HBCU teams have been doing their best to power through the restrictions of COVID-19. For the teams in the NBA, it has taken so far as to go into a “bubble” that isolates players, restricts visits from family and friends, includes daily tests, and more. With that system being a bit more difficult on the collegiate level, the men’s basketball team at Hampton University has just hit a roadblock. Read below for the unfortunate news regarding one of Hampton’s players.
A positive COVID-19 test has forced Hampton men’s basketball into a pause of team activities, the school announced this week.
Four games have been postponed: two against Campbell earlier this week and two against Winthrop on Sunday and Monday. Makeup dates and a resumption of team activities have yet to be announced.
The player received the positive test two days after returning from two wins over South Carolina-Upstate last week.
“The men’s basketball program will now pause and follow Hampton University COVID-19 protocols,” Hampton director of athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr. said in a release. “The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and those associated with the team are of the utmost importance.”
No players broke team rules over the weekend, Hampton coach Buck Joyner said, and the positive result came as a surprise.
“We test every day,” Joyner said. “We took the test on Saturday when we got back (from South Carolina) and everyone was negative. Sunday the player was positive.”
The team is working through Hampton’s COVID-19 protocols and CDC guidelines with players quarantined and hosting team meetings through Zoom calls.
The next seven to 10 days will determine how quickly Hampton (7-8 overall, 6-4 Big South Conference) can resume its schedule, Joyner said.
“We do a Zoom call and talk every day,” Joyner said. “Other than that, we just have to wait this thing out.”
