Former Morgan State hoops player Blake Bozeman shot and killed this weekend

Courtesy of the CIAA  A former Morgan State University basketball player was fatally shot outside a nightclub in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night, according to police. Blake Bozeman, 31, was shot Saturday just before midnight when gunfire broke out at a club in the 1300 block of H Street NE, according to the police.  First responders administered aid, and Blake and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two other men and a woman were also hit, and all were taken to hospitals, according to police.  The…

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Norfolk State standout Joe Bryants signs with Polish team

Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications Former Norfolk State basketball star Joe Bryant Jr. has fullfilled a lifelong dream of playing professional basketball, signing with WKS Slask II Wroclaw earlier this week. The team is located in Wroclaw, Poland, serving as the first-league base of 18-time Polish champions WKS Slask Wroclaw. The squad currently completes in the Pekao S.A. 1 Liga Mezczyzn. “It’s amazing to see the growth of Joe Bryant Jr.,” Norfolk State men’s basketball head coach Robert Jones said. “To go from a kid who barely played as a freshman…

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Norfolk State’s Robert Jones invited to HBCU Coaches Clinic

Title image via Nick Sutton/kinetic stills Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Asst. SID, Norfolk State Athletics Norfolk State men’s basketball head coach Robert Jones will join some of the top coaches at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta, Ga. next month to provide education and guidance to up-and-comers in the profession. HBCU All-Stars LLC announced the organization’s first ever HBCU All-Stars Coaches Clinic this week, taking place at the George State Convocation Center on S. The event will feature teaching from some of the best coaches in the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC,…

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Norfolk State basketball picks up pair of wins in Puerto Rico

title image via Naje Murray Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck Asst. SID, Norfolk State Athletics TRUJILLO ALTO, Puerto Rico – The Norfolk State men’s basketball team earned a 96-88 victory over LBP Red All-Stars on Monday night at the Ruben Zayas Montanez Coliseum, finishing 2-1 in a trio of exhibition games against pro competition in Puerto Rico.   Tyrese Jenkins pushed the Spartans to a nearly wire-to-wire win on Monday, knocking down four 3-pointers in a 20-point effort. Jamarii Thomas proved his versatility as a scorer and a passer, recording 17 points and eight…

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Howard women’s hoops to take part in 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis

Courtesy of Howard University Athletics  The Howard University women’s basketball team is set to compete in the second annual Bad Boy Mowers Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament Nov. 18-20 at Imperial Arena in Atlantis Paradise Island. Howard becomes the first HBCU to compete in this prestigious tournament. The Battle 4 Atlantis field also includes four teams that made the 2023 NCAA Tournament, including three teams (Ole Miss, Michigan & South Dakota) that advanced to the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16. The event will be bracketed with each team guaranteed three games. University of Arizona, DePaul…

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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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