HBCUAC SCHOOLS CLAIM 13 OF 21 HBCU MAKEDA EXCELLENCE AWARDS

RADCLIFF, Ky. - Once again, schools from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference were a step above other HBCUs in college sports, claiming 13 of 21 HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards presented by the Rice Fame Group Monday night.

The third annual awards recognized the top HBCU athletes, coaches, bands and band directors for the 2023-24 season. Nominations were made by personnel at each institution and were voted on by coaches and band directors.

Dillard University claimed seven awards - dominating men's and women's cross country and track and field. Head coach Nile Legania was voted Coach of the Year in men's and women's cross country and track and field. He led the Bleu Devils' track and field teams to their fourth straight conference title. He led the Dillard women's cross country team to its third consecutive conference title. Kennedy Timmons won Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year. She finished with Dillard's top time at the 2023 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Champion, earning All-GCAC.

Kevell Byrd won Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Year. She was the top sprinter in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, winning several GCAC Track Athlete of the Week awards. At the 2024 GCAC Championship, she won the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. She ran a leg on the winning 4 x 100-meter relay team. Byrd was an NAIA National Championship qualifier in four events. She earned NAIA All-American with top eight finishes in the 400-meter dash and 4 x 100-meter relay. Jamaal Morris Jr. won Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year. He was one of the most dominating sprinters in the GCAC. He won the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes and finished third in the 100-meter dash. Morris qualified for the NAIA National Championship in four events, posting All-American finishes in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 4 x 400-meter relay.

The HBCUAC swept the baseball awards with Southern University at New Orleans head coach Olen Parker claiming Coach of the Year and Talladega College's Miguel Oropeza winning Athlete of the Year. Parker led the Knights to 17 wins in their inaugural season, which included two wins over the 2023 GCAC Tournament champion Dillard and a win over the 2024 regular season champion Wiley University. Parker guided SUNO to the fourth seed and a victory in the GCAC Baseball Championship Tournament. 

Oropeza was one of the top hitters in the nation, leading the NAIA with a .508 batting average. He led the GCAC with 69 RBIs. Oropeza was named GCAC Most Valuable Player, Hitter of the Year and First Team All-GCAC. He helped the Tornadoes win the 2024 GCAC Baseball Championship, finish runner-up in the 2024 Black College World Series and win two games in the NAIA Opening Round.

Jamal "Tall" Gibson of Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) won Men's Basketball Athlete of the Year, as he made a remarkable impact in his inaugural college basketball season. Averaging 21.0 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, Gibson set SUNO records for total points (630), rebounds (474), and double-doubles (29). Gibson's accolades include GCAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, as well as selections to the NAIA All-American Third Team and the Louisiana Sports Writer Association All-Louisiana Third Team.

Maya Buckhanon from Fisk University won Women's Basketball Athlete of the Year. For the second straight season, she dominated the GCAC - averaging 23 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. She is a two-time NAIA Player of the Week. In a February 17 game, she scored 60 points, which was the most by a female player since 1988 and set the HBCUAC and Fisk University record. Buckhanon earned NAIA Third Team All-American, GCAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-GCAC and All-Defensive Team.

Incoming member Stillman College won two awards with head softball coach Joel Penfield winning Coach of the Year and Lauren Haskins winning Softball Athlete of the Year. Penfield guided the Tigers to a 37-15 record and an NAIA Opening Round berth. Haskins earned NAIA Third Team All-American and Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Haskins helped her Stillman team break the program's single-season wins record in the last two seasons. As Stillman's leadoff hitter, Haskins hit .424 with 75 total hits, including 14 doubles, three triples and seven home runs. 

The honorees will receive their awards later this year and be recognized at their respective institutions. This is the second time the HBCU Athletic Conference was honored nationally as it claimed three awards in the HBCU Sports inaugural awards.

-HBCUAC-

About the HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards

The HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards is named after Queen Makeda, the famous Queen of Sheba. It is said that she is the richest woman ever and her wisdom was impressive enough to test King Solomon of the Hebrews. She was very instrumental in increasing his wealth so he could build the first Temple. Sources say that King Solomon allowed their son to take the Ark of the Covenant which currently resides in Ethiopia.

About the HBCU Athletic Conference

The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). GCAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.