A preview of participating schools
Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the home of the University of Alabama and the regional center of industry, commerce, health care and education for the area locally known as West Alabama. The city of over 111,000 also will host next week the 2025 HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) women’s and men’s basketball postseason tournament (Feb. 25-March 2).
Commissioner Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes told the MSR in an earlier article that the city and conference can’t wait to have Tuscaloosa be the starting point for this year’s March Madness, Black college style.
The HBCUAC was formerly the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference that was founded in 1981. It is the only all-Black conference in the NAIA, and was rebranded last July to its present name to reflect this distinction.
“The new identity set out to showcase the vibrant legacy of its member institutions and share stories of impact at the intersection of heritage and higher education,” declared the conference website whose motto is Where Winners Thrive.
Under Baker Barnes’ leadership, the HBCUAC has expanded to 13 schools, including Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. It secured a historic media rights deal with Urban Edge Network to provide TV screening services for all member schools, and struck a sponsor partnership with Hope Credit Union, the nation’s leading Black and women-owned financial institution.
As a result, the post-season hoops tournament is called the 2025 Hope Credit Union Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. Over the course of six days, two champions will be crowned.
Following is our thumbnail preview of the participating HBCUAC schools and leading scorers in next week’s tournament:
Wiley (TX) College – Tayvion Fisher (men’s), 14.2 ppg; Jessica Nerestant (women’s), 11.1 ppg
Wilberforce (OH) College – Makyla Tucker (women’s), 14.3 ppg; Cali Davis (men’s), 19.7 ppg
Voorhees (SC) University – Ty’Shemia Bunkley (women), 11.0 ppg; Keshawn Evans (men), 17 ppg
Virgin Islands – Ashukamay’ah Phillips (women), 13.1 ppg; Jalil Langston (men), 13.5 ppg
Southern University at New Orleans – Jamal Gibson (men), 23 ppg; Jordan Harris (women), 13.5 ppg
Oakwood (AL) University – Saniya Keys (women), 18.5 ppg; Jordan Bell (men), 15.9 ppg
Dillard (LA) University – Tory Cargo (men), 15.5 ppg; Cassidy Lowe (women), 16.7 ppg
Fisk (TN) University – Keeli Burton-Oliver (women), 11.8 ppg; Doyel Cockrill III (men), 19.9 ppg
Philander Smith (AR) University – Raymond Reece (men), 19.8 ppg; Dasia Turner (women), 14.9 ppg
Stillman (AL) College – Joshua Price (men), 12.7 ppg; Jaida Minter (women), 13 ppg
Talladega (AL) College – Kameron Jones (women), 10.5 ppg; Shaun Walker (men), 13.3 ppg
Tougaloo (MS) College – Rodreckia Parker (women), 11 ppg; Antonio Patterson (men), 13,9 ppg
Rust (MS) College – Jayden Stephens, Johnathon Molierce (men), 12 ppg; Patsy Johnson (women), 14.6 ppg
Stillman guard Brenden Lankford-Johnson (St. Paul) is the only Minnesotan playing in the HBCUAC this season. The 6’3” senior has played in 80 games in three seasons with the Tigers and recorded 557 points, 237 rebounds, 101 assists and 75 steals. He hit a career-high 18 points against Thomas on Feb. 8, 2024.
He is averaging 6.2 ppg this season.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.