Black History Month

Examining 20 standout players this season before annual NBA HBCU Classic

Ahead of All-Star 2025's NBA HBCU Classic, here are 20 players who are shining at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Shaun Powell

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)

Marcus Dockery, Junior, G, Howard
One of the MEAC’s more efficient players, Dockery checks in as a top-five scorer and among the leading percentage shooters for the best team in the conference. The junior is enjoying an improved season and will be in the running for First Team All-MEAC.

Blake Harper, Freshman, G, Howard
The freshman sensation has managed to adapt to the NCAA level quickly. The 6-foot-8 guard is a local from Washington D.C. and is leading the Bison in scoring, helped by a pair of 34-point games. He also had 16 points against blue-blood Kansas.

Brian Moore Jr, Graduate, G, Norfolk State
The very consistent scorer has looked impressive against bigger schools — 31 points against William & Mary, 24 against Stanford and 17 against James Madison. He also has three games with four steals. A grad student, he played at Murray State and Northeastern Oklahoma before arriving at Norfolk.

Po’Boigh King, Junior, G, North Carolina Central
It’s been a solid breakout season for King, who serves as the core of the team. King had 25 points, six rebounds and three assists recently against South Carolina State. He was Third Team All-MEAC last season and is making a strong bid for First Team in 2025.

Kam Hobbs, Senior, G, Morgan State
A two-time MEAC Player of the Week, he’s the Bears’ second-leading scorer and steals leader. Quick and clever, Hobbs dropped 40 points against North Carolina Central. The senior also had 25 points, six rebounds and four assists against Minnesota.

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)

Alvin Miles, Senior, G, Miles College
A First Team All-SIAC player last season, Miles returns at a high level for his namesake school. He’s the leading scorer for one of the better HBCU teams and is wrapping up a solid career at Miles.

Cedric Taylor III, Sophomore, G, Morehouse
Taylor brings great size to the backcourt at 6-foot-7 and has shown gradual improvement to become Morehouse’s leading scorer and rebounder. He had 24 points against LeMoyne-Owen and 16 rebounds against Florida Southern.

Walter Peggs Jr., Senior, G, Spring Hill
One of the country’s most prolific scorers, Peggs is a walking bucket for Spring Hill. He averages 30 points a game and has performances of 40 points against West Florida, 34 against Edward Waters and 33 against LeMoyne-Owen. Hill, who was First Team All-SIAC last season, hasn’t scored under 16 points in any game this season.

Shakur Poteat, Junior, G, Albany State
Poteat has been consistent for Albany State, matching his season-high of 27 points on three different nights. He also leads the Rams in total 3-pointers and had clutch baskets recently in a thrilling OT win over Morehouse.

Blaise Wallace, Senior, F, Albany State
Wallace can be counted on to flirt with a double-double nightly for the Rams. The former SIAC Player of the Week had 26 and 14 against Lane College and plays far bigger than his size.

Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)

Tanahj Pettway, Graduate, G, Prairie View
Pettway is making the most of his final season, enjoying a solidly productive run for PV. He has done well against bigger schools: 20 points and four rebounds vs. SMU, 20 against Mississippi State and 22 and two steals against Oklahoma.

CJ Hines, Senior, G, Alabama State
Hines has shown growth and scoring potential for ASU in his senior season. He’s leading the team in scoring and assists, third in steals and had a season-high 25 points with six rebounds against Delaware State.

Kavion McClain, Senior, G, Texas Southern
A solid floor general for TSU, McClain is second in the conference in assists while leading his team in scoring at 14 per game. He dropped 15 points and six assists on New Mexico earlier in the season.

Reggie Ward Jr., Senior, F, Bethune-Cookman
One of the best inside players in the conference if not among HBCU schools, Ward is imposing and physical despite being somewhat undersized at 6-foot-6. The Chicago product had a 15-rebound game against South Carolina State and perhaps more impressive, 14 against Mississippi State. He leads BCC with eight per game.

Daeshun Ruffin, Junior, G, Jackson State
After a late start to the season, Ruffin has arrived in a big way for JSU. He had 37 points against Bethune-Cookman and 26 vs. Prairie View. Ruffin sat out last season after arriving from Ole Miss.

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Jordan Hinds, Senior, G, Bluefield State
Hines had 36 points and six rebounds against Shaw, which was his best performance of the season so far. He leads Bluefield in scoring at just under 20 points per game and also in assists at six per game. He stands 6-foot-4 and is a tough matchup for opposing guards because of his size.

Caleb Simmons, Senior, G/F, Fayetteville State
The do-it-all for Fayetteville State leads the school in scoring (18.2 points), rebounds and steals. His rebounding average of 9.6 is second in the conference. The swingman had an impressive 34-point, 15-rebound double-double earlier this season against USC-Aiken.

Jacob Cooper, Junior, G, Virginia State
At 5-foot-8, the guard leads the conference in assists and brings steady floor generalship. He’s also a reliable scorer, with four 20-point games, including 25 against Chowan, and leads Virginia State in steals.

Bakir Cleveland, Junior, F, Lincoln
The product of Newark has had a consistent season and is one of the leaders for Lincoln. He matched his season-high three times with 21 points against California (Pa.), Bluefield and Rollins. He also had 10 rebounds against Livingstone.

Trent McIntyre, Senior, G, Shaw
Solid season so far for McIntyre who has helped Shaw launch a respectable season with a chance to finish with a winning conference record. McIntyre has scored in double digits in all but one game and also has a 12-rebound game. He’s shooting 47% and leads the team in assists.

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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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