Examining 20 standout players this season before annual NBA HBCU Classic

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The NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and the league is set to once again highlight some of the top basketball talent 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 nears, let’s take a look at five significant players from the four dominant HBCU conferences:

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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)

Fred Cleveland Jr., NC Central
• Senior | G

Cleveland, standing at a solid 5-foot-9, is a point guard who forms a dynamic backcourt with his fellow senior, Ja’Darius Harris. In a game against St. Andrews earlier this season, he scored a career-best of 30 points. Cleveland, who has twice been named MEAC Player of the Week, averaged 19.3 points and 6.7 assists per game during a winning streak of three games 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 tops the conference in field goal percentage and leads the Bison in both scoring and rebounding.

Martaz Robinson, Delaware State
Senior | G

Robinson is leading Delaware State to its best start in 20 years, topping the Hornets in scoring and rebounding. He has been a two-time MEAC Player of the Week and was previously one of Baltimore’s top high school players.

Wynston Tabbs, Morgan State
• Senior | G

Tabbs scored 38 points against UM-Baltimore County and can heat up from any point on the court. He transferred from East Carolina and is one of the top performers in the conference in field goals, free throws, and 3-pointers. In addition, he scored 25 points against Coppin State.

Jamarii Thomas, Norfolk State
• Junior | G

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

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Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Jordan Hinds, Bluefield State
• Junior | G

This player, being the leading scorer for the Big Blue, has amassed over 1,000 career points. His play is well-rounded, contributing effectively on both ends of the court. In the first month of the season, he was twice awarded the CIAA Player of the Week.

Tahj Harding, Virginia Union
• Junior | G

Earlier this season, his score of 47 points against Augusta University marked the highest for a VUU player since ex-NBA player A.J. English’s 54 points against St. Augustine in 1990. He also tops the team in scoring and ranks as one of the top contributors 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 JUCO, scored 27 points against Claflin last month.

Jaylen Alston, Winston-Salem State
• Senior | G

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

Isaac Parson, Winston-Salem State
• Junior | G

Parson, who comes from Kinston, N.C., a small town known for producing numerous NBA players, was recognized as the HBCU National Player of the Week in early January. In addition, he was selected for the preseason All-CIAA Team’s 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 impressive game of the season was against Benedict, where he scored 32 points. This was the first time Clark had ever defeated a ranked opponent. At the time, Benedict held the No. 8 position in Division II.

Alvin Miles, Miles
• Senior | G

The player leading Miles’ team in scoring, assists, and steals coincidentally shares the same surname, Miles. As the team leader makes various contributions, Miles (the educational institution) 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 currently one of the top 3-point scorers in Division II. His standout moment of the season was last month’s buzzer-beater against Central State.

Tim Moore, Benedict
• Senior | G

Moore, who has consistently scored an average of 16 points per game this season, has been a reliable player and a vital factor in Benedict’s rise to the top of the conference.

Martez Jones, Tuskegee
• Junior | F

In the game against Miles, he made a buzzer-beating layup, finishing with 19 points and nine rebounds. Jones is the leading scorer and rebounder for Tuskegee and 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 remarkably, 27 points in a victory over ranked Mississippi State. He is the leading scorer in the SWAC 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 recognized as SWAC Player of the Week on four occasions and he achieved a career-high score of 30 points against Prairie View just last month.

Kylen Milton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• Junior | G

Milton is the top scorer for UAPB, ranks second in rebounds and third in assists. He had a game with 26 points and nine rebounds against Grambling on Jan. 29. Additionally, he scored 20 points, secured seven rebounds and made four assists in an away game against Texas Southern.

Jakobi Heady, Bethune-Cookman
• Sophomore | F

Heady, who leads Bethune in scoring, is considered a top choice for ex-NBA star and BCC head coach Reggie Theus. Theus, who is particularly fond of Heady, 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 with weekly awards, is Grambling’s leading scorer, making almost half of his shots. He scored 25 points against Bethune-Cookman and 23 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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