Examining 20 standout players this season before annual NBA HBCU Classic

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The NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and once again the league will highlight some of the finest basketball from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The Virginia Union University Panthers and Winston-Salem State University Rams will compete in the 2024 NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T. The game will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and be simulcast on TNT, NBA TV and ESPN.

As the game draws near, let’s look at five significant players from the four leading HBCU conferences:

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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)

Fred Cleveland Jr., NC Central
• Senior | G

Cleveland, standing at a steady 5-foot-9, is a point guard who forms a powerful backcourt with fellow senior Ja’Darius Harris. He scored a career-best 30 points in a game against St. Andrews earlier this season. Cleveland, a two-time MEAC Player of the Week, averaged 19.3 points and 6.7 assists over a three-game winning streak in January.

Bryce Harris, Howard
• Junior | G

Harris, the leader of the defending MEAC conference champions, has been named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week four times. He is currently leading the conference in field goal percentage and tops the Bison in both scoring and rebounding.

Martaz Robinson, Delaware State
Senior | G

Robinson is leading the Hornets in scoring and rebounding, resulting in Delaware State’s best start in two decades. He has been named MEAC Player of the Week twice and used to be one of Baltimore’s top high school players.

Wynston Tabbs, Morgan State
• Senior | G

Tabbs scored 38 points against UM-Baltimore County and has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. A former East Carolina player, Tabbs is one of the top scorers in the conference, excelling in field goals, free-throws, and 3-points. Additionally, he scored 25 points in a game against Coppin State.

Jamarii Thomas, Norfolk State
• Junior | G

The transfer from UNC-Wilmington has instantly made a significant impact with the Spartans, emerging as their leading scorer. He scored 31 points against Illinois State and 27 points against Florida Gulf Coast University.

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Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Jordan Hinds, Bluefield State
• Junior | G

As the leading scorer for the Big Blue, he has amassed over 1,000 career points. He is recognized for his comprehensive play on both offensive and defensive ends of the court and was twice awarded the CIAA Player of the Week in the initial month of the season.

Tahj Harding, Virginia Union
• Junior | G

Earlier this season, his 47 points against Augusta University marked the highest by a VUU player since former NBA player A.J. English scored 54 against St. Augustine in 1990. He tops the team in scoring and ranks amongst the leaders in steals and assists.

Avery Huggins, Johnson C. Smith
• Junior | F

The multi-talented forward is the leading scorer, rebounder, and blocker for the Golden Bulls. Huggins, who transferred from a junior college, scored 27 points against Claflin in the previous month.

Jaylen Alston, Winston-Salem State
• Senior | G

This season, he achieved a career milestone of 1,000 points. Alston, a three-time recipient of the CIAA Player of the Week accolades, is the team’s leading scorer and 3-point shooter.

Isaac Parson, Winston-Salem State
• Junior | G

Parson, originally from Kinston, N.C. – a small town known for producing a remarkable number of NBA players, received the HBCU National Player of the Week honors in early January. He was also included in the preseason All-CIAA Team backcourt.

For the third consecutive year, @ATT will be the presenting sponsor for the #NBAHBCUClassic. This year’s matchup features Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University during #NBAAllStar Weekend in Indy, Feb. 17. pic.twitter.com/Qg27wwPByI

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 2, 2024

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Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

Chris Martin, Clark Atlanta
• Grad student | G

Marin is ahead of Clark in terms of scoring, assists, and steals. His most prominent game of the season was against Benedict, where he scored 32 points. This marked the first time Clark triumphed over a ranked opponent. At the time, Benedict was ranked No. 8 in Division II.

Alvin Miles, Miles
• Senior | G

It’s merely coincidental that the top scorer, assist and steal player for Miles bears the last name Miles. With numerous contributions from its captain, the school, Miles, aspires to excel in the SIAC.

Walter Peggs, Jr., Spring Hill
• Junior | G

Peggs, a three-time Player of the Week and newcomer of the week, is among the Division II 3-point leaders. His most memorable moment of the season was last month, when he hit a buzzer-beater against Central State.

Tim Moore, Benedict
• Senior | G

Moore’s consistent performance, averaging 16 points per game for the season, has been a crucial factor in Benedict’s rise to the top of the conference.

Martez Jones, Tuskegee
• Junior | F

In the game against rival Miles, he made a layup as the buzzer went off, resulting in a final score of 19 points and nine rebounds. Jones is Tuskegee’s leading scorer and rebounder, and he also tops the conference in double-doubles.

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Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)

Tai’Reon Joseph, Southern
• Junior | G

Joseph scored 33 points against Florida A&M, including eight 3-pointers, and even more impressively, 27 points in a victory over ranked Mississippi State. He is currently leading the SWAC in scoring and ranks in the top-25 in Division I.

Antonio “TJ” Madlock, Alabama State
• Junior | G

Two years ago, Madlock moved from South Carolina State to play under his father at Alabama State. This season, he was honored as SWAC Player of the Week on four occasions and set a personal best by scoring 30 points against Prairie View last month.

Kylen Milton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• Junior | G

Milton is the top scorer for UAPB, holds the second position in rebounds and is third in assists. On January 29, he performed exceptionally against Grambling, scoring 26 points and making nine rebounds. In an away game against Texas Southern, he scored 20 points, made seven rebounds and assisted four times.

Jakobi Heady, Bethune-Cookman
• Sophomore | F

Reggie Theus, former NBA star and current head coach at BCC, regards Heady as one of his top choices. As the leading scorer for Bethune, Heady has won Theus’ admiration, who describes him as “a three-level scorer with a lot of talent.”

Kintavious Dozier, Grambling State
• Junior | G

Dozier, who has been honored twice this season by the MEAC, is Grambling’s leading scorer, making almost 50% of his shots. He scored 25 points against Bethune-Cookman and 23 points against Florida A&M.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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