 100m was Tennessee's Christian Coleman who ran an NCAA record 9.82 on Wednesday. Coleman jumped out to an early start on Belcher and won the national championship in 10.04. Houston's Cameron Burrell came in second in 10.12. Coleman won the 200m as well (20.25).
“He is the best starter in the world, so I definitely didn't get out the way I wanted to,” said Belcher about the 100m race. “He is a talented guy. I know what I did wrong. We're going to go out there and fix whatever needs to be fixed and get ready for U.S. championships.”
The next step for Belcher, who solidified himself as an Aggie legend this week, is the USATF Outdoor Championships at Sacramento State in California June 22-25.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
XULA Rush have 3 ITA All-Americans, No. 2 doubles team
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, the No. 2 team in NAIA men's tennis each of the past two seasons, had three players named Thursday to the 2017 ITA NAIA All-America team: senior Karan Salwan and freshmen Moses Micheal and Antoine Richard.
The ITA designates as All-America the top 20 singles players and top 10 doubles teams in its postseason individual national rankings. In singles, Richard was ranked third, Micheal 13th and Salwan 15th. In doubles, Richard and Micheal were second — the highest-ever ITA NAIA national ranking for the Gold Rush at any point in a season.
Salwan, from New Delhi, India, is ITA All-America for the second straight year. Micheal is from Kaduna, Nigeria, and Richard is from Laval, Quebec.
Salwan, Micheal and Richard earned berths May 23 on the NAIA's committee-selected All-America team.
Fourteen NAIA schools accounted for the 31 ITA men's All-Americans. National champion Georgia Gwinnett and semifinalist Campbellsville had four honorees apiece, and William Carey, Northwestern Ohio and San Diego Christian joined XULA with three apiece.
The XULA women produced no ITA All-Americans but had three — sophomore Charlene Goreau and seniors Emma Kranendonk and Brandi Nelson — in the final national or South Region rankings.
| XULA's All-Time List of ITA NAIA Men's All-Americans | ||||
2007-08 — Miroslav Vukicevic 2010-11 — Hassan Abbas, Zach Taylor 2011-12 — Loic Didavi, Zach Taylor 2012-13 — Loic Didavi, Kyle Montrel 2013-14 — Kyle Montrel 2014-15 — Kyle Montrel 2015-16 — Kevin Chaouat, Kyle Montrel, Karan Salwan, Thomas Setodji 2016-17 — Moses Micheal, Antoine Richard, Karan Salwan Most Years Earning ITA All-America: Kyle Montrel 4, Loic Didavi 2, Karan Salwan 2, Zach Taylor 2 | ||||
| XULA in the 2016-17 End-of-Season ITA NAIA Rankings | ||||
Men's Singles | ||||
| Name | Class | NAIA | Region | |
| Antoine Richard | Fr. | 3rd | 3rd | |
| Moses Micheal | Fr. | 13th | 7th | |
| Karan Salwan | Sr. | 15th | 8th | |
| Catalin Fifea | Jr. | 26th | 12th | |
| Women's Singles | ||||
| Name | Class | NAIA | Region | |
| Charlene Goreau | So. | 31st | 11th | |
| Brandi Nelson | Sr. | — | 20th | |
| Men's Doubles | ||||
| Names (Class) | NAIA | Region | ||
| Antoine Richard (Fr.)-Moses Micheal (Fr.) | 2nd | 2nd | ||
| Pierre Andrieu (So.)-Catalin Fifea (Jr.) | 12th | 5th | ||
| Tushar Mandlekar (Sr.)-Karan Salwan (Sr.) | 20th | 9th | ||
| Women's Doubles | ||||
| Names (Class) | NAIA | Region | ||
| Charlene Goreau (So.)-Emma Kranendonk (Sr.) | 13th | 9th | ||
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Wednesday, June 7, 2017
FAMU athletics finally has a balanced budget
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- For the first time in more than a decade, Florida A&M’s athletic department has a balanced yearly budget.
Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. on Wednesday told members of the university’s Special Committee on Athletics he managed to turn a projected 2016-17 year-end deficit of $651,724 into a surplus of more than $9,000.
Overton announced the original budget shortfall in December.
It wasn’t easy – Overton insisted it wasn’t a one-man effort – but Wednesday’s announcement marks a reversal of years of overspending from the athletic department.
“There were a couple of things we did to address this deficit,” Overton told the committee. “Obviously, we reduced our expenses and increased our revenue. We reduced some salaries. We’re a little more efficient in terms of personnel and how we do business.”
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Monday, June 5, 2017
Salwan: 1st CoSIDA Academic All-American from tennis
Academic All-America teams in the College Division are comprised of student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions and selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Beginning in 2008-09, eight XULA student-athletes have earned a combined 12 berths on Academic All-America teams. CoSIDA has sponsored the Academic All-America program since 1952.
Salwan, from New Delhi, India, attended XULA the past two years after transferring from NCAA Division I Utah State. The business management major graduated cum laude from XULA May 13 and with honors in business. On the court Salwan was NAIA All-America both seasons and helped the Gold Rush finish second in the 2016 and 2017 NAIA National Championships. Those are the only XULA teams in any sport to reach the final round of an NAIA national tournament.
"Karan has been a great addition to our program. He has probably been one of the smartest players I've ever had on the court," XULA coach Alan Green said. "He has also had one of our highest GPAs. He shows great respect to opposing players and coaches, and he has shown great leadership with our younger guys, using his experience to teach them how to be good team college tennis players. He has also been actively involved in the community with several service projects, most notably with the Salvation Army."
| XULA's All-Time List of Academic All-Americans (chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America) | |||
| Year | Name | Sport | Team |
| 2008-09 | Joe Drexler-Dreis | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2011-12 | Matt Pieri | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2011-12 | Javon Mead | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Third Team |
| 2012-13 | Taylor Reuther | Women's Volleyball | Third Team |
| 2012-13 | Matt Pieri | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Javon Mead | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Third Team |
| 2012-13 | Catherine Fakler | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Devinn Rolland | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2014-15 | Catherine Fakler | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | First Team |
| 2014-15 | Devinn Rolland | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | First Team |
| 2015-16 | Brent Kitto | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2016-17 | Karan Salwan | Men's Tennis (at-large) | Second Team |
| Karan Salwan's XULA Honors | |||
| 2015-16 • NAIA All-America first team — selected by an NAIA committee • NAIA All-America — selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association • ITA Scholar-Athlete • Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Honor Roll • Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week (four times: Jan. 25-31, Feb. 1-7, Feb. 8-14 and April 18-24) • All-Louisiana first team • Louisiana Newcomer of the Year 2016-17 • NAIA All-America second team — selected by an NAIA committee • CoSIDA Academic All-America, College Division at-large second team • CoSIDA Academic All-District, College Division District 2 at-large • NAIA Champions of Character • Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week (Jan. 23-29) • All-Louisiana honorable mention Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold | |||
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