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
The one-time SWAC averaged 13.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in helping the Tigers win 20 games for the first time in program history and advance to the SWAC Title game.
Brion Whitley | 6’4” |Guard | Southern University
The graft guard averaged 11.8 points per game, with a season-high of 32 points on January 14, 2023, against Grambling.
Joirdon Karl Nicholas | 6’9”| Forward | Texas Southern University
Nicholas was a Preseason All-SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and member of the All-SWAC First Team, and averaged 10.6 points and 8.7 rebounds for the NCAA bound Tigers.
John Walker III | 6’9”| Forward| Texas Southern University
Walker averaged 12.5 points per contest in helping Texas Southern claim their third consecutive SWAC Tournament, scoring 14 in the title game.
Shaun Doss Jr | 6’5”| Guard | University of Arkansas- Pine Bluff
The All-SWAC First Team performer averaged 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21 appearances with a season-high of 32 against Jackson State, on February 6, 2023.
Marcus Garrett | H6’2”| Guard| Bethune-Cookman University
The redshirt senior guard out of Chicago averaged 13.5 points 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season.
Dontrell McQuarter | 6’7” | Forward/Center| Alcorn State University
The senior big man scored a season-high 20 points against Bethune Cookman and helped the Braves capture the regular season SWAC crown and a trip to the NIT.
Will Douglas | 6’5” | Guard | Prairie View A&M University
The SMU graduate transfer averaged 10.2 points 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 25 games this season.
Terry Collins | 6’3’| Guard | Mississippi Valley State University
The November 22 SWAC Player of the Week recorded a season-high 30 points against Arkansas Pine Bluff and averaged 14.7 points and 4.4 assists on the season.
Robert Osbourne | 6’5” | Forward | Virginia Union University
Osborne averaged 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, helping the Panthers to a run to the Atlantic regional in the NCAA D II Tournament.
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield | 6’5”| Forward | Virginia State University
The senior forward averaged 17.0 points and 4.9 rebounds on .449/357./757 splits.
Korey Williams | 6’0” | Point Guard | Lincoln University
The Brooklyn, NY native avergaed 16.8 points 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Lions this season.
Team Dick Barnett
Joe Bryant Jr | 6’4”| Guard | Norfolk State University
The 2021-22 MEAC Player of the Year averaged 17.8 points and 4.4 rebounds as one of the driving forces behind the 2023 MEAC Tournament Champions.
Kris Bankston | 6’9” | Forward | Norfolk State University
Bankston was a key component, averaging 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, in helping the Spartans return to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season.
Isaiah Burke | 6’1” | Guard | Morgan State University
The three-time MEAC Player of the Week and All-MEAC First Team member more than doubled his scoring from last season, 8.6 to 18.7 and also upped his rebounding , 1.7 to 2.3 and assists 1.9 to 2.8.
Brendan Medley-Bacon | 7’0” | Center | North Carolina Central University
The McNeese State graduate transfer averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season.
Sam Sessoms | 6’0” | Guard | Coppin State University
Sessoms was honoured eight times on the season as MEAC Player of the Week; the former Penn State Nittany Lion averaged 20.5 points and 5.0 assists per contest for the Eagles.
Nathaniel Pollard | 6’5” | Forward | University of Maryland Eastern Shore
The Eastern Arizona College grad transfer posted a season-high 23 points against Coppin State January 28, 2023.
Demetric Horton | 6’5” | Guard | North Carolina A&T
Horton averaged 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Aggies.
Marquis Godwin | 6’5” | Guard | Hampton University
Godwin scored a season-high 21 points against Norfolk State on February 4 and averaged 12.5 points on the year.
JR. Clay | 6’0” | Guard | Tennessee State University
The Tennessee Tech transfer led TSU and the Ohio Valley Conference in both scoring at 19.3 ppg and assists with 5.5 apg.
Gregg Boyd | 5’10” | Guard | Tuskegee University
The redshirt senior out of Seat Pleasant, MD averaged 13.0 points and 2.6 assists , exploding for a season-high 40 points against Morehouse.
Kerry Richardson | 6’7” | Forward | Morehouse College
Richardson averages 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Maroon Tigers.
Eleik Bowles | 6’4” | Forward | Savannah State University
The Savannah State senior forward averaged 16.1 points and 4.4 rebounds and was the Tigers ‘ leading scorer.
This year’s iteration will be played in Houston, Texas
