Category: HBCU Sports

Tennessee State Finalizing Deal to Name Nolan Smith Head Men’s Basketball Coach

Brandon King

According to college basketball insider and CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Tennessee State is working on finalizing a deal with University of Memphis assistant coach Nolan Smith for its vacant men’s basketball position following the departure of Brian “Penny” Collins for a coaching job with the Memphis Grizzlies. Although the sides are working towards an agreement, nothing has been finalized yet, adds Rothstein.  Following a decorated collegiate career at Duke that included helping the Blue Devils take home the 2010 national championship, earning the Most Outstanding Player at the Houston Regional…

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SWAC Reveals 2025 Football TV Lineup on ESPN Platforms

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has unveiled their slate of games that will appear on ESPN’s linear and digital platform for the 2025 football season.  The 14-game docket kicks off with North Carolina taking on Southern in the 2025 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Saturday, August 23. Other high-profile matchups that will appear on the platform includes Howard v Florida A&M in the Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic ( August 30), the BoomBox Classic which features Jackson State taking on Southern (September 27), Alabama State and Alabama A&M locking horns in the…

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Norfolk State’s Tyrel Bladen inks deal with Czech basketball team 

Brandon King

Former Norfolk State basketball player TyrelBladen is continuing to ply his trade across the pond, signing a deal with SK Slavia Praha this week.  Founded in 1892, the Prague-based team competes in the National Basketball League-the Czech Republic’s most prestigious professional basketball.  Bladen began his collegiate basketball career at Rider, where he appeared in 74 games ( he missed the 2021-22 season due to injury), averaging 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest. He spent the next two seasons at Norfolk State, where the Coatesville, PA native participated in 65…

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SWAC unveils 2025 Football Preseason Honors

Brandon King

As their football media day quickly approaches, the Southwestern Athletic Conference has released its preseason honors.  Jackson State’s Jacobian Morgan was tabbed as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. The Syracuse transfer led the Tigers led his team to the SWAC and HBCU National Championships last season and was named Offensive MVP of the Celebration Bowl. He completed 150-234 passes in 13 games for 2,051 yards and also tossed 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, compiling a 10-1 record as a starter.  Southern defensive lineman Ckelby Given was named SWAC…

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Tennessee State Postpones Launch of Historic Hockey Program to 2026

Brandon King

In 2023 Tennessee State announced that it was planning to offer ice hockey, making TSU the first HBCU to feature the sport. Tiger hockey was initially set to drop the puck in the 2025-26 season, however, the historic inaugural season has now been pushed back to 2026-27. From Tennessee State Athletics: Tennessee State University announced today that the launch of its historic men’s hockey program will shift to the 2026-27 season. The decision, made in collaboration with the National Hockey League (NHL), the Nashville Predators, and College Hockey Inc., underscores…

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North Carolina A&T and Hampton to face off in 2026 NBA HBCU Classic

Staff

Courtesy of Dylan Smith of the CAA  The Coastal Athletic Association, Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University have announced that the two storied institutions will compete in the 2026 NBA HBCU Classic, presented by AT&T, as part of NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles. In conjunction with the NBA, the date, tip-off time, location and broadcast information will be announced at a later date. For those interested in receiving ticket information about the CAA matchup between these two prominent universities at NBA All-Star 2026, please click the following link.…

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Tennessee State’s Brian ‘Penny’ Collins Departs for NBA Opportunity

Brandon King

Tennessee State head men’s basketball coach Brian “Penny” Collins has stepped down, effective immediately, to accept a coaching position with the Memphis Grizzlies.  “On behalf of Tennessee State University, I wish Coach Collins and his family the very best as they begin this exciting new chapter,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen. “We are proud to congratulate Coach Collins on this significant opportunity, which reflects the meaningful work he has done here over the past seven years.” “Coach Collins built a family-oriented culture and a competitive program that earned…

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Former Howard Guard Steve Settle III Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Miami Heat

Brandon King

Former Howard University guard Steve Settle III signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Miami Heat. Introduced in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement, an Exhibit-10 contract is a one-year non-guaranteed minimum salary deal. It can also include a bonus of up to $75,000 that kicks in should the player who signed the deal spend at least 60 days with a team’s G-League affiliate. Additionally, this contract can be converted to a two-way deal, which allows a player to split time between an NBA and its G-League affiliate, with a maximum of…

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Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Top 7 VP/AD rankings

Brandon King

The latest edition of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Top 7 VP/AD rankings has been announced.  7. Dr. Trayvean Scott- Grambling State University Dr. Scott oversees a Grambling State athletic program that is in a state of transition. Head football coach Mickey Joseph is completing his first season after replacing Hue Jackson. Patrick Crarey II will enter his first season as men’s basketball coach. Courtney Simmons is in her third season at the helm of the women’s basketball program and already has under her belt Grambling’s first 20-win…

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SWAC Spring Meeting Concludes: All Teams Opt In on NCAA settlement

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference concluded its Annual Spring Meetings last Friday and Saturday.  Most notable of the key topics discussed by SWAC membership administrators was the recent House v. NCAA settlement. The landmark agreement allows for institutions to make direct payments stemming primarily from NIL activities; it also sets aside $2.8 billion to retroactively compensate athletes who competed from 2016-2024. Under the ruling, all non orginal Power 5 ( SEC, ACC, Big XII, Big 10, and PAC-12) conferences have the choice to opt in or out in this new revenue…

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