Oakwood, SUNO, Fisk garner opening HBCUAC Men's Basketball Awards
NEW ORLEANS - October 28, 2025 - Oakwood University's Jordan Bell wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Men's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week. Southern University at New Orleans' Jamal Gibson garners Defensive Player of the Week. Jaylon Hicks earns Freshman of the Week. Fisk University's Simeon Williams takes home Newcomer of the Week. The men were recognized for their performance between October 20-26, the conference announced Tuesday.
Bell averaged 20.5 points per game in Oakwood's opening two games of the season. He hit 15 shots, including three 3-pointers. Bell made 53.6 percent of his shots. He contributed three assists in Saturday's game against Freed-Hardeman University.
Gibson continued where he left off, posting a double-double with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Thirteen of his boards came on the defensive end. He also contributed three steals and two blocks to lead the Knights to an 86-81 victory over Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Hicks shined in his collegiate debut with a game-high 24 points and six assists. He also contributed five rebounds and a block.
Williams recorded two double-digit scoring performances in his opening games in a Fisk uniform. He put up 15 points on a 6-for-8 shooting performance against Faulkner University. Williams followed that performance with 24 points and 14 rebounds against William Carey University. For the week he averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Additional men's basketball weekly nominees: Xavier Alexander (Philander Smith), Michael Baingana (Voorhees), Jalen Bing-Wallace (Talladega), Omari Bryson (Voorhees), Caleb Campbell (Huston-Tillotson), Daiquan Coach (Wilberforce), Mason Donald (Talladega), Eduardo Diaz (Wilberforce), Jordan Hill (Oakwood), Rydarius Hill (Voorhees), Kaleb Jefferies (Fisk), Raymond Reece (Philander Smith), Shannon Robinson (Huston-Tillotson), Donavan Seamster (Wiley), Shaun Walker (Talladega), Joshua Wallace (Philander Smith), LaBree Williams (Wiley)
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), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), 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). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, 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.