Tennessee State basketball isn’t just improving — it’s ascending.
On the heels of one of the most successful seasons in program history, Aaron Nkrumah has been named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, while head coach Nolan Smith earned OVC Co-Coach of the Year honors.
And for the Tigers, this feels like something bigger than awards.
Nkrumah’s Breakout Year
The Worcester, Massachusetts native was the engine behind Tennessee State’s surge to the top of the OVC standings.
Nkrumah averaged 17.7 points per game — leading the Tigers and finishing second in the conference in scoring. When the lights were brightest, he delivered. His 30-point performance against Morehead State on January 15 was one of several moments that defined TSU’s season.
But what separated him wasn’t just scoring.
Nkrumah dominated defensively, averaging 2.9 steals per game — a mark that led the OVC and ranked second nationally in Division I. His nine-steal performance in a 75–73 win over UNC Asheville on November 25 set a new program record and showcased his ability to change games on both ends of the floor.
With the honor, Nkrumah becomes just the second player in Tennessee State history to win OVC Player of the Year, joining Carlos Rodgers, who captured the award in back-to-back seasons (1992-93, 1993-94).
The Nolan Smith Effect
In his first season at the helm, Nolan Smith delivered immediate results.
The former Duke star guided the Tigers to a share of the OVC regular-season championship — the program’s first since 1994-95 — and secured the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
Tennessee State closed the regular season by winning nine of its final 11 conference games, finishing 15-5 in OVC play — the best conference mark in program history. The Tigers’ 21 overall victories, including a signature win over UNLV, established a new Division I-era program record.
The numbers tell the story of a team that applied pressure all season:
- 80.5 points per game (led OVC)
- 9.5 steals per game (10th nationally)
- 14.8 forced turnovers per game (17th nationally)
Smith becomes just the second TSU coach to earn OVC Coach of the Year honors, joining Frankie Allen (1992-93, 1993-94).
All-Conference Recognition
The Tigers’ success wasn’t built on one player alone.
Nkrumah and Travis Harper II (17.2 ppg) earned First Team All-OVC honors, while Dante Allen — who averaged 11.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game — was named to the Second Team after scoring the 1,000th point of his career this season.
Tennessee State’s resurgence isn’t just significant in Nashville — it’s a reminder that HBCU programs in the Division I landscape are capable of building sustainable contenders. With Aaron Nkrumah delivering a Player of the Year campaign and Nolan Smith immediately establishing a winning culture, the Tigers aren’t just chasing a conference title — they’re raising the national profile of TSU basketball.
