Four schools in the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) claimed this week’s women’s basketball awards, while a double winner and a couple of repeaters stood out in the men’s basketball weekly honors. HBCUAC remains the only all-HBCU conference in the NAIA.
Men’s Basketball
Jamal Gibson (Southern) repeated as both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week. Donte Briggs (University of the Virgin Islands) earned his second consecutive Freshman of the Week honor, and teammate Amayoa’ah Phillips claimed his second Newcomer of the Week award of the season, the conference announced on Monday.
Gibson averaged 29 points and 16 rebounds in three contests and is currently on a 49-game double-double streak. Briggs recorded 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals in three games. Phillips averaged 29.5 points per game in two contests last week, including a season-high 33 points against Talladega College.
Other nominees:
- Oakwood: JaMarkus Alexander, Chase Jackson
- Dillard: Khalif Allim, Armond Williams, Tory Cargo
- Fisk: Michael Ashley, Kailon Benton-Hamilton
- Tougaloo: Andre’ Brunt, Antonio Patterson
- Wilberforce: Cali Davis, Jesse Olverson Jr.
- Stillman: Calvin Finch Jr., Joshua Price
- Wiley: Taj Toney, Tayvion Fisher
- SUNO: Gavin Harris
- Virgin Islands: Jalil Langston
Women’s Basketball
Southern’s Jordan Harris is this week’s HBCUAC Offensive Player of the Week. Rust College’s Michaela Payton earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Saniya Keys of Oakwood was named Freshman of the Week. Fisk’s Keeli Burton-Oliver received Newcomer of the Week recognition.
Harris averaged 21.3 points per game in three contests, including two victories. Payton averaged 14 rebounds and four blocks per game across two games, with 9.5 rebounds on the defensive end. Keys tallied two double-doubles in two wins, earning her 11th weekly award. Burton-Oliver posted two 20-plus point games in three contests, shooting nearly 56% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range.
Other nominees:
- Virgin Islands: Kashay Bass, Maliah LaCour
- Stillman: Limaya Batimba, Raena Suggs, Lelia Henderson, Farrah Pearson
- Oakwood: Morgan Bone
- Tougaloo: Makaila Brown, JaSharreah Hunt
- Rust: Talyia Cawthon, Patsy Johnson
- Wiley: Tamia Dolls, Jessica Nerestant
- Wilberforce: Jada Hairston, Makyla Tucker
- Fisk: Kayla Lee, Dee Scott
- Dillard: Cassidy Lowe, Imani Rothschild
- SUNO: Tierra Sylvas, Jakhiya Smith, Kyren Wilson
MEAC Weekly Honors
Kierra Wheeler (Minneapolis) was named Defensive Player of the Week. Her Norfolk State teammate Diamond Johnson and North Carolina Central’s Kyla Bryant were named Co-Players of the Week.
Wheeler averaged 14 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in the Spartans’ two wins. Johnson led NSU with 21 points per game, along with 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 steals, including a 28-point effort. Bryant averaged 27 points, 8.5 assists, and six rebounds in a 1-1 week for the Eagles.
Other top performers:
- Coppin State: Angel Jones, Laila Lawrence
- Delaware State: Mahogany Cottingham
- Howard: Zennia Thomas
- UMES: Mahogany Lester
- North Carolina Central: Shakira Foster, Aysia Hinton
- South Carolina State: Shaunice Reed
Men’s Basketball
Morgan State senior guard Kameron Hobbs is this week’s Player of the Week, while teammate senior forward Daniel Akitoby was named Defensive Player of the Week. Howard freshman Blake Harper earned Rookie of the Week honors.
Hobbs posted a career-high 40 points in a double-overtime win over North Carolina Central and averaged 32 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal for the week. Harper scored 23 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field in a win over Morgan State.
Akitoby grabbed 10 boards, blocked six shots, and had three steals in a double-overtime win over NCCU. He also added 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in a five-point loss to Howard.
Other top performers:
- Coppin State: Toby Nnadozie
- Delaware State: Kaseem Watson, Ponce James
- Howard: Marcus Dockery
- Norfolk State: Jalen Myers
- North Carolina Central: Po’Boigh King, Isaac Parson
- South Carolina State: Omar Croskey