For the Week of June 25 - July 1, 2019 Top NBA Draftees have HBCU roots By Steven J. Gaither "He made me who I HBCU Gameday and Ja Morant am today," said Morant Zion Williamson and Ja Morant did not both sons of HBCU athletes of his father. ™ go to HBCUs, but their parents did, and they Obviously neither praised them for their impact. player followed in their Williamson and Morant both became in- parents' footsteps by stant millionaires on Thursday night as they attending an HBCU. were the top two picks of the NBA Draft. Williamson was the top Williamson, as expected, was selected player in the class of Jamie Morant NCAA Photo first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans while 2018 from the start and ALL IN THE FAMILY: Morant went second overall to the Memphis could have attended any college he wanted to, DRAFTIN' Former Claflin hoopster, Grizzlies. While neither player suited up for an eventually choosing another private school in Jamie "Tee" Morant, HBCU, both have HBCU sports ties. North Carolina, UNC. OFF THE sees his son Ja go sec- Williamson's parents both went to Liv- Morant wasn't as highly regarded as Wil- ond to Memphis in the liams, and several of his offers did come from NBA Draft. ingstone College in the late 1990s. His father, HBCUs schools in the MEAC like South Carolina Lateef, played football while his mother Sha- IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Zion Williamson (r.) and his HBCU ALUMS SIRE TOP NBA PICKS; HINTON INKS DEAL ronda ran track. Zion, in fact, was born in Salis- mom Sharonda Anderson (l.), a former track athlete State and Maryland-Eastern Shore. He would end up at Murray State where he became a star. WITH NY KNICKS; NORFOLK STATE EXTENDS JONES bury where Livingstone is located. Williamson's at Livingstone, join hands after the New Orleans mother took the stage with him on Thursday Pelicans selected him first in the NBA Draft. Both Williamson and Morant join a grow- night for an emotional and memorable moment ing number of recent NBA Draft picks whose for anyone who watched the draft. in South Carolina. Jamie went on to play his parents played sports at HBCUs. "My mom sacrificed a lot for me. I wouldn't college ball at Claflin University, then of the Sacramento's Harry Giles (20th, 2017) and UNDER THE BANNER be here without my mom," said Zion. "She did SIAC and now of the CIAA, before starting a Marvin Bagley III (2nd, 2018) both played for pro career overseas. He, too went viral as he Duke, but their fathers played at Winston-Sa- WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS everything for me. I just want to thank her." Morant's father, Jamie "Tee" Morant, showed up to support his son. But it wasn't for lem State and North Carolina A&T respec- JONES EXTENDED AT NORFOLK STATE: played high school with what he said as much as the hat he wore. tively. NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University Director of Athletics Marty L. Miller has an- nounced that men’s basketball coach BCSP Notes Robert Jones has agreed to a con- SWAC announces 2019 ESPN Football Schedule to building a program that bolsters the success of our student-athletes now tract extension that will keep him at BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has and in the future." the helm of the program through the announced the upcoming ESPN line-up for the 2019 season highlighted by "We will forever cherish our time at Albany State University and in Al- 2022-23 season. a total of 13 games that will be featured across ESPN’s networks. bany," Gordon said. "I want to thank ASU for giving me the opportunity Jones has one year remaining "When we began scheduling the upcoming lineup of ESPN games to be a Golden Ram in 2016." on his current contract, and will re- we sought match-ups that would give view- During Gordon's time at ASU, she contributed to the growth of the Jones ceive an additional three years in his ers and the average fan that may not get to at- University in several ways. The academic performance of student-athletes new deal. tend our games a strong representation of our increased from an average GPA of 2.5 in 2016 to the current 2.9 average, "Coach Jones has been instrumental in the men's pro- brand of football," said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland. and student-athletes have gained over 2,400 hours of service. Under Gor- gram achieving success both on and off the court," Miller ESPN's season coverage of the SWAC will begin on Saturday, August don's leadership, the institution earned four SIAC Commissioner's Cups, said. "In addition to the NIT berth last season, he has led 31, with the Labor Day Classic as Prairie View A&M travels to face rival three NCAA Individual National Championships, one HBCU National the team to the MEAC tournament championship game Texas Southern at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Championship and eight division titles. two of the last three years. The 2019 edition of the Celebration Bowl which features the cham- With Gordon's departure, Jackie Nicholson, Associate Athletics Di- "The men's basketball program also achieved a per- pions of the MEAC and SWAC will once again bring a fitting close to the rector for Academics and Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator, will fect 1,000 score (2017-18) in the latest APR report, which national broadcast schedule for the league on December 21 at 12:00 pm serve as the interim Director of Athletics. A nationwide search for the new Director of Athletics will begin this summer. reflects the academic success of the men's basketball stu- EST on ABC at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

dent-athletes as well as the overall academic accomplish- DATE - TIME GAME NETWORK Lincoln (Mo.), N. C. A&T and Xavier lead HBCUs ments of the department. They played a significant role in 8/31 - 5:30p Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern ESPN3 (5:30 pm live) helping the athletics department achieve an overall grade ESPNU (*9:30 pm tape) in final Learfield Directors' Cup standings average of 3.05, the highest academic average for 9/1 - 2p Bethune-Cookman vs. Jackson State ESPN2 (2:00 pm live) CLEVELAND - Bolstered by a national championship in women's student-athletes in the school's history." 9/21 - 5p Prairie View A&M at Alcorn State ESPN3 (5:00 pm live) outdoor track & field, and four total top-10 finishes at NCAA Division II ESPNU (*9:30 pm tape) championships this year, Lincoln (Mo) University Jones has posted a 109-96 overall record, including 9/28 - 6p Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff ESPN3 (6:00 pm live) a 72-24 mark in MEAC play, in his first six seasons lead- 10/5 - 6p Grambling State at Jackson State ESPN3 (6:00 pm live) finished 49th out of 268 programs in the final 2018- ing the Spartans. NSU won the MEAC regular-season 10/12 - 6p Prairie View A&M at Southern ESPN3 (6:00 pm live) 19 Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup NCAA 10/19 - 2p Jackson State at Mississippi Valley State ESPN3 (2:00 pm live) title with a 14-2 league ledger this past season, just the Division II standings, best among HBCUs. ESPNU (*12:15 am tape) The LU women's track & field team won its second of its kind in program history. Jones was named 10/24 - 6:30p Jackson State at Prairie View A&M ESPNU (6:30 pm live) second-consecutive NCAA Division II Outdoor the MEAC Coach of the Year and the NABC District 15 10/26 - 2:30p Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State ESPN3 (2:30 pm live) ESPNU (*9:30 pm tape) Track & Field Championship this spring and took Coach of the Year and also won CollegeInsider's Skip 11/2 - 4p Alabama A&M at Southern ESPN3 (4:00 pm live) third at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championship, while Prosser Award, which is presented annually to a Division 11/9 - 2p Alcorn State at Grambling State ESPN3 (2:00 pm live) the Blue Tiger men's track & field program placed fifth during the indoor I coach who not only achieves success on the court but ESPNU (*9:30 pm tape) 11/23 - 2p Alcorn State at Jackson State ESPN3 (2:00 pm live) season and seventh during the outdoor campaign. Lincoln finished the also displays moral integrity off of it. 12/7 - 3p 2019 SWAC Football Championship ESPNU (3:00 pm live) year with 330.5 points, collecting 171.25 points during the spring sports The year culminated in the program's second-ever season and 159.25 points in the winter. NIT berth. The Spartans pulled off one of the biggest up- * ESPNU tape delay times are subject to change Points are assigned based upon finishes in NCAA national champion- sets in NIT history when, as the No. 8 seed, they knocked All games will be available on the ESPN App ship tournaments or events. off No. 1 seed Alabama 80-79 on the road. The NIT ap- Saint Augustine's totaled 278.25 points for its performance in the pearance was the fifth postseason appearance in Jones' six Albany State Athletics Director resigns NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships during the indoor and years as head coach, which also includes four CollegeIn- ALBANY, Ga. – Albany State University (ASU) has announced that outdoor seasons, leading CIAA institutions and ranking 73rd overall. sider Tournament (CIT) berths from 2014-17. Sherie Gordon, Director of Athletics, has accepted a Spring Hill College led the SIAC with 125 points, ranking 151st overall. new job opportunity with another institution. The tran- West Virginia State, a member of the Mountain East Conference, was the BAILEY TO LEAD CAU WOMEN'S HOOPS: sition is effective June 30. top ranked HBCU Division II independent ranking #164 with 114 points. ATLANTA, GA – June 19, 2019 – Clark Atlanta "Sherie has been an outstanding leader of ASU Ath- In Division I, thanks to its strong showing at the track & field na- University Athletics Director J. Lin letics," said President Marion Ross Fedrick. "During tionals, North Carolina A&T, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Dawson has announced the promo- her tenure, she has led efforts to improve our student Conference, was the top ranked HBCU standing 85th with 234.75 points. tion of Tony Bailey to head coach of athletes experience, enhance university community en- Alabama State led the SWAC institutions ranking #124 with 122 points. the Lady Panthers women's basket- gagement efforts and increase our number of champi- Xavier University of Louisiana topped NAIA HBCUs ranking 43rd ball team. Bailey had been an assis- Gordon onships. We are all deeply grateful for her commitment with 341.50 points tant coach for the past two seasons. Bailey, a native of Villa Rica, Ga., was the assistant to Yolanda Hinton inks NY Knicks free agent deal Bailey Moore during a period where the two led the Lady Panthers to the NEW YORK, N.Y. – Central that performed at the G-League Draft, 42nd overall, by the Mil- Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and Intercollegiate Athletic Associa- camp were drafted. waukee Bucks. He went on to play tion an NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament (CIAA) Basketball Player of Hinton will join Kris Wilkes nine years in the the Year, 6-5 guard Amir Hinton (UCLA) and V.J. King (Louis- league with eight appearance. Before coming to Clark Atlanta, Bailey spent of Shaw University, was signed ville) as the Knicks undrafted free different teams three seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach at to an undrafted free agent contract agents. distinguishing the University of West Georgia. by the on Friday, He will be trying to follow in himself as a dan- "During the last two years, I had the opportunity to June 21. the NBA footsteps of another Shaw gerous scorer. work with and observe Coach Bailey in a variety of situa- The news comes less than 24 alum, CIAA standout and Phila- Murray finished tions," Dawson said. "He is conscientious, consistent, pas- hours after the June 20, 2019 NBA delphia native, 6-3 guard Ronald his NBA career sionate, dedicated. I find in him the leadership attributes draft was completed in Brooklyn, "Flip" Murray. averaging just and behaviors that aligns with three Athletics priorities: 1) N.Y. After winning CIAA and under 10 points Murray winning championships; 2) graduating student-athletes; His next stop will be the NBA NCAA Div. II Player of the Year per game. and 3) developing leaders. Summer League in Las Vegas, honors and leading the Bears to He played an additional four "I look forward to seeing Coach Bailey develop the Friday, July 5 thru Monday July the Div. II Final Four in his senior years overseas finishing his career Lady Panthers women’s basketball program into a highly- 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center. year of 2002, Murray was drafted with Mouttahed Tripoli of the Leb- ranked, nationally-competitive program," he said The Knicks and Hinton open play AMIR HINTON in the second round of the NBA anese Basketball League. on July 5 against the New Orleans 2.3 steals and shooting .894 from Pelicans, who took Duke's Zion the line. Update on Morgan State's Tiwian Kendley Williamson with the top pick in the He also scored a season-high 2019 BLACK draft. That game is scheduled to be 52 points against Tampa and scored The 6-5 former high scoring Morgan State guard played 22 HEAD COACHING CHANGES broadcast on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. over 40 points at least four times. games with two teams in the NBA G-League last season. ET. Hinton was also named all- After signing a free agent contract with School Former Coach New Coach "I'll be in Vegas that whole WOMEN CIAA, all-CIAA Tournament, a the last season and play- Arkansas-Pine Bluff Nate Kilbert Dawn Brown time," Hinton told Donald Hunt first team National Association of ing on the Wizards Summer League team, Clark Atlanta Yolanda Moore Tony Bailey of his hometown Philadelphia Basketball Coaches (NABC) All Kendley played 18 games for the Capital City Florida A&M LeDawn Gibson Kevin Lynum (interim) Tribune. "I'll be playing with the American and a first-teamer on the Go Gos, the Wizards G-League team, aver- Livingstone Tiffany Silver TBD Knicks this summer. I'm excited. I All-Atlantic Region DII Confer- aging 23.6 minutes and 11.7 points per game Texas Southern Johnetta Hayes-Perry Cynthia Cooper-Dyke can't put it into words. My family is ence Commissioners Association on 39.8% shooting from the field. He hit on Kendley MEN so excited. They're very happy for (D2CCA). Hinton had worked out 25.0% 3-pointers and 66.0% of his free throws. Fayetteville State Ken Spencer Luke D'Alessio me." for several teams during the NBA He was traded by the Go Gos to the Windy City Bulls, the Chi- Howard Kevin Nickelberry Kenneth Blakeney In his only season at Shaw af- pre-draft process. cago Bulls G-League affiliate, and played just four games, averaging Langston Stan Holt Philip Stitt ter transferring from Lock Haven He reportedly performed well 2.5 points per game. On the season, he played a total of 22 games Mississippi Valley State Andre Payne Lindsey Hunter University, Hinton led the CIAA Maryland Eastern Shore Clifford Reed (int.) Jason Crafton as an invitee to the NBA G-League averaging 10.0 points on 38.6% shooting. and all NCAA Div. II scorers at Morgan State Todd Bozeman Kevin Broadus Elite Mini Camp but was not one After his stint with Windy City, his rights were owned by the Tuskegee Jerry Dunn TBD 29.4 points per game while aver- of the 11 invited to the NBA Draft Wizards and has been trailing with the team in Florida. aging 4.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and Combine in Chicago. Five players © AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XXV, No. 46