Norfolk State’s Bryant and Bankston named to VaSID All-State squads

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Asst. SID, Norfolk State Athletics Norfolk State seniors Joe Bryant Jr. and Kris Bankston have been named to Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division All-State Men’s Basketball teams, the organization announced on Wednesday afternoon. Bryant was named to the All-State First Team for the second consecutive season, while Bankston received a spot on the Second Team for his first All-State selection. It marked the first time the Spartans have had two players represented on All-State teams since 2014-15, when Jeff Short and RaShid Gaston earned Second Team honors. Bryant…

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Norfolk State’s Kris Bankston receives Portsmouth Invitational invite

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Asst. SID, Norfolk State University NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State men’s basketball will have not one, but two representatives at a prestigious showcase event this month. Just days after his teammate Joe Bryant Jr. received the nod, Norfolk State senior Kris Bankston has earned a spot in the upcoming Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), the event revealed on Tuesday afternoon. “Kris Bankston is the prototype of today’s NBA big, I’m so excited that he got into the PIT,” Norfolk State  head coach Robert Jones said. “To have two HBCU players and two from the same…

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Norfolk State women’s hoops 24th in College Insider National Poll

Title image via Niya Grant Photography Courtesy of Alysse Scripter, Associate Sports Information Director, Norfolk State Athletics NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State University women’s basketball team wrapped up a historic season with a final ranking of 24th in the CollegeInsider.com Women’s Mid Major Top 25 Coaches Poll.  The Spartans finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 26-7 that culminated with a trip to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The program achieved new heights with the most victories in the NCAA Division I era. In addition, Norfolk State ended…

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Norfolk State’s Joe Bryant selected for NABC Reese’s Division I All-Star Game

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Asst. SID, Norfolk State Athletics NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State men’s basketball star Joe Bryant Jr. continues to stack illustrious accolades to his decorated collegiate resume. The fifth-year senior will compete in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Reese’s Division I All-Star Game, the organization announced on Tuesday afternoon. Bryant becomes just the second player in program history to represent Norfolk State at the prestigious event, showcasing the top senior talent across the country. Former NSU guard Pendarvis Williams received the honor in 2014. Bryant was the only student-athlete from…

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Norfolk State’s Larry Vickers named HBCU National Coach of the Year by BOXTOROW

Courtesy of Brian Howard, Asst. AD/Communications NORFOLK, Va. | Norfolk State University head women’s basketball coach Larry Vickers was selected the HBCU National Coach of the Year by BOXTOROW, the organization announced on Wednesday. In addition to Vickers’ honor, Camille Downswas selected to the HBCU BOXTOROW All-America First Team, while teammate Deja Francis was named to the second team. Vickers, who just completed his eighth season at Norfolk State, guided the Spartans to their second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season championship and the program’s first women’s conference tournament championship in more than 20 years.…

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These are the players and rosters for the 2023 HBCU All-Star Game

Monday the teams for the second annual HBCU All-Star Game were announced.The basketball showcase brings together 24 top-level HBCU basketball players. Continuing a theme from last year, the players will be divided into two teams, each named after a legendary figure from the annals of HBCU sports history, with the squads this year bearing the names of Grambling legend and NBA Hall of Fame player Willis Reed and Tennessee State luminary and two-time NBA Champion Dick Barnett. Team Willis Reed Cameron Chrsiton | 6’6 | Guard | Grambling State University…

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HBCU Men’s seeding and brackets for the 2023 NCAA Tournament

There are two HBCU teams in the men’s NCAA bracket. Here is who they are and who they will take on. NO. 16 Texas Southern, East Bracket, Columbus, OH Coach Johnny Jones’ TExas Southern Tigers are back in the field of 68 after winning their third consecutive SWAC Tournament, and as has been the case too many times, they are the HBCU that has been subjected to taking part in the play in game ( the NCAA can try to insult our intelligence, by dressing them up as the “First…

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Norfolk State women’s hoops handles N.C. Central 81-59 to advance to MEAC title game

Courtesy of Brian Howard, Asst. AD/Communications, Norfolk State University 59 N.C. Central 14-16,7-6 MEAC 81 Winner Norfolk St. 25-6,11-3 MEAC Team 1 2 3 4 F N.C. Central 9  13  20  17  59 Norfolk St. 20  19  17  25  81 NORFOLK, Va. | Kierra Wheeler registered her ninth double-double of the season and second consecutive in the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament as the Norfolk State University women’s basketball team advanced to championship game with an 81-59 victory over North Carolina Central in the semifinals on Friday at the Norfolk Scope Arena. …

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Norfolk State distances from Coppin State in second half to punch ticket to MEAC semis

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Asst. SID, Norfolk State Athletics 56 Coppin St. 9-23,4-10 MEAC 73 Winner Norfolk St. 21-10,9-5 MEAC Team 1 2 F Coppin St. 24  32  56 Norfolk St. 23  50  73 NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State (21-10, 9-5 MEAC) zoomed past Coppin State 73-56 with a dominant second half on Thursday night in the MEAC Tournament quarterfinal round, moving on to Friday’s semifinal action. Joe Bryant Jr. paved the way to victory, scoring 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half. Kris Bankston added 13 points and 11 rebounds, his sixth double-double…

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NCCU lays the smack down on Delaware State 89-59 in MEAC quarterfinals

Title image via Nick Sutton Courtesy of North Carolina Central Athleics 59 DSU 89 Winner NCCU Team 1 2 F DSU 24  35  59 NCCU 36  53  89 NORFOLK, Va. – North Carolina Central University connected on 14 3-pointers, including 10 triples during an explosive second half surge, to defeat Delaware State University, 89-59, in the MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinals at the Norfolk Scope Arena on Wednesday night. NCCU (18-11) advances to the tournament semifinals on Friday, March 10, at 8 p.m., with the Eagles riding an eight-game win streak…

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