Page 9 – HBCU Buzz

Bryce Harris Signs With the Oklahoma City Thunder After Five Loyal Seasons at Howard University

Posted on Jun 27, 2026

Bryce Harris signs with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he earned this shot without ever leaving Howard University.

Howard University standout Bryce Harris signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 25, 2026, after participating in a pre-draft workout with the organization earlier that month. The deal gives him a real opportunity to compete for a roster spot within the reigning NBA champions’ player development system. For Howard basketball, it is the latest chapter in one of the most loyal and accomplished careers the program has seen in decades.

Five Years, One Program, No Looking Back

In an era when the transfer portal has completely reshaped college basketball, Bryce Harris did something increasingly rare. He arrived at Howard in 2021 and stayed all five years, becoming one of the only true program cornerstones in the modern game.

His career began alongside talented teammates Elijah Hawkins and Steve Settle III, who helped lead Howard to a conference championship before both transferred following the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. Harris chose a different path. He stayed, took on a bigger role, and became the face of Howard Bison basketball for the next four seasons.

“Howard embraced me first as a young player,” Harris said. “But also as a young student, from the program to the yard, as we would like to call it, with our student body. There’s a lot of culture on Howard University’s campus that makes you proud to put the jersey on.”

That loyalty paid off. Harris helped Howard reach the NCAA Tournament three times during his career and was part of the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. Head coach Kenneth Blakeney has called him the most important recruit in program history.

A Senior Season for the Record Books

Harris saved his best for last. As a graduate guard during the 2025-26 season, he averaged 17.3 points on 47.9% shooting, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 35 games while connecting on 39% of his 3-point attempts. He led the MEAC in both scoring and rebounding, becoming the second straight Bison — and eighth overall — to win MEAC Player of the Year.

His college résumé reads like a program record book. He was named to the BOXTOROW HBCU All-American First Team, earned All-MEAC First Team and All-Defensive Team honors, picked up six MEAC Defensive Player of the Week awards, and crossed the 1,000-point and 700-rebound milestones for his career. In April, he won the Nolan Richardson Award, presented annually to the Division I player who best represents the heart and soul of his team. Off the court, Harris joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. as a sophomore and served as a student tour guide — staying just as connected to Howard’s campus as he was to its basketball program.

Why Bryce Harris Signs With the Oklahoma City Thunder Now

This is one of the best possible moments for this signing. The Thunder are coming off an NBA championship and have built a reputation for developing young talent into legitimate contributors. Harris had already worked out for the organization before the draft, giving the front office a firsthand look at his game before making the Summer League offer official.

Harris joins a Thunder Summer League roster that includes first-round picks Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, second-round selection Otega Oweh, and a mix of undrafted free agents looking to carve out NBA careers. Oklahoma City opens Summer League play July 4 against the Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City before heading to Las Vegas for matchups against the Lakers, Warriors, and Nuggets.

Part of a Bigger Moment for HBCU Basketball

Harris is not the only HBCU talent finding an NBA home this offseason. Tennessee State’s Aaron Nkrumah signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Denver Nuggets the same week, giving HBCU basketball two players with legitimate opportunities to crack NBA rosters this summer. Both players going undrafted did not close the door — it simply changed the path.

“The pathway from an HBCU to the league is as open as ever,” one ClutchPoints report noted following both signings.

What’s Next

Bryce Harris now heads to Summer League with everything to prove and nothing left to lose. He spent five years building a legacy at the only program that ever believed in him. Now he gets the opportunity to show the league what Howard already knew.

Basketball

Aaron Nkrumah Signs With the Denver Nuggets — and HBCU Basketball Gets Its Moment in the Spotlight

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 27, 2026

Aaron Nkrumah just turned an overlooked college career into an NBA opportunity — and he is not walking through that door alone.

After going unselected in the 2026 NBA Draft, former Tennessee State University guard Aaron Nkrumah signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Denver Nuggets on June 25, 2026, according to ClutchPoints NBA reporter Brett Siegel. The deal gives Nkrumah a real chance to compete for one of Denver’s open two-way roster spots heading into next season. Aaron Nkrumah signs with the Nuggets after a pre-draft run that turned him from a virtual unknown into one of the most talked-about names of the offseason — and his story says everything about the talent HBCUs produce when given the platform to show it.

From the Last Invite to the Draft Combine

Nkrumah’s path to this moment did not come easily.

He almost did not even make it to the NBA’s G League Elite Camp in May. He received a late invitation just days before the event after a spot unexpectedly opened up. Once he got there, he made it impossible to ignore — scoring 31 points and knocking down three 3-pointers across two scrimmage games. That performance earned him a promotion to the NBA Draft Combine, where he held his own against some of the most hyped prospects in the country, measuring 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and an 8-foot-8 standing reach.

“When I scored 22 in the G League combine, that’s when I knew — all right, I could really play with these guys,” Nkrumah said. “I just needed the platform. I just needed the stage to prove that I belong.”

ESPN ranked him 47th on its pre-draft board. ClutchPoints projected him going 45th overall to the Sacramento Kings. On draft night, his name was not called. But undrafted does not mean done — and Nkrumah proved that within hours.

A Winding Road That Led to Tennessee State

Nkrumah’s basketball journey is not a straight line, and that is exactly what makes it compelling.

He started at Quinsigamond Community College before the 2020-21 season was wiped out by COVID-19. He transferred to Nichols College and did not appear in a single game. He transferred again to Worcester State, a Division III program, where everything finally clicked — he averaged 16.9 points per game as a freshman and 20.0 points per game as a sophomore, winning conference Player of the Year honors both seasons.

Rather than settle for Division III stardom, Nkrumah bet on himself again and entered the transfer portal, landing at Tennessee State for the 2024-25 season. The jump from Division III to Division I basketball humbled him at first. “The biggest growing pains I had making a jump from D-III to D-I was the physicality and understanding for the game,” he said. He averaged 10.9 points his first year with the Tigers, then exploded in 2025-26 — averaging 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per game while leading Tennessee State to a 23-10 record, a share of the OVC regular-season title, and the program’s first OVC Tournament championship since 1994. The Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years, where Nkrumah dropped 21 points against No. 2 seed Iowa State.

Ending an HBCU Drought That Goes Back to 2012

What makes Aaron Nkrumah’s signing with the Nuggets resonate so deeply within the HBCU community is the history attached to it. No HBCU player has been selected in the NBA Draft since Norfolk State center Kyle O’Quinn went 49th overall to the Orlando Magic back in 2012 — nearly 15 years ago. Tennessee State and Jackson State remain tied for the most all-time NBA draft picks among HBCUs with 23 each, though neither program has produced a draftee since the mid-1990s.

Joshua Bone, a former Tennessee State assistant who recruited Nkrumah and now coaches at Middle Tennessee State, did not hold back about what the lack of attention says about scouting priorities. “A lot of these scouts — they know what they’re doing, but they’d rather go to the Tennessees or Kentucky and Dukes to find these guys,” Bone said. “But he just sheds light on HBCUs, and you never know what you’re going to get, so you can get a steal.”

Bryce Harris Joins the Moment Too

Nkrumah’s signing was not the only HBCU breakthrough that day. Howard University guard Bryce Harris also agreed to a Summer League deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving HBCU basketball two fresh names heading to Las Vegas this July. Both players will have the opportunity to make their case on a national stage during NBA Summer League.

What Comes Next

Nkrumah now follows a familiar Tennessee State path. Robert Covington went undrafted in 2013, signed with the Houston Rockets, and built an 11-year NBA career that included All-Defensive First Team honors. Nkrumah is hoping to write a similar story — and the same Tennessee State lineage that produced Hall of Famer Dick Barnett and All-Star Anthony Mason is rooting for him to get there.

The undrafted path is not the path anyone dreams about on draft night. But for Aaron Nkrumah, and for HBCU basketball as a whole, it is a door that just swung open. He plans to make the most of it.

Sports

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Signature Sneaker Just Got an HBCU Makeover

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

The Ken Griffey Jr HBCU sneaker connection is officially here, and it’s a sharp tribute to an event that’s become a staple of Black college baseball.

Nike is bringing back Griffey’s iconic Air Griffey Max 1 in a brand-new colorway built around the spirit of the HBCU Swingman Classic, the annual MLB showcase event Griffey himself founded. According to sneakerbardetroit.com, the newly surfaced “HBCU Swingman Classic” edition blends Midnight Navy, teal, white, and Team Gold, a palette that closely mirrors the uniforms worn during the event.

Historically Black colleges and universities have long shaped culture, style, and sport, often without the spotlight they deserve. This release suggests that influence is finally stepping further into the mainstream.

What Makes the HBCU Swingman Classic Sneaker Stand Out

From a design standpoint, the shoe leans heavily into Midnight Navy, which dominates the upper, tongue, and molded sections. That dark base gives the brighter accent colors room to pop with real intention.

Beneath the overlays, white leather panels bring contrast to the build, but with a twist this time around. Tonal lace embroidery stretches across the base, adding texture to a part of the shoe typically left plain. Nike hasn’t explained the detail publicly, which leaves some room for fans and sneakerheads to speculate about its meaning.

Teal lands on the Swoosh and midsole, a clear nod to Griffey’s Seattle Mariners roots. Team Gold highlights the laces, lace loops, additional branding, and the iconic No. 24, the number Griffey wore throughout his Hall of Fame career. Together, the colorway creates a blend of influences: part Seattle nostalgia, part HBCU tribute.

Nike Air Griffey Max 1 Hbcu Swingman Classic

Why This Particular Tribute Matters

The Air Griffey Max 1 has remained a steady presence in Nike’s retro rotation for years. Rarely, though, does a colorway invite such a direct connection to a specific event, particularly one rooted in HBCU culture and representation.

That duality is what makes this release stand out from typical retro drops. The sneaker becomes more than a simple throwback. It functions as a bridge between Griffey’s legacy on the baseball field and his impact well beyond it, specifically through an event designed to expand opportunity for Black players in a sport where their numbers have steadily declined.

The Event Behind the Tribute

Griffey founded the HBCU Swingman Classic to create a national stage for HBCU baseball talent, and the event has grown into one of MLB’s most visible platforms for Black college players. Just days before this sneaker news broke, MLB officially announced the 50-man roster for the fourth annual Classic, continuing a tradition that’s given dozens of HBCU athletes exposure to professional scouts they might not otherwise receive.

That timing isn’t coincidental. Nike appears to be using the sneaker release to amplify the same week MLB rolled out its roster announcement, tying retail buzz directly to on-field opportunity for HBCU players.

What’s Next for the Release

Release details remain unconfirmed at this point, but the pair is expected to carry a $180 price tag based on current reporting. Sneaker collectors and HBCU fans alike will likely be watching closely for an official Nike confirmation and drop date.

Whether or not Griffey personally had input on the colorway, the tribute lands at a moment when interest in HBCU baseball, and the players coming through its programs, continues to build. A pair of retro sneakers won’t single-handedly close MLB’s diversity gap. Still, when one of the league’s most recognizable signature shoes wears HBCU colors, it adds one more visible thread connecting Black college sports to the mainstream sneaker and sports culture conversation.

Basketball

Tennessee State Aaron Nkrumah Could End a 15-Year NBA Draft Drought for HBCU Players

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

Aaron Nkrumah NBA Draft buzz is building fast, and the timing couldn’t be more significant for HBCU basketball.

Tennessee State guard Aaron “AK” Nkrumah didn’t expect to even attend the NBA’s G League draft combine in May. He received a late invitation days before the event after a spot opened up. Once there, he impressed scouts with his athleticism, versatility, and hustle, earning a promotion to the NBA draft combine and transforming overnight from an under-the-radar prospect into a name on actual draft boards.

“When I scored 22 in the G League combine, that’s when I knew — ‘All right, I could really play with these guys,'” Nkrumah told Andscape. “I just needed the platform. I just needed the stage to prove that I belong.”

It’s been nearly 15 years since an HBCU player heard their name called on draft night. The Orlando Magic selected Norfolk State center Kyle O’Quinn with the 49th overall pick back in 2012. Now, after working out with more than half the league’s teams, Nkrumah stands on the verge of ending that drought during this week’s 2026 NBA Draft in New York.

A Winding Road From Outdoor Courts to Division I

Nkrumah’s path to this moment looks nothing like a typical draft prospect’s résumé. The Worcester, Massachusetts, native started out playing pickup ball at outdoor parks and didn’t join an organized team until middle school. He began his college career at Nichols College, a Division III school in his home state, before transferring to Worcester State for the 2022-23 season.

That move paid off immediately. In his first season at Worcester State, Nkrumah averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game and earned Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors. He followed that up by bumping his scoring average to 20.0 points per game and repeating as conference Player of the Year.

Rather than settle, he entered the transfer portal hoping to prove he belonged at the Division I level. Former Tennessee State head coach Brian “Penny” Collins and assistant Joshua Bone Jr. recruited him, and Nkrumah made the jump to the historically Black university for the 2024-25 season.

Finding His Footing at an HBCU

The transition from Division III to Division I basketball wasn’t seamless. “The biggest growing pains I had making a jump from D-III to D-I was the physicality and understanding for the game,” Nkrumah said. “I just had to embrace all the information coaches are giving me while trying to produce, so it was a lot to soak in.”

Bone, now an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State, watched that adjustment happen up close. He remembers Nkrumah delivering powerful dunks in practice that stopped the gym cold, and he saw a combination of athleticism and leadership that set Nkrumah apart from his teammates. “He trains like he has something to prove from day one,” Bone said. “He’s always been the hardest worker on the team.”

In his first season at Tennessee State, Nkrumah averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, crediting Collins with sharpening his basketball IQ.

A Coaching Change That Could Have Derailed Everything

When Collins left Tennessee State in the summer of 2025 to join the Memphis Grizzlies, Nkrumah faced a decision many transfer players confront: stay or leave again. He chose to stay, along with several teammates, to play under new head coach Nolan Smith, a former Trail Blazers guard who won a national championship with Duke in 2010.

“Everyone enjoyed playing with each other, so we all decided to stay and play for each other,” Nkrumah said. “We were really bought in to what he has to offer and obviously his championship DNA.”

That decision turned into the best season of Nkrumah’s career. Playing under Smith, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, earning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors and leading the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1994. He scored 21 points against No. 2 seed Iowa State in that tournament run.

A Coach’s Frustration With How Scouts Overlook HBCU Talent

Smith didn’t hold back when discussing how late Nkrumah’s recognition came. He called the last-minute combine invitation nearly disrespectful, given everything Nkrumah had already accomplished.

“That to me was almost disrespectful to HBCUs and the talent at HBCUs, that a guy like Aaron Nkrumah gets overlooked,” Smith said. “But it’s OK — it’s all part of his story.” Bone echoed that frustration from a different angle: “I think a lot of these scouts — they know what they’re doing, but they’d rather go to the Tennessees or Kentucky and Dukes to find these guys. But he just sheds light on HBCUs, and you never know what you’re going to get, so you can get a steal.”

What’s at Stake on Draft Night

Nkrumah enters the 2026 draft as a second-round prospect with realistic two-way contract potential. If selected, he would add to a proud but quiet legacy. Tennessee State and Jackson State are tied for the most NBA draft picks among HBCUs, with 23 each — though neither program has produced a draftee since the mid-1990s.

He plans to spend draft night with family in his hometown of Worcester, fully aware of what the moment would mean beyond his own career. “It would be a dream come true,” Nkrumah said. “It will just let you know, if you can play [high-level basketball], they will find you.”

For an HBCU basketball landscape still searching for its next true breakthrough story, Aaron Nkrumah’s name getting called this week wouldn’t just be a personal victory. It would be proof that the talent pipeline scouts keep overlooking has been there all along.

Football

Terron Armstead’s Saints Hall of Fame Moment Comes With a Message for HBCU Athletes

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Terron Armstead HBCU pride was on full display this week, and it arrived at one of the biggest moments of his football life.

Armstead was named to the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, a well-earned honor for one of the most accomplished offensive linemen of his era. But rather than keep the spotlight on himself, the newly minted Hall of Famer used part of his moment to speak directly to current HBCU athletes chasing the same dream he once pursued.

A Direct Message From the Top

In his speech following the announcement, Armstead paused to address HBCU players specifically. “The dream is not out of reach. It’s obtainable. It’s hard. But I think that’s the beauty of it that makes the story worth telling,” he said.

That message carries weight because of where Armstead’s own story started. He didn’t arrive at his Hall of Fame moment through a conventional path, and his words reflect a genuine understanding of what HBCU athletes are up against when they set their sights on professional football.

From Pine Bluff to the NFL

Armstead built his college career at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he stood out both on the football field and in track and field. His combination of consistent All-SWAC recognition and an elite physical profile eventually caught the attention of NFL scouts, and the New Orleans Saints selected him in the third round of the draft.

From there, Armstead developed into one of the premier left tackles in the league, anchoring the Saints’ offensive line for years and building a résumé strong enough to earn this week’s Hall of Fame nod. His path from a small HBCU program to one of the most respected positions in professional football makes him a clear example of what’s possible when a player gets a real opportunity to be evaluated.

Why HBCU Scouting Still Lags Behind

Armstead’s success highlights a persistent challenge in NFL scouting. The cliché often repeated to HBCU prospects is simple: if you can play, they’ll find you. In practice, that’s only true to a point. The number of players selected from FCS programs, including HBCUs, has continued to shrink, exposing a real gap in how thoroughly these prospects get evaluated.

Part of the problem stems from how some scouts approach HBCU talent in the first place. There’s a lingering assumption among evaluators that if a player were truly good enough, he would have transferred to a bigger program at some point in his career. That assumption overlooks why many talented players choose to stay, whether out of loyalty to their program, comfort with their coaching staff, or a genuine desire to represent their school and community.

The players who do make it through tend to be the absolute best of the best, the rare prospects whose talent is impossible to ignore even with limited exposure. But there’s a wider group of players, those who may not be elite but carry legitimate developmental upside, who rarely get the same chance. A late-round flier based on physical tools and projection is common for small-school prospects elsewhere; it’s far less common for HBCU players.

The Bigger Pattern Worth Watching

That scouting gap has real consequences. As Power 4 programs continue to pull top recruits and transfer targets, more talented players are leaving HBCUs earlier in their careers, drawn by greater visibility and stronger pipelines to professional scouts. That trend, while understandable from an individual player’s standpoint, threatens to thin out the talent pool that built programs like Pine Bluff’s into proving grounds in the first place.

Armstead’s story argues against giving up on that pipeline. His example suggests that the right player, given the right opportunity, can rise from an HBCU roster all the way to a professional Hall of Fame, regardless of what program logo sits on his helmet during his college years.

Whether his words land the way he intends remains to be seen. But coming from a now-decorated NFL veteran with a Hall of Fame plaque to his name, the message carries real authority. If his story and his encouragement push more HBCU athletes to stay the course, and more NFL teams to take HBCU evaluation seriously, it could mark a meaningful shift in how the league approaches an entire tier of college football talent that’s too often overlooked.

Bands

Texas Southern’s Ocean of Soul Lands in Vogue on Juneteenth

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

The Texas Southern Ocean of Soul Vogue feature is here, and the timing makes the moment even bigger than the headline suggests.

On Juneteenth, Texas Southern University’s famed “Ocean of Soul” marching band graced the pages of Vogue. The Houston HBCU’s band appears in the magazine’s article titled “Lone Star State of Mind: Snapshots of Texas Today,” part of the 2026 Summer issue that hit newsstands the same day. The spread features the band’s full ensemble, including the drum majors and the Motion of the Ocean dance team.

Why the Timing Matters

This wasn’t a coincidence. Juneteenth carries deep significance in Texas, particularly in the Galveston and Houston areas. June 19, 1865, marks the day enslaved people in Galveston first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed it. Galveston sits nearly 50 miles south of Texas Southern’s campus, placing the university in the very region where the holiday now recognized nationwide originated.

The feature also landed during Black Music Month, the June observance celebrating Black musical heritage and its lasting imprint on American culture. Vogue’s decision to spotlight the Ocean of Soul on this particular date wasn’t incidental — it tied a historic HBCU institution directly to the place and moment that gave Juneteenth its meaning.

Texas Southern University President J.W. Crawford III spoke to the significance of the placement. “This moment does not just belong to our students and the University, but to Houston and to every HBCU in this country,” Crawford said. “To be in Vogue is incredible, and for this to happen on Juneteenth, in the region where Juneteenth began, is revelational.”

A Band Already Used to the Spotlight

This recognition caps a stretch of national exposure that few college bands have matched. Under director Brian Simmons, now in his fifth year and entering his sixth season, the Ocean of Soul has performed at WrestleMania and become a fixture of Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans.

Perhaps most notably, the band accompanied Beyoncé Knowles-Carter during her Beyoncé Bowl halftime performance on Christmas Day 2024, one of the year’s most-watched sporting events, drawing a global audience of more than 27 million viewers. The Ocean of Soul also shared a stage with Grammy winner Lizzo at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, further cementing its reputation as one of the most in-demand HBCU bands in the country.

Simmons reflected on what the Vogue feature means in the context of that broader journey. “Every time we step onto a new stage, we carry the legacy of every student who has worn this uniform,” Simmons said. “There are no words that are adequate for what it means to see our students in the pages of Vogue, on Juneteenth. This is what we built this for. It is what our students prepare for daily.”

Inside the Ocean of Soul

Founded in 1969, the Ocean of Soul comprises more than 200 members who travel to Houston from across the country to join the program. Under Simmons’ direction, the band has built a reputation for having one of the best sounds in the SWAC. Its variation of field shows and musical repertoire makes it a consistent favorite among fans in the stands at football and basketball games, with a technical sound defined by heavy bass tones and crisp precision drills.

According to the university’s announcement, Vogue shot the band on location at TSU’s campus and at its Alexander Durley Sports Complex in Houston, documenting the band as part of a broader visual story about the state of Texas. Photographer Tyler Mitchell led the shoot alongside stylist Carlos Nazario. Mitchell holds his own historic distinction in fashion media, having become the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover in 2018, and he’s built much of his career around photographing Black cultural subjects for the magazine. A documentary tied to the shoot is expected to premiere on Vogue’s YouTube channel.

What This Means for HBCU Bands

Moments like this carry weight beyond a single magazine feature. HBCU marching bands have long been cultural institutions in their own right, blending musicianship, choreography, and tradition into performances that rival professional entertainment. Yet mainstream fashion and culture publications have historically given that world limited space.

Vogue’s choice to feature the Ocean of Soul, on Juneteenth, in the region where the holiday began, signals a different kind of recognition. It places HBCU band culture within the same visual conversation as high fashion and national identity, rather than treating it as a niche sports sidebar.

The feature is available in Vogue’s Summer 2026 print edition and online. Texas Southern has invited supporters to back the band through its High Tide giving campaign, giving fans a direct way to contribute to the program responsible for one of the more remarkable HBCU cultural moments of the year.

Basketball

Duncan Powell Acquitted of Domestic Violence Charges Ahead of NBA Draft Push

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Duncan Powell domestic violence charges came to a close this week, ending a legal battle that threatened to overshadow one of the most significant HBCU basketball journeys of the modern recruiting era.

On June 17, a Rhode Island judge found the former Providence forward not guilty on two misdemeanor domestic violence charges following a three-day bench trial. The verdict closes a case that began in March, when Powell was arrested after an incident involving his ex-girlfriend.

How the Case Unfolded

Providence police charged Powell with domestic violence-simple assault and domestic violence-disorderly conduct after a March 28 incident. According to the allegations, a woman claimed she suffered a knee injury after Powell threw a water bottle during an argument at his Providence apartment.

The situation expanded hours later into a second police investigation in nearby Cranston. Reports indicated the woman alleged Powell tracked her to another residence and made threats involving a firearm. That charge was dismissed in May, well before the trial on the remaining Providence counts.

Powell pleaded not guilty from the outset and maintained his innocence throughout the legal process. Following this week’s trial, he was acquitted of the remaining charges as well, closing the case entirely.

From Groundbreaking HBCU Recruit to Power Conference Contributor

Powell’s path to this trial began with one of the more notable commitments in recent HBCU basketball history. When he signed with North Carolina A&T in 2021, the four-star prospect from DeSoto, Texas, arrived in Greensboro as the highest-ranked American-born basketball recruit ever to commit to an HBCU program. At the time, Powell said he wanted to build on the legacy of his cousin, Adrian Powell, a member of the Aggies’ 2013 MEAC championship team. “Just carrying on his legacy. Filling up his shoes, times two,” Powell said. “I’m just ready to get there and dominate.”

A knee injury forced Powell to redshirt his first season at NC A&T, but he emerged as one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s top young forwards in 2022-23, averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds and earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors.

From there, Powell became one of the more recognizable names moving through the transfer portal. He led Sacramento State in scoring and rebounding during the 2023-24 season, then moved to Georgia Tech, where he developed into one of the ACC’s most productive sixth men, averaging 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 36% from three-point range. He transferred to Providence for his final collegiate season while simultaneously exploring NBA Draft opportunities. That’s when the legal proceedings began, shifting much of the public conversation away from his game.

The Reality of Public Allegations and Legal Outcomes

Athletes facing criminal accusations often discover that public attention moves faster than the legal system does. Even when charges are dismissed or a defendant is acquitted, the reputational impact can linger well past the verdict. Powell’s case played out publicly during a critical stretch of his basketball career, when nearly every game and interview carried added scrutiny.

History offers several comparable cases. Former Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman saw his draft stock collapse after sexual assault allegations surfaced ahead of the 2016 NFL Draft; a Texas jury found him not guilty in 2019, but the years lost during litigation altered his career path. Former Ohio State defensive backs Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint were dismissed from their program in 2020 after rape and kidnapping allegations, then later acquitted once trial evidence contradicted key claims. Brian Banks remains perhaps the most cited example: his football career was effectively ended by a plea deal tied to allegations later proven false, and he didn’t receive exoneration until after serving prison time.

An acquittal does not retroactively prove every allegation was fabricated. It means prosecutors did not meet the legal burden required for a conviction. For athletes whose careers hinge on timing, though, the consequences of public allegations frequently arrive long before any legal resolution does.

Unverified Claims Around NIL Add a New Wrinkle

After the verdict, Powell’s father, D.J. Powell, made additional claims in an interview with GoLocalProv. He alleged that Providence College wanted the charges to result in a conviction because a conviction would have voided portions of his son’s NIL agreement. “It was Providence College that wanted the case to stick,” D.J. Powell said. “Because if the charges stuck, Duncan would be in violation of his NIL agreement.” He further claimed the school remains obligated to fulfill the rest of Powell’s NIL compensation following the acquittal.

It’s important to note these are unverified allegations from Powell’s father, not confirmed facts. Providence did not publicly respond to the claims. Duncan Powell himself later distanced from his father’s remarks on social media, writing: “He is not my spokesperson for me or my family. I have not spoken to him about this matter.” That statement leaves the NIL claims unresolved while signaling that Powell intends to control his own public narrative going forward.

What Comes Next

With the legal proceedings concluded, attention shifts back to where it stood before March: Powell’s NBA Draft prospects. His college career included stops at NC A&T, Sacramento State, Georgia Tech, and Providence, a journey that took him from a groundbreaking HBCU signing to a Power 4 contributor with legitimate professional aspirations.

Whether NBA teams treat the case as fully closed remains to be seen. What’s certain is that one of the most significant HBCU basketball recruits of the modern recruiting era now gets the chance to have his future decided on the court rather than in a courtroom.

Entertainment

Tay Keith, the Producer Who Brought HBCU Culture to a Global Stage, Has Died at 29

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Tay Keith’s connection to HBCU culture and Beyoncé’s biggest homecoming-inspired hit will remain part of his legacy, following news of his death this week.

The Grammy-nominated producer, born Brytavious Chambers, died at age 29. Nashville police discovered him at his apartment on June 18 during a welfare check and indicated there was no suspicion of foul play. As of this writing, the cause of death has not been determined and remains pending autopsy results. News of his passing sent shockwaves through the music industry, with tributes pouring in from artists across hip-hop.

The Memphis native built a career producing chart-topping records for artists including Drake, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and Beyoncé, establishing himself as one of the most influential hip-hop producers of his generation.

An HBCU Connection Built Through His Work, Not His Alma Mater

It’s worth noting upfront: Tay Keith did not attend an HBCU himself. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, graduating in December 2018. His tie to HBCU culture came entirely through his production work, specifically one of the most celebrated songs of the last decade.

In 2019, Beyoncé released her version of “Before I Let Go” as part of her acclaimed Homecoming project. The track quickly became a fan favorite and served as a musical extension of the HBCU-inspired performance that defined her historic Coachella set. Tay Keith was among the producers credited on that track, helping shape a modern reinterpretation of the Frankie Beverly and Maze classic.

Where HBCU Culture Entered the Picture

For the HBCU community, one of the most memorable parts of “Before I Let Go” arrived before Beyoncé even started singing. The track’s opening chant sampled the energy of a Winston-Salem State University gathering, capturing the voice of Winston-Salem State alumnus and entertainer B Daht. That crowd participation, originally a moment of pure HBCU joy, became part of a song heard around the world.

That sample represented far more than a clever production choice. It captured the spirit of HBCU homecoming culture and introduced millions of listeners to traditions, energy, and community that define Black college life. Beyoncé’s Homecoming project as a whole celebrated marching bands, step shows, dance lines, and the broader cultural influence of HBCUs, and Tay Keith’s production work helped bring that vision to life on one of the project’s most recognizable songs.

A Legacy That Reaches Beyond the Studio

Tay Keith’s producer tag became synonymous with hit records throughout the streaming era. His sound helped shape the direction of modern hip-hop, and his work earned him recognition across the music industry over the course of his career.

For many in the HBCU community specifically, though, his legacy carries an additional layer. His role in helping bring HBCU homecoming culture to a global audience through Beyoncé’s Homecoming era ensured that the sounds, traditions, and pride of Black college life reached far beyond campus gates, into the ears of millions who may have never set foot on an HBCU campus.

That connection between a Memphis-born producer and the energy of a Winston-Salem State homecoming will remain part of how the HBCU community remembers him.

Football

Ian Wheeler Signs With the Buffalo Bills After a Championship UFL Season

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Ian Wheeler Buffalo Bills news broke Thursday, and it marks another chapter in one of the more compelling comeback stories in recent HBCU football.

The Buffalo Bills announced that they signed Wheeler, a former Howard University standout, to a one-year deal. The move comes fresh off a breakout season with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League, where Wheeler helped author one of the league’s most dramatic championship runs.

A Championship Run That Changed Everything

Wheeler’s path back to the NFL started with a dominant UFL campaign. He rushed for 541 yards on 85 carries across 11 games with Louisville, and along the way, he set a UFL single-game record with four rushing touchdowns in an April 26 contest. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a league increasingly used as a proving ground for NFL hopefuls.

Wheeler saved his best for the biggest stage. In the United Bowl championship game, he broke off a 44-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave Louisville the lead for good in a 27-20 win over the D.C. Defenders. He finished the title game with 81 rushing yards on 10 carries and walked away with United Bowl MVP honors.

From Howard University to the NFL

Wheeler’s HBCU roots run deep. He played at Howard University from 2019 through 2023, developing into one of the most explosive players in HBCU football during that stretch. He finished his college career with nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards and set a school record by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. Along the way, he helped Howard capture back-to-back MEAC championships.

What set Wheeler apart, though, extended well beyond the field. He earned a 3.57 cumulative GPA at Howard, picked up MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team honors, and was accepted into Howard University’s College of Medicine in 2023. That combination of athletic and academic achievement made him one of the more notable success stories to come through the program in recent years.

A Rocky Path to This Opportunity

Wheeler’s road to Buffalo hasn’t been straightforward. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, he signed with the Chicago Bears and quickly turned heads in training camp, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns across two preseason games. One of those strong outings came against the very team that just signed him.

Then injury struck. Wheeler tore his ACL during the Bears’ third preseason game in 2024 and was later released with an injury settlement. He spent time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad in 2025 before landing with Louisville in the UFL, where his championship-winning season ultimately rebuilt his case for another NFL shot.

What Comes Next

Buffalo announced that Wheeler will wear No. 27 as he joins the roster. For a player who started his collegiate career at an HBCU walk-on and has since become a UFL champion, United Bowl MVP, and now an NFL signee, the journey reflects exactly the kind of perseverance that defines so many HBCU-to-pro success stories.

Whether Wheeler earns a permanent roster spot in Buffalo remains to be determined. Still, his path back to the league after a serious injury setback offers a clear reminder that talent developed at HBCU programs continues to find its way onto NFL rosters, even when the route there isn’t a straight line.

Basketball

Khadijah Rushdan Builds a Battle-Tested Staff to Lead Delaware State Basketball

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Khadijah Rushdan Delaware State plans are taking shape fast, and the new head coach isn’t wasting time assembling a staff built for immediate competitiveness.

Delaware State announced Friday that Rushdan has completed her coaching staff, bringing in a mix of HBCU veterans and experienced assistants as she begins what the university is already calling the “Rushdan era” for Hornets women’s basketball.

Who Joins the New Staff

Rushdan’s hires reflect a clear strategy: surround herself with coaches who already understand the demands of HBCU and MEAC competition. Alishia Mosley joins after serving as head coach at both Cheyney and Lincoln (Pa.), giving her direct experience leading programs at the conference level. Mosley spent the 2025-26 season as Lincoln’s interim head coach and previously held dual roles as athletic director and women’s basketball coach at Cheyney, experience that speaks to her range as both an administrator and a coach.

Cherrelle Dennis returns to Delaware State after previously serving as an assistant coach there. A former standout player and assistant at LUPA, Dennis worked under both E.C. Hill and Jazmone Turner before stepping away following the 2024-25 season. She’ll also take on the role of director of operations, giving her a hand in the program’s daily structure beyond the bench.

Lou Hamilton, who previously served as Shaw’s interim head coach, rounds out the experienced tier of new hires. Adding a coach with recent head-coaching experience elsewhere strengthens the staff’s collective basketball IQ heading into a competitive MEAC slate.

Fresh Energy to Round Out the Group

Rushdan also brought in newer voices to balance the staff’s experience. Skyler Delgado joins as a veteran assistant, most recently serving as a graduate assistant with Providence College’s women’s basketball program after earlier stops with the Oral Roberts men’s program and Division III and JUCO positions in Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Kaliya Garcia was hired as the program’s executive assistant, rounding out the staff’s day-to-day operations.

Together, the group blends head-coaching pedigree with hungry up-and-coming assistants, a common formula for programs looking to rebuild quickly without sacrificing institutional knowledge.

Why This Staff Matters for Delaware State

Delaware State women’s basketball has had its share of ups and downs in recent years, and the program is looking to return to consistent MEAC contention. Building a staff with this much combined head-coaching and HBCU-specific experience gives Rushdan a strong foundation to work from in year one.

Mosley and Hamilton both arrive with recent head-coaching reps, which means they understand the pressure and pace of leading a program rather than simply supporting one. That kind of experience tends to pay off quickly, particularly in recruiting and in-game adjustments where head-coaching instincts matter most.

Dennis’ return adds continuity, too. Coaches who already know a program’s culture, administration, and player relationships from the inside often accelerate the rebuilding timeline compared to an entirely new staff learning the landscape from scratch.

What’s Next for the Hornets

With the staff now complete, attention turns to roster building and preparing for the MEAC season ahead. Rushdan inherits a program with real potential in a conference that’s actively expanding its sports offerings and investment in women’s athletics, exactly the kind of environment where a strong coaching staff can make an immediate impact.

The Hornets won’t take the court for months, but the foundation Rushdan has built suggests a program serious about competing right away rather than treating this as a rebuilding year in name only.

Sports

MEAC Adds Women’s Flag Football and Golf as Championship Sports

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

MEAC women’s flag football is officially here, and it arrives as part of a bigger expansion for women’s athletics across the conference.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced this week that women’s flag football and women’s golf will become championship sports starting with the 2026-27 athletic year. The addition brings the MEAC’s total sport offerings to 16, with full championship formats and other details expected later.

A Strategic Expansion for the Conference

MEAC commissioner Sonja Stills framed the announcement as part of a broader commitment to growing opportunities for student-athletes. “The addition of women’s flag football and women’s golf represents an exciting step forward for the MEAC and our member institutions,” Stills said. “As we continue to create meaningful opportunities for student-athletes, these sports further strengthen our commitment to supporting the growth of women’s athletics, while enhancing the championship experience across our conference.”

That language reflects a larger trend across college athletics. Specifically, women’s flag football has been gaining serious institutional momentum nationwide, and the MEAC’s move puts the conference ahead of that curve rather than playing catch-up.

2024 GOTG Flag Football Photo Copy 78 1080x570 1

Why Flag Football’s Addition Is a Bigger Deal Than It Looks

Adding women’s flag football isn’t just a conference-level decision happening in isolation. The sport now holds NCAA Emerging Sport status, with the potential for a national championship as early as spring 2028. It’s also been added to the 2028 Olympic Games, which has accelerated interest and investment at the collegiate level nationwide.

With this move, the MEAC becomes the second HBCU conference to offer women’s flag football as a championship sport, joining the CIAA. Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State already field women’s flag football programs in the SWAC, and Florida Memorial competes at the NAIA level. As a result, HBCU conferences now sit in a genuinely competitive position as the sport scales toward Olympic and NCAA championship status, rather than catching up once the infrastructure is already built elsewhere.

Women’s Golf Already Has Momentum

Unlike flag football, which is brand new to the conference, women’s golf arrives with existing competitive success already on the board. Howard claimed the Northeast Conference championship this past spring, with North Carolina Central and Maryland Eastern Shore also finishing in the NEC’s top five.

That existing talent pool gives the MEAC a head start. Rather than building a golf championship from nothing, the conference is formalizing recognition for programs that have already proven they can compete and win against a broader field of competitors.

What This Means for Student-Athletes

For prospective student-athletes, this expansion opens real doors. More championship sports mean more scholarship opportunities, more roster spots, and more pathways into college athletics specifically through HBCU programs. It also means more visibility for women’s sports across the conference at a moment when investment in women’s athletics is growing nationally.

For the MEAC as a whole, this move signals an intent to stay ahead of where college athletics is heading rather than reacting to it. Both flag football and golf are sports with real growth trajectories, and getting in early positions MEAC schools to benefit as those sports continue to expand.

The conference says specific championship formats will be announced later, but the foundation is set. Two new sports, sixteen total offerings, and a clear signal that the MEAC plans to keep growing its footprint in women’s college athletics.

Sports

The Tennessee State Hockey Program Could Fold Before It Ever Takes the Ice

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

The Tennessee State hockey program was supposed to make history. Instead, it may not happen at all.

TSU Interim President Dwayne Tucker told The Athletic this week that the university is evaluating whether it can move forward with its Division I men’s hockey program, a project first announced in June 2023 in partnership with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. A final decision could come within the next month if the school can’t secure sustainable funding.

A Program Already on Shaky Ground

This wouldn’t be the program’s first setback. The Tigers’ hockey team was originally scheduled to debut as a club team during the 2024-25 season but got pushed back to 2026-27 due to a lack of funding. Now, even that delayed timeline is in jeopardy.

Tucker didn’t soften the message. “I can tell you we’re not going to move forward with a hockey program if the sustainable funding is not there,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s no funds through 2030 that we can provide to a start-up program.”

That’s a striking admission. Launching a Division I hockey program from scratch is expensive, and Tucker said the university needs funding commitments covering operational costs and scholarships for at least five years before it can consider the program viable long-term.

Competing Priorities on Campus

Part of what’s driving the decision is where Tennessee State’s broader financial priorities sit right now. Tucker pointed to aging residence halls and a needed renovation of Hale Stadium as more pressing needs. Consequently, the university is preparing to launch a two-year, $100 million fundraising campaign specifically to address those improvements.

“We need that money to help fix some of the modernization that needs to take place on the campus, not another sport that couldn’t be standing on its own,” Tucker said.

That framing matters. Tennessee State isn’t rejecting the idea of a hockey program outright — the university simply can’t justify funding a new, unproven sport while existing campus infrastructure needs urgent attention. Hockey, unlike most college sports, also carries unusually high overhead. Head coach Duante’ Abercrombie noted that annual operating costs for NCAA Division I hockey programs can run between $900,000 and $3 million, not including scholarships.

Coach and League Partners Remain Hopeful

Despite the uncertainty, the people closest to the project haven’t given up. Abercrombie, who was hired specifically to lead the program, struck an optimistic tone. “I have faith in the Nashville Predators, I have faith in the NHL,” he said. “And, more importantly, I have faith in my institution that they will find a path forward that is positive for the hockey program.”

The Nashville Predators echoed that sentiment. Chief Marketing Officer Bill Wickett said the team has stayed in close contact with university leadership throughout the process. “We’ve had very informative and productive conversations with the president and others at the university,” Wickett said. “We understand all of the priorities and opportunities in front of Tennessee State, but we remain hopeful that Division I hockey will still be played in Nashville in the future.”

What Happens Next

Tucker said he remains committed to pursuing fundraising opportunities and engaging potential donors, but he was firm that any path forward requires the program to be financially self-sustaining. “I’d love to have the hockey program and make history,” he said. “But it has to be a stand-alone program in terms of the funding to make it work, because of the bigger financial challenges that the university has.”

The next month will determine whether Tennessee State becomes the first HBCU to field a Division I hockey program, or whether the partnership with the Predators ends before a single puck ever drops. Either outcome says something important about the financial tightrope HBCUs walk when trying to expand into new, high-cost athletic territory.

Ambition and sustainability don’t always arrive on the same timeline. Right now, Tennessee State is being forced to choose between them, and the answer will likely shape how other HBCUs approach similarly ambitious athletic ventures going forward.

Sports

Kendrick Perkins Is Bringing NBA Star Power to Jackson State Basketball

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Kendrick Perkins Jackson State news just dropped, and it’s a partnership that could change how the Tigers compete off the court.

Jackson State announced this week that Perkins, a 14-year NBA veteran and 2008 champion, will join the men’s basketball program as general manager. The move pairs an ESPN analyst with national name recognition to a SWAC program looking to expand its reach in fundraising, NIL, and overall visibility. It’s a volunteer position, but Jackson State leadership made clear they expect real impact from it.

Why Jackson State Made This Move

Perkins isn’t just a former player picking up a title. He’s one of ESPN’s most recognized NBA voices, appearing across the network’s programming since his 2018 retirement. That platform matters for a program competing for attention in a crowded college basketball landscape.

Jackson State athletics director Ashley Robinson made clear the role carries real weight despite its volunteer status. “It’s a volunteer role, but he’s going to come in to fundraise,” Robinson said. Perkins is also expected to take part in the program’s name, image and likeness efforts, an area that has reshaped recruiting and roster building across every level of college sports.

What Perkins Brings to the Table

Perkins went straight from high school in Nederland, Texas, to the NBA, joining the Boston Celtics in 2003. He started at center for Boston’s 2008 championship team, averaging 7 points, 6 rebounds, and a block per game while shooting 59% from the field during that playoff run. He also suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, and Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring in 2018.

That résumé gives Jackson State something most HBCU programs don’t have easy access to: a direct line to NBA-level credibility and media reach. Robinson said the impact should be immediate. “That’s going to be huge for us,” she said.

A Broader Vision for the Program

Jackson State head coach Trey Johnson framed Perkins’ addition as part of a larger plan to build sustained success. “This partnership represents a significant step forward in our commitment to building a championship-caliber program while creating meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes beyond the court,” Johnson said.

Perkins will also connect with Jackson State’s broadcast and journalism program, extending his involvement beyond basketball operations alone. Johnson added that Perkins’ experience in both basketball and sports media could benefit the team, the university, and the wider Jackson State community.

For his part, Perkins framed the opportunity in personal terms. “I’m thankful for this opportunity to impact young lives and pour back into my community,” he told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

What This Means for HBCU Basketball

High-profile figures lending their name and resources to HBCU sports programs isn’t new, but the trend has accelerated as NIL reshapes the competitive landscape. Programs without massive television contracts or booster networks need creative ways to compete for talent and attention. A figure like Perkins, with built-in media reach and championship credibility, gives Jackson State exactly that kind of edge.

The hire also signals something about where Jackson State basketball wants to go. Pairing a respected coaching staff with national-level fundraising and NIL support suggests a program serious about building toward championship contention rather than simply staying competitive in the SWAC. Meanwhile, Jackson State continues to position itself as one of the more ambitious athletic departments among HBCUs nationally.

Whether Perkins’ involvement translates into measurable wins on the court remains to be seen. Still, for a program looking to raise its national profile, his name alone buys instant attention, and that’s often the first step toward bigger opportunities down the line.

Editorial

Juneteenth 2026: How HBCU Pride — and Opal Lee’s Legacy — Are Showing Up Nationwide

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

This Juneteenth HBCU celebration carries extra weight in 2026. The holiday just marked its fifth year as a federal observance, and at the center of that history stands a 99-year-old HBCU alumna who refused to let the world forget.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 — the day enslaved Black people in Texas finally learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It became a federal holiday in 2021. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of Opal Lee.

Meet the Grandmother of Juneteenth

Opal Lee was born October 7, 1926, in Marshall, Texas. She graduated from Wiley College — now Wiley University — in 1952 with a degree in elementary education. Decades later, that same HBCU background would help shape one of the most consequential grassroots movements in modern American history.

Lee’s connection to Juneteenth isn’t abstract. On June 19, 1939, when she was just 12 years old, white rioters vandalized and burned down her family’s home in Fort Worth, Texas. She carried that memory for the rest of her life — and she turned it into decades of advocacy rather than letting it define her in silence.

In 2016, at 89 years old, Lee set out to walk from her home in Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., to push for Juneteenth’s national recognition. “My idea was to walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., and that surely somebody would notice a little old lady in tennis shoes,” she said. She started that September and arrived in the capital the following January. Her Change.org petition gathered 1.6 million signatures along the way.

Five years later, in June 2021, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475, making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday — with Lee standing right beside him. Biden called her the “grandmother of the movement.” In 2024, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

An HBCU Story Through and Through

Lee’s legacy is deeply rooted in HBCU tradition. Beyond her Wiley College degree, she’s a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated — joining in 2016, the same year she began her historic walk. Zeta Phi Beta has celebrated her ever since, holding her up as a living embodiment of the sorority’s commitment to service and social justice.

“Our Economic Justice Town Hall was both a tribute to Dr. Opal Lee’s historic contributions and a call to action,” said Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., during a past Juneteenth commemoration. “Juneteenth is more than a holiday. It’s a reminder of the work still needed to dismantle systemic barriers to equity.”

That’s the thread connecting HBCUs to this holiday at the deepest level. Lee didn’t just attend an HBCU — she carried the values that institution instilled in her all the way to the White House.

HBCU Energy at Celebrations Nationwide

You don’t have to look far this Juneteenth to find HBCU pride on full display elsewhere, too. In Goodyear, Arizona, the city’s Family Day: Homecoming celebration leans directly into HBCU culture, featuring a marching band made up of HBCU alumni from across the country. In Raleigh, North Carolina, the Capital City Juneteenth Celebration at Dorothea Dix Park is bringing HBCU line dancing to the main stage. In New York City, the Juneteenth Parade through Brooklyn draws HBCU alumni, fraternities, and sororities by the thousands every year.

Celebrate, Reflect, and Remember Her Name

Wherever you’re celebrating this weekend — a parade, a cookout, a step show, or a quiet moment of reflection — take a second to say her name: Opal Lee. A Wiley College graduate. A Zeta. A 99-year-old who walked her way into history and made sure this day belongs to all of us.

To every HBCU student, alum, faculty member, and supporter: Happy Juneteenth. The legacy continues with you.

Leadership

Alabama State and Morris Brown College Just Signed a Deal That Opens Doors for HBCU Graduates

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The Alabama State Morris Brown College partnership is official — and it could reshape what comes after graduation for hundreds of students.

On June 16, 2026, Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. and Morris Brown College President Dr. Kevin E. James signed a Memorandum of Understanding on ASU’s campus in Montgomery, Alabama. The agreement creates a formal pipeline for Morris Brown graduates to apply directly to Alabama State’s graduate degree programs — both in person and online. It’s a straightforward idea with real impact: two HBCUs working together to make sure their students don’t fall through the cracks between undergraduate and graduate education.

The timing is significant. Just a month before the signing, Morris Brown graduated its largest class in over 25 years — 93 students. President James made the connection explicit. “We want to send them to Alabama State for grad school,” he said at the ceremony. “We thank you for this opportunity for our students.”

What the Agreement Actually Covers

This isn’t a vague partnership announcement with no substance behind it. The MOU creates specific, structured pathways into ASU’s graduate programs across multiple disciplines.

Through the agreement, eligible Morris Brown graduates gain a streamlined path into Alabama State University’s master’s programs in business, cybersecurity, data analytics, healthcare administration, management, information technology, and biotechnology. ASU also offers 13 key online master’s programs — including rehabilitation counseling, accountancy, social work, forensic science, and health counseling — many of which are now accessible to MBC graduates through this pipeline.

Furthermore, the agreement includes pathways for students interested in careers in education. ASU’s College of Education offers “Alternative A” certification routes for students who didn’t complete an undergraduate teacher preparation program. That opens the door even wider, giving Morris Brown graduates options regardless of their undergraduate major.

“Once we looked online at the program offerings, many of those offerings are direct pathways for our graduates in business, psychology and music alike,” President James said.

Why Morris Brown Needed This

Morris Brown College’s story is one of the most remarkable in HBCU history. The Atlanta-based institution lost its accreditation in 2002 and spent nearly two decades fighting to survive. By 2023, the college had regained accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools and was rebuilding steadily. Graduating 93 students — its largest class in 25 years — is proof that the comeback is real.

But rebuilding an institution from near-collapse means doing it with limited resources. Morris Brown primarily offers undergraduate programs. It doesn’t yet have the infrastructure to offer a full range of graduate degrees on its own. That’s exactly where a partnership like this fills a genuine gap. Rather than leaving graduates to navigate the graduate school landscape alone, MBC now has a formal HBCU-to-HBCU pathway that keeps students connected to the mission and culture that brought them this far.

“What’s attractive about the partnership is that ASU has in-person and online options,” President James said. “This gives our students access and opportunities to complete their graduate degrees.”

What Alabama State Brings to the Table

Alabama State isn’t just doing Morris Brown a favor here. ASU brings a robust graduate program infrastructure that makes this partnership genuinely valuable. With 13 online master’s programs and a strong College of Education, ASU has the depth to absorb and support a new pipeline of graduate students without stretching thin.

Dr. Anthony Broughton, dean of ASU’s College of Education, framed the agreement as mission-driven on both sides. “This partnership between ASU and MBC share a mission to remove barriers so that students can have the best access to quality education,” Broughton said. “We are excited to welcome and support Morris Brown students as they pursue careers in education and help strengthen the teaching workforce for generations to come.”

That last point matters. Teacher shortages are a national crisis, and HBCUs have historically produced a disproportionate share of Black educators. Agreements like this one directly feed that pipeline at a time when it’s badly needed.

HBCUs Working Together — the Way It Should Be

Perhaps the most important thing about this agreement is what it represents beyond the specific programs. Two HBCUs sat down, looked at what each institution does well, and built something that benefits students on both ends. That’s the kind of collaboration the HBCU community talks about wanting — and it’s rare to see it executed this cleanly.

President Ross put it plainly at the signing: “When we unite, we multiply opportunities, expand possibilities and build legacies that will impact generations to come.”

He also spoke directly to Morris Brown students: “I want you to know that we are prepared to receive you, we are prepared to make room for your greatness, we are prepared to support your aspirations, and we are prepared to help you continue your path to educational and professional excellence.”

For HBCU students watching from other campuses, this is worth paying attention to. The HBCU ecosystem is strongest when its institutions pool their strengths instead of competing in isolation. Alabama State has graduate infrastructure. Morris Brown has a growing undergraduate body and a resilience story that draws students who believe in the mission. Together, they’ve built something neither could offer alone.

That’s not just good for ASU and MBC. It’s good for the entire community.

Track & Field

Howard University and Five HBCUs Made History at the 2026 NCAA Track Championships

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

Howard University NCAA track 2026 just wrote a new chapter — and the whole HBCU community was on the track in Eugene.

When the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships opened at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10–13, five historically Black colleges and universities sent athletes to compete. Howard University led the charge with four entries — more than any other HBCU program — and the Bison didn’t just show up. They competed deep into the championship rounds, earned All-America honors, and reminded the country exactly what HBCU athletics can produce when the resources and coaching match the talent.

This wasn’t luck. It was the result of years of deliberate program-building, elite coaching, and a culture at Howard that now genuinely believes it belongs among the nation’s best.

How Howard Got to Eugene

The path to Hayward Field ran through Lexington, Kentucky, where Howard dominated the NCAA East Regional. The Bison qualified in four events — the women’s 200-meter dash, the women’s 400-meter hurdles (two athletes), and the women’s 4×100-meter relay.

Sophomore Yahnari Lyons punched her ticket in the 200 meters with an automatic qualifying time of 22.72 seconds, finishing second in her regional heat. She entered the championships ranked among the nation’s best in the event and backed it up by winning her semifinal heat in 22.36 seconds to advance to the national final.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Howard sent two athletes. Sophomore Cenaiya Billups won her quarterfinal heat in a personal-best 55.09 seconds — breaking Howard’s school record in the process. Senior All-American Aniya Woodruff followed by winning her heat in a personal-best 55.43. Both athletes delivered their best performances at the highest-pressure moment of the season. At nationals, Billups advanced all the way to the championship final, posting a 55.44 in the semifinals — the fourth-fastest time among all finalists. Woodruff narrowly missed the final with a 56.30, but finished her collegiate career with back-to-back Second Team All-America honors.

The Howard University 4×100 relay team — graduate Marcia Sey, juniors Yahnari Lyons and Mackenzie Robinson, and freshman Nilijah Darden — rounded out the Bison’s Eugene presence with a season-best 43.23 seconds at regionals.

The Coach Behind the Rise

None of this happens without Head Coach David Oliver. An Howard University alumnus and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, Oliver has spent years building the women’s program into something the country has to take seriously.

This spring, Howard ranked 13th nationally in the USTFCCCA National Rating Index — the highest ranking in program history. The Bison also won their fifth consecutive MEAC Outdoor Championship in May, completing a rare triple crown by taking cross country, indoor, and outdoor conference titles in the same academic year. That kind of sustained excellence across all three seasons is hard to build. Oliver has built it.

“Howard is on track to become a national powerhouse, and the women’s team is leading that charge,” said Howard Vice President of Athletics Kery Davis.

The Rest of the HBCU Field in Eugene

Howard led the way, but the full HBCU track and field story in Eugene was bigger than one school. Four other HBCUs sent athletes to nationals, making this one of the strongest collective HBCU showings at the NCAA level in recent memory.

North Carolina A&T arrived in Eugene with arguably the deepest HBCU men’s contingent of anyone. Jason Holmes set both a Colonial Athletic Association and school record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a 13.17-second run to advance to the finals. Isaiah Taylor and Xzaviah Taylor — the Aggie twins — both advanced in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. The men’s 4×100 relay posted a CAA-record 38.53 to reach the finals, and the 4×400 relay also advanced. Senior Spirit Morgan qualified in the women’s high jump after clearing 1.82 meters, while junior Olivia Dowd advanced in the women’s triple jump with a personal-best 13.23 meters.

Southern University’s Tashina Alase delivered one of the most compelling individual performances of the entire championship. The junior won her 100-meter hurdles semifinal heat in 12.90 seconds to advance to the national final — a result made even more remarkable by the fact that she missed last outdoor season entirely after a serious collision that injured her toe. She came back, ran 12.74 seconds at regionals to earn an automatic qualifying mark, and then advanced to the national final against the country’s best. That’s resilience.

Alabama State freshman Daedrian Beville qualified in the women’s triple jump with a 13.21-meter leap — the only HBCU freshman to punch a ticket to Eugene this year. Florida A&M’s Leonard Mustari also made the trip in the men’s 110-meter hurdles after a personal-best 13.53 seconds at regionals.

What This Moment Means for HBCU Athletics

Five schools. Nine individual and relay entries. Multiple finalists. Several All-America performances. That’s not a fluke — that’s a movement.

For years, talented Black track and field athletes faced a difficult choice: attend an HBCU and risk lower visibility, or go to a Power Five program and get the national exposure that leads to professional opportunities. The 2026 championships push back hard against that narrative. Howard’s athletes competed in the same finals as Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. NC A&T’s relay teams posted conference records at nationals. Southern’s Alase stood in the starting blocks of a national final after a career-threatening injury.

The recruitment message writes itself. You can attend an HBCU, compete for an HBCU coach, and still stand on the biggest stage in college track and field. That reality is now impossible to argue with.

Furthermore, the financial and institutional investment is starting to show up where it counts — in the results. As Howard builds its research profile and brand, athletic success at the national level amplifies every other part of the university’s story. Corporate sponsors take notice. Recruits take notice. The country takes notice.

The HBCU athletics conversation is no longer just about homecoming and tradition. It’s about national championships, All-America honors, and what happens when historically Black institutions get the support they’ve always deserved.