Philander Smith, Paul Quinn, SUNO, Wilberforce capture Week 8 HBCUAC Men's Basketball Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Philander Smith University men's basketball player Raymond Reece wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Paul Quinn College forward Mekhi Johnson claims Defensive Player of the Week. Southern University at New Orleans guard Jaylon Hicks takes Freshman of the Week. Wilberforce University guard Daiquan Coach earns Newcomer of the Week. The men were recognized for their performance between December 8-14, the conference announced on Monday.

Reece averaged 21.5 points and 2.5 offensive rebounds per game, leading the Panthers to two victories. In Thursday's game against Oakwood University, he put up 21 points and 13 rebounds, with four on offense. He was limited to 15 minutes due to foul trouble in Saturday's game against Wiley University. However, he scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds with one offensive. Reece shot 17-for-20 from the field, earning his sixth weekly honor.

Johnson averaged 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game last week, leading the Tigers to two victories. Sixteen of his twenty-seven rebounds were on the defensive end. Against Rust College on Tuesday, he recorded nine rebounds, four on defense, four steals and two blocks. In Saturday's double overtime win against Huston-Tillotson, he grabbed 18 rebounds, 12 on defense and added five steals.

Hicks posted 43 points, averaging 14.3 per game. His performance helped the Knights win two of three games. He shot 13-for-15 from the line  and had key steals and dunks that helped seal victories over Dillard University and the University of the Virgin Islands. For the week, he had 17 rebounds, six assists and six steals. This is Hicks' fourth weekly honor.

Coach tallied 19.3 points per game during the YES U.S. Virgin Islands HBCU Basketball Classic. He scored a high of 24 points against Virgin Islands on Tuesday and followed with 23 in a victory over the University of Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. For the week he recorded eight rebounds, eight steals and two blocks.

Additional men's basketball weekly nominees: Joshua Barnett (Oakwood), Jordan Bell (Oakwood), Kailon Benton-Hamilton (Fisk), Devin Binyard (Virgin Islands), Ja'Patrick Blackmon (Huston-Tillotson), Dorian Booker (SUNO), Derek Burditt (Talladega), Caleb Campbell (Huston-Tillotson), Cortez Collins (Wiley), Daethan Harris (Voorhees), Brandon Howard (Stillman), Isaiah McCallum (Paul Quinn), Shamir Mosley (Wiley), Jesse Olverson Jr. (Wilberforce), Josh Price (Stillman), Adrelin Robinson (Stillman), Joshua Rodgers (Virgin Islands), Kesean Washington (Philander Smith), Arthur Williams (Talladega), Simeon Williams II (Fisk), Gabriel Wright (Voorhees)

2025-26 Men's Basketball Player of the Week

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.