Hardwood Classics
Corie Muhammad breaks down the top HBCU hoops teams.
By Corie Muhammad
What does 1958 NBA rookie of the year Woody Sauldsberry, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, and Rick Mahorn, have in common with NBA all star Ben Wallace, Jerome James, Lydnsey Hunter, Flip Murray, and Hawks guard David Young? They all played their college ball at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). If you found that unexpected, here is another eye opener. There are over 100 HBCU schools in the United States and there are two division one basketball leagues comprised of solely HBCU schools. Those leagues are Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC). Because of the rich tradition and talent pool that these two leagues offer, it’s in the best interest of basketball fans everywhere to rank pre-season top 10.
There are a combined twenty-two schools that make up the SWAC and MEAC conferences, so coming up with a “Top 10” was not easy.
1. Hampton University (MEAC)
The Pirates are coming off of a 3rd place finish in the MEAC last season, winning 8 of its last 12 games. They started four freshmen and a junior. That returning junior just happens to be first team ALL MEAC performer, and team leading scorer Rashad West. Plus they bring back the new comer of the year Mike Freeman. Finally, Coach Nickelberry has brought in the #58th ranked recruiting class. Expect the Pirates to shock someone in the tourney.
2. Mississippi Valley State University (SWAC)
The Delta Devils finished in first place in the SWAC last season, and had to settle for an automatic bid to the NIT due to their ticket to the big dance being taken from them by Jackson State University. They return 14 juniors and seniors including ALL SWAC performer Stanford Speech. With their depth size and experience expect to see Mississippi Valley atop of the SWAC again.
3. Delaware State University (MEAC)
The Hornets finished in first place in the MEAC last season, coming off of 21 wins. They return with their leading scorer and top NBA prospect Roy Bright, who dropped about 16 buckets per game last year. Delaware State University, will be tipping off November 12th against Columbia University in the pre-season NIT to be played on the campus of The Ohio State University. They Hornets could possibly win the MEAC.
4. Grambling State University (SWAC)
The Tigers finished 3rd in the SWAC last season. They return with their leading scorer Andre Ratliff, a combo guard out of Pontiac, Michigan. They have 13 upperclassmen on the roster and Ratliff says he wants more than a 3rd place finish.
5. Florida A&M University (MEAC)
The Rattlers took Second in the MEAC last season. However, new coach Eugene Harris who replaces long time coach Mike Gillespie believes they can do better than that. They return 10 players all who agree with coach.
6. Alcorn State University (SWAC)
The Braves have one of the most stable basketball programs in all of college basketball. Not only was the all time Winningest coach in the SWAC Dave Whitney there 27 years before he retired 5 seasons ago. The lady Braves coach Shirley Walker is entering her 30th year as the head women’s coach. They finished 4th in the SWAC and return a crop of talented players from the Basketball rich state Mississippi.
7. Coppin State University (MEAC)
The Eagles, led by coaching great Fang Mitchell is entering his 21st season as the head men’s basketball coach. He returns five seniors and a very skilled basketball team. Under coach Mitchell Coppin State University recorded more conference championships during the 90’s than any other D-1 program. They have experienced six 20 win seasons out of the last 14. What’s my point? Don’ allow their 8th place MEAC finish last season fool you. They are used to winning and are ready to get back to their old ways.
8. Alabama State University (SWAC)
The Hornets finished 8th in the SWAC last season, but expect that to change. They return an explosive pro prospect, and scoring big guard Andrew Hayles and a seven foot NBA bound, Native American Center, Chief Kickingstallion-sims. Coach Lewis Jackson and his staff beat the recruiting trail and have lofty plans for this year’s team.
9. Morgan State University (MEAC)
The Bears finished 6th in the MEAC last season, they return ALL MEAC tournament team member Baubacar Coly, plus the have 10 players over 6 foot 4. Their most attractive piece however is there coach. Todd Bozeman, a highly talented and respected basketball mind, who can recruit, has done just that. He has brought in 5 highly regarded prospects. Expect the Baltimore boys to make some noise this season.
10. Winston Salem State University (MEAC)
The MEAC new comers are not to be slept on. They return 10 players from last years team that played as an independent in their inaugural year o playing D-1 basketball. They played the toughest schedule in the country last season with only four home games. This North Carolina school has a winning tradition in all sports on the D-2 level and is loaded with talent. Be on the look out for the Rams.
48 Responses to “Hardwood Classics”
Oct.9 at 1:02 pm
Cheryl says:
No NCCU?
Oct.9 at 1:18 pm
Allenp says:
Damn, no Howard. We’ve sucked ass for so long. But still, Go Bison!
Oct.9 at 1:18 pm
Allenp says:
Oh, and this post probably won’t get a whole bunch of comments, but thanks to Slam for expanding it’s boundaries.
Oct.9 at 1:28 pm
Matt Caputo says:
Good call. SLAM is working to broaden our horizons.
Oct.9 at 2:12 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Sh*t we might as well cover it. Even though we don’t have multi-millionaire facilities we still play competitve ball. btw, i’m not the only hbcu person on the slam masthead.
Oct.9 at 2:18 pm
dhope says:
Yall kno VCU is an HBCU (virginia commonwealth universtiy) the team that almost pull a GEORGE MASON in last year NCAA tourney! dont sleep
Oct.9 at 2:20 pm
Captain America says:
Earl the Pearl was terrific. Loved his game.
Oct.9 at 2:22 pm
High School Hoop Junkie says:
Just to think, what if all of the top-ranked blue chip African-American high school ball players chose HBCU programs instead of the “major” programs, the NCAA and college hoop as we know it would be turned upside down.
Oct.9 at 2:54 pm
white hot eboy says:
Matt, good work on getting Corrie’s views up.
Oct.9 at 2:59 pm
Ron says:
Chief Kickingstallion is the best name EVER!!!
Oct.9 at 3:05 pm
Moneyball says:
Good article! Glad to see some history was told as well! Shout out to Coire Muhammad and Matt Caputo!
Oct.9 at 3:10 pm
BETCATS says:
Faytivile State and Shaw all day baby
Oct.9 at 3:10 pm
BETCATS says:
and no Vigirnina Union?
Oct.9 at 3:27 pm
High School Hoop Junkie says:
Gotta agree with you on that Ron, can’t wait to hear the tv announcers saying is name during a game.
Oct.9 at 3:42 pm
RICHARD ALLEN SENIOR LANSING MICHIGAN says:
ABOUT TIME.THANKS CORIE FOR BRINGING THIS UP. WE ARE SO FAR OUT IN THE “PATCH” THAT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT THE EARLY SACRAFICES OF OUR PARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS, GRANDPARENTS,COUSINS FOUGHT FOR-TO KEEP OUR RICH CULTURE PROFITTING BY SUPPORTING OUR OWN. THINK OF THIS-WHAT IF ALL OF THE QUOTE “RIVAL.COM” HIGH PROFILE BLACK ATHLETES WENT TO HBCU/INSTEAD OF DUKE, NORTH CAROLINA, MICHIGAN STATE, OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, FLORIDA, FLORIDA STATE, LSU, USC ETC? HOW MANY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BANNERS WOULD WE HAVE HUNG HIGH IN THE RAFTERS AT HBCU? NOT TO MENTION THE MILLIONS OF FINANCIAL GAINS PAID(WOW)!!!!!!! ANYONE REMEMBER WALTER PAYTON OR DOUG WILLIAMS–PROUD GRADUATES OF HBCU. WELL DONE BROTHER CORIE, WELL DONE.
Oct.9 at 4:08 pm
j-zone says:
nice read, and necessary being these teams don’t get as much national coverage. i remember a kid from white plains high back in the day (93-94) who supposedly went to coppin state. he had big potential but i never heard about him again. i’ll keep on the lookout, good job corie.
Oct.9 at 4:11 pm
Hoop Dreamz says:
Big-ups to SLAM for putting this up… I played for an HBCU even smaller than the ones on this list (Oakwood College, AL). We were an independent program with no money, but it was a great experience… raucous crowd, fine chicks at the games, frat parties, etc. The year after I left, we lost to crosstown Ala. A&M by one, and they made the tournament that year.
Oct.9 at 4:13 pm
Hoop Dreamz says:
And oh yeah, the names of HBCU players are always classic. Our best player (and my mentor) my frosh year was a cat named McKinley Crockett.
Oct.9 at 4:15 pm
Rashad says:
Good discussion. I agree with High School Hoop junkie, I love seeing teams from the HBCU get a little shine. Good article Corey
Oct.9 at 4:18 pm
Hoop Dreamz says:
Stanford Speech… Chief Kickingstallion-sims… Baubacar Coly… Stanford Speech… Chief Kickingstallion-sims… Baubacar Coly… Stanford Speech… Chief Kickingstallion-sims… Baubacar Coly…Stanf
Oct.9 at 4:53 pm
Van Graves says:
Corie, nice to see you doing your thing and getting your name out there. Keep up the excellent work cuz!!
Oct.9 at 6:51 pm
Deano Buycks says:
I dont know that much about hoops(more of a football guy) but i grew up listening to This brother Corie Muhammad and i think that he knows a lil something about hoops.
Oct.9 at 8:12 pm
Chaprie says:
Yeah Brother…this is that deal! Give up for all the HBCUs! can’t wait to see more from you.
Oct.9 at 8:23 pm
Devontae Palmer AKA THE COOL says:
Thanks for the love to my down south teams man. I live in Mississippi and let me tell you, it is dissapointing when no one recognizes the talent that we truly have crackin down here. Now we ain’t no New york or Chicago, but we can ball and we got some ballers in the L right now from Mississippi that doing the damn thing: Monta Ellis(barbosa knows him), Al Jefferson(better get my fantasy stats up man I drafted you!), Justin Reed(chill out on rocks man), Lindsey Hunter(JACKSON STATE STAND UP!), AND MY MAN FROM MURRAH MO WILLIAMS(THE HEAT SHOULD HAVE GAVE YOU MO MONEY PARTNER). Dont forget about the who we got in the SEC as well. Jamont Gordon is going to be a lottery draft pick this year so yall get ready. Mississippi is on the rise like Senator craig in a men’s bathroom. play wit it.
Oct.9 at 8:24 pm
Dr. Spoon says:
Looks and sounds great. Excellent choices and rationale behind you decisions.
Oct.9 at 9:18 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Great stuff, Corie and Matt. Thanks. But dhope, VCU is not an HBCU.
Oct.10 at 8:08 am
Caputo says:
Thank you for all the support.
Oct.10 at 9:40 am
B Short says:
GO AGGIES!!! NCA&T will be back in the MEAC this year, watch out. For whatever its worth VCU is not an HBCU.
I applaud SLAM, you continue to push the basketball world forward, with intelligent commentary. I have been reading SLAM since its inception and I am still just as excited today as I was in my teens to grab the next issue. Highschoolhoops…. I have long said what you have about all of our atheletes returning to HBCU’s. I think it is only a matter of time before we actually see it happen. I think it is really only going to take a few maverick players to start the ball rollin’. I mean it doesn’t get much better than the campus life, and in most cases especially BBALL, you get Major conference games…the football side might take longer, but if the best teams fromt he MEAC and SWAC formed an HBCU super conference we could make that move to D-1A and have a built in fan base established. This would turn the collegiate sports world upside down and generate some interesting balance across the NCAA’s
Oct.10 at 10:56 am
Ben says:
I find Mr. Muhammad’s pre-season break down
not only helpful but insightful and well done.
Keep up the good work, yours is a labor of love.
Oct.10 at 12:27 pm
William O'Brien says:
Thank you Brother for your rankings! The MEAC and SWAC both have a rich tradition of ballers. Please continue to shed light on the contributions of black college atheletics!
hombo and rocko signing out
Oct.10 at 12:45 pm
Big Fitz L.A., Mi says:
Thank you Corie for the coverage of our HBCU’s! We hope SLAM will give you more great stories for u to write and us to read. Thanks SLAM for recognizing a need for the coverage. GO BLUE!
Oct.10 at 2:03 pm
Onaje says:
I’m glad to see that HBCU Basketball is getting the recognition it deserves. It’s a shame that Sport Reporters and Columnist don’t cover HBCU basketball. Articles like this need to be accesible to more HS athletes at an early age.
Oct.10 at 4:44 pm
HPeaks says:
Corie and I coached together in NYC and his views about ball and other topics were always on point. It’s about time for these schools,(HBCU’s), to put a big time push for the athletes on the Conveyor Belt, (read $40 Million Dollar Slaves by William Rhoden), so that they can get an afro-centric view of the new age athletic process. This way, they might be more inclined to give back physically and emotionally, instead of just monetarily or a name on an AAU team.
Oct.10 at 11:17 pm
Mek from L Town says:
Corie…way to break it down. I am expecting to see some great things from the ASU Hornets!! Sing with me Alumi…A for Alabama S-tate, U-niversity…ASU!!!
Oct.11 at 10:38 am
alvin holloway says:
Way to make it happen Corie. I have double love for you L-Town and ASU!!!!!!
Oct.11 at 1:29 pm
NASCAR Girl says:
What, No Howard!!!! I can’t believ that…lol. Corie, wonderful article representing HBCU’s. Thank you for not forgetting our history. “I’m so glad, I went to Howard U!”
Oct.11 at 7:39 pm
Mamaj8578 says:
Corie I’m so proud of you! Keep doing you, basketball and education!
Oct.12 at 11:16 pm
Famoun W. says:
What up Corie. Great article dog! Good looking out for the schools and players who don’t get no love in the main stream media. Proud of you man. Keep doing ya thang!!
Oct.13 at 1:32 am
Stellana says:
Corey I am so proud of you and what really make all this great is I am a women who really loves basketball too so reading this was an enjoyment. Please cue me in if you do any Jason Kidd pieces though he is my favorite. GOOD JOB MY BROTHER!!!!!!!
Oct.13 at 9:14 pm
Mike B says:
Tight piece Corie. A lot off people are sleeping on ASU. They are going to cause some trouble in the SWAC.
Oct.15 at 4:32 pm
a. sam says:
Corie, good piece. I used to see a lot of MEAC ball growing up (Coppin in their heyday, Morgan, Howard) and I work with a couple kids who play in the MEAC right now. One is Ameer Ali, one of those highly-regarded prospects you mentioned, and the other is Isaiah Coleman, a redshirt sophomore coming off a knee injury.
Oct.15 at 4:33 pm
a. sam says:
By the way, Ameer goes to Morgan and Isaiah goes to Norfolk.
Oct.16 at 11:52 am
smclean says:
Well done, glad to know that there is talent @HBCU now it’s time to let the world know, there are alot of good and talent players overseas from HBCU’S. Hey how about a story on them. girlfriday1
Oct.16 at 3:29 pm
Missy Girl and Basil Orange says:
Great story, Corrie. Thanks for the background info; I’m not really in to athletics, but I like to know what’s going on, and you seem to know. Gotta ask one question? Tuskegee University (SWAC) is not listed. What’s up with that, my friend!!!
Oct.17 at 12:45 pm
mike says:
nccu whooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! lmao
Oct.22 at 1:26 am
Angela Watson says:
Love the article Corie!!hehehe
Oct.25 at 2:40 pm
nccueagle says:
No Nccu? good article though…first off, vcu is NOT a hbcu.
I think Hampton will win at least one tourney game..
Jan.28 at 1:33 pm
Elzie Bibbs says:
GO HAMPTON!i!!i!