Outhouse to Penthouse: HBCU Players Matter to Power-Conference Members

February 16th, 2022 - 20:23

A high percentage of bottom feeders among the lowest-ranked NCAA Division I squads are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference. We're a long way from "the good ole days" when Historically Black College and University hoopers included extensive list of standouts.

Perhaps the premier player ever to transfer from a HBCU to a major university was Tom Boswell. The 6-9 forward averaged 18 ppg and 13 rpg for South Carolina State in 1971-72 and 1972-73 before switching to South Carolina, an independent school at the time where he averaged 16.5 ppg and 8.7 rpg in 1974-75. The best contemporary player in this category probably is guard R.J. Cole, who transferred from Howard University to Connecticut. Cole joined the following alphabetical list of rare players, including ex-Howard product Xavier Singletary, transferring from a HBCU to NCAA DI power-league member in the past 25 years:

Player Pos. HBCU HBCU Statistics Power-League Member Power-League Member Statistics
Andre Adams G Prairie View 14 1.5 ppg, 1.1 apg Arizona State 17 1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Malcolm Bernard G-F Florida A&M 16 14.4 ppg, 7 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.3 spg Xavier 17 6.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1 spg
R.J. Cole G Howard University 18-19 22.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 37 3FG% Connecticut 21-22 14.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.3 spg, 35.7 3FG%, 84.1 FT%
James Daniel III G Howard University 14-17 21.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.7 spg Tennessee 18 5.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 37.2 3FG%
Edric Dennis G Jackson State 17 14 ppg, 4.1 rpg Texas Christian 20 6.2 ppg, 2.3 apg
Bassirou Dieng C Norfolk State 05 2 ppg Georgia Tech 09 1.2 ppg
RaShid Gaston F Norfolk State 13-15 11.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 57.8 FG% Xavier 17 7.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 59 FG%
Barry Honore' F Southern LA 08-09 8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg Oklahoma 11-12 1 ppg, 0.9 rpg
Dale Hughes G Florida A&M 09-10 8.8 ppg, 35.6 3FG% Mississippi 12 0.7 ppg
Sam Hunt G North Carolina A&T 16-17 14 ppg North Carolina State 18 5.5 ppg
Deion James F North Carolina A&T 16 1.3 ppg Washington State 20 2.6 ppg
Branden Johnson F-C Alabama State 16-19 5.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 62.8 FG% Virginia Tech 20 0.4 ppg
Gerald Jordan F-C Morgan State 94 13.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg Pittsburgh 96-97 8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Darryl Labarrie G Florida A&M 97 12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg Georgia Tech 99-01 4 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Christian Mekowulu F Tennessee State 15-18 8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1 bpg Texas A&M 19 8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1 bpg
Femi Olujobi F North Carolina A&T 18 16.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 53.6 FG% DePaul 19 12.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 60.1 FG%
Richaud Pack G North Carolina A&T 14 17 ppg, 4.6 rpg Maryland 15 5.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Matt Pilgrim F Hampton 07-08 9.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 spg, 1 bpg Oklahoma State 10-11 6.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.1 spg
Cecil Rellford F Kentucky State 74 21.7 ppg, 10 rpg St. John's 76-77 11.2 ppg, 6 rpg
M.J. Rhett F Tennessee State 12-14 6.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg Mississippi 15 7.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Gerald Robinson G Tennessee State 08-09 16.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spg Georgia 11-12 13.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.8 apg
Johnnie Rogers F Jackson State 95 2.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg Mississippi 97-99 3.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Frank Russell C Hampton 03-04 2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg Rutgers 06-07 2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
Xavier Singletary F Howard University 97-98 18.7 ppg, 6 rpg Boston College 00-01 11.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg
LaRon Smith F Bethune-Cookman 16 7.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg Auburn 17 2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Sterling Smith G Coppin State 13-15 10 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 spg Pittsburgh 16 4.5 ppg, 3 rpg
Ben Stanley F Hampton 19-20 13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 57.7 FG% Xavier 21-22 4 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Davion Warren G Hampton 20-21 14.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.3 spg Texas Tech 22 10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 spg

NOTE: Dennis attended UTA between Jackson State and TCU.