Outhouse to Penthouse: HBCU Hoopers Mattering to Power-League Members
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. On the other hand, there occasionally are HBCU "Jeffersons" who sing "Movin' On Up" when they go to the deluxe "Best Side" (transfer to power-conference member).
Minnesota's Elijah Hawkins, a transfer from Howard University, is leading the nation in assists. But 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. It is rare for a HBCU transfer to post a higher scoring averaqe for a power-conference member (Ole Miss boasts a couple of players in this category). In deference to Black History Month, following is an alphabetical list of rare players transferring from a HBCU to NCAA DI power-league member in the past 30 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 |
| Shareif Adamu | F | Alabama State 11 | 4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg | Auburn 13 | 2.7 ppg, 2 rpg |
| Cameron Bacote | G | Maryland-Eastern Shore 18 | 7.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.9 apg | Georgetown 24 | 0.9 ppg, 1.5 apg |
| 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 |
| Wayne Bristol Jr. | G | Howard University 20 | 12.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.3 spg | Georgetown 23-24 | 3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg |
| Dejuan Clayton | G | Coppin State 17-21 | 13.1 ppg, 3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg | California 23 | 9.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.9 apg |
| R.J. Cole | G | Howard University 18-19 | 22.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 37 3FG% | Connecticut 21-22 | 14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 37 3FG% |
| 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, 1.2 rpg | Georgia Tech 09 | 1.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg |
| 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% |
| Elijah Hawkins | G | Howard University 22-23 | 12.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.8 apg, 2 spg | Minnesota 24 | 8.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 7.8 apg, 2 spg |
| 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 |
| Jayveous McKinnis | F | Jackson State 19-22 | 10.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 61 FG% | Mississippi 23 | 5.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 65.4 FG% |
| 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 | 3.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg |
| Davion Warren | G | Hampton 20-21 | 14.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.3 spg | Texas Tech 22 | 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 spg |
| Kam Woods | G | North Carolina A&T 23 | 17.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 spg | North Carolina State 24 | 1.4 ppg, 1 rpg |
| Jesse Zarzuela | G | Coppin State 22 | 14.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.4 spg | Oregon 24 | 10 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 86.7 FT% |
NOTE: Dennis attended UTA between Jackson State and TCU. Stanley enrolled at ODU for 2022-23.