Tag: HBCU Basketball

FAMU Basketball lands 4-star guard

Brandon King

Charlie Ward and Florida A&M basketball secured a commitment from 4-Star guard Jayden “JJ” Joseph.  He made his announcement Saturday on social media in a post that was, in part, “so close to the top, now they think I ain’t had it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 1️⃣🃏 (@jaydennjoseph) Joseph, a 6-2 guard, averaged 11.0 points, scoring a season high 32 points, and 2.4 rebounds as he helped West Oaks Academy to a 22-12 overall record and 15-1 mark in district play.  The class of 2026…

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SWAC announces time coordinates and location for 2025 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Media Day

Brandon King

The SWAC announced the dates for its 2025 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Media Day. The annual event will take place October 7-8 at the Embassy Suites in Birmingham, Alabama.  Beginning at 10 A.M. on both days, Media Day brings together coaches and a pair of players from each member institution to speak with the media regarding the upcoming 2025-26 season.  The conference will also announce the 2026-26 predicted order of finish for both the men’s and women’s sides.  A complete list of the attending student-athletes will be released at a…

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Ohio Valley Conference announces 2025-26 Basketball Schedule 

Brandon King

The Ohio Valley Conference announced its mens and women’s basketball conference schedule for the 2025-26 season.  Once more, the conference tilt features a 20-game round robin docket amongst the 11 conference members. Each team will play a pair of conference matchups before Christmas; the post-Christmas docket will resume December 30, concluding Saturday, February 28, 2026.  The 2026 Men’s and Women’s OVC Basketball Tournament will take place March 4-7 at Evansville, Indiana’s Ford Center.  Every conference game and home non-conference matchups can be seen on the ESPN family of networks, with…

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Nolan Smith named Tennessee State head coach men’s basketball coach

Brandon King

Friday Tennessee State announced that the school named Nolan Smith its new men’s head basketball coach.  “Nolan Smith is a championship-caliber leader with elite playing experience, high basketball IQ, and a proven track record of developing NBA talent,” said TSU Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen.  “He brings top-tier recruiting connections, a player-first approach, and a deeply authentic bond with today’s student-athletes. Shaped by some of the game’s best, Nolan will lead our program with integrity and impact on the court and in the community. Our future is in great…

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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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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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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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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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