Category: NCAA Basketball

Dawn Staley, South Carolina to Host Inaugural PowHER Player Classic Featuring Three HBCUs

Brandon King

Image via South Carolina Women’s Basketball South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are taking their commitment to HBCU women’s basketball to another level. South Carolina will host the inaugural PowHER Player Classic during Thanksgiving weekend in partnership with Rae Rose Media, bringing together four women’s basketball programs — South Carolina, Alabama A&M, North Carolina Central and Tennessee State — for a first-of-its-kind event centered on HBCU basketball and NIL opportunities.  The tournament will take place at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, beginning Saturday, Nov. 28.…

Read More

Former Duke Star Kyle Singler Posts Concerning Videos, Pleads for Help From Coach K

Brandon King

Former NBA player and Duke basketball star Kyle Singler has sparked concern after posting a series of troubling videos to Instagram in which he directly called out his former coach, Mike Krzyzewski, and repeatedly pleaded for help. Singler, 38, posted several videos Tuesday, Aug. 25, appearing to address Krzyzewski, whom he played for at Duke from 2007 through 2011. In one of the videos, Singler accused Krzyzewski of “setting him up” and said he had reached out to his former coach but felt his messages had been dismissed. “Coach K…

Read More

NCAA, FBI Partner to Help Protect College Athletes From Online Sexual Exploitation

Brandon King

As college athletes become increasingly visible online through social media, NIL opportunities and personal branding, the NCAA and FBI are taking steps to help protect them from online sexual exploitation. The organizations announced a partnership Monday focused on educating student-athletes about digital safety, protecting private images and recognizing tactics that could put their personal information and accounts at risk. The effort comes as college athletes have become more prominent targets for online criminals because of their growing social media followings and increased public exposure. Why College Athletes Are Being Targeted…

Read More

Metta World Peace Returns to Los Angeles as Cal State LA Women’s Basketball Associate Head Coach

Brandon King

Metta World Peace is embarking on the next chapter of his basketball career, this time on the sidelines. Cal State LA announced that the former NBA champion and one of the league’s premier defenders has joined its women’s basketball program as Associate Head Coach, adding decades of playing experience and championship pedigree to the Golden Eagles’ coaching staff. Best known for his pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2010 NBA championship run, World Peace spent 17 seasons in the NBA, earning the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year…

Read More

Marcus Spears Jr. Reclassifies to 2026, Commits to Texas

Brandon King

The top-ranked player in ESPN SCNext’s Class of 2027 is headed to Austin sooner than expected. Five-star forward Marcus Spears Jr. has officially reclassified to the Class of 2026 and committed to the University of Texas, he announced Thursday to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi. The move allows Spears to join the Longhorns for the upcoming 2026-27 season rather than waiting another year.   The 6-foot-9 standout from Dynamic Prep (Texas) had been regarded as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2027 class. Following his reclassification, he slots among the elite…

Read More

Kansas Lands Landmark Ripple Jersey Patch Deal Featuring XRP Across All Athletics

Brandon King

The University of Kansas is set to announce a groundbreaking five-year partnership with digital finance company Ripple that will place XRP cryptocurrency jersey patches on uniforms across all Jayhawks athletic programs, according to Sports Business Journal. The agreement is reportedly one of the most lucrative jersey patch deals in college sports history, underscoring the growing commercialization of college athletics in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but sources indicate the deal ranks among the richest patch sponsorships to date. Ripple and its XRP cryptocurrency will…

Read More

Nikola Kusturica Reportedly Commits to UCLA on Historic $12 Million NIL Deal

Brandon King

College basketball’s recruiting landscape may have just changed once again. According to EuroHoops, Serbian basketball sensation Nikola Kusturica has committed to UCLA on a reported two-year, $12 million NIL agreement, making it one of the most lucrative name, image, and likeness deals ever reported for an incoming college basketball player. The 17-year-old FC Barcelona standout reportedly chose the Bruins over several major programs, including Kentucky, in what could become one of the biggest recruiting victories of the NIL era. Multiple outlets have echoed the report, although some recruiting insiders say…

Read More

NCAA President Charlie Baker Says Supreme Court Ruling Will Not Change NCAA Policy on Transgender Athletes

Brandon King

Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state laws restricting participation in girls’ and women’s school sports based on biological sex, NCAA President Charlie Baker says the decision will not result in immediate changes to the association’s transgender athlete policy. Speaking with CBS News’ Face the Nation, Baker said he does not believe the NCAA will need to revise its current rules following the Court’s ruling, signaling that the organization plans to stay the course despite one of the most significant sports governance decisions in recent years. Baker: No…

Read More

Michigan star Syla Swords signs NIL deal with Nike

Brandon King

Michigan star guard Syla Swords has added another major achievement to her rapidly growing résumé, signing a name, image and likeness (NIL) shoe deal with Nike. The partnership makes Swords the first basketball player to join Nike Canada’s NIL roster, marking another milestone for one of the brightest young stars in women’s college basketball. “Nike is always at the forefront of every podium, medal and championship,” Swords said in a statement. “I cannot wait to join a family of winners and role models while I continue to write my story!”…

Read More

Former Tennessee State Basketball Coach Ron Abernathy Dies at 75, Leaving Lasting Legacy Across HBCU Basketball

Brandon King

The Tennessee State basketball family is mourning the loss of former men’s basketball head coach Ron Abernathy, who has passed away at the age of 75. Abernathy, whose coaching career spanned more than five decades, led the Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball from 1991 to 1995 before continuing his successful coaching journey at Lane College, where he became the winningest coach in the program’s history. Most recently, he served as the head coach at Humboldt High School, retiring earlier this year after 12 seasons.   Before his time at Tennessee…

Read More