Nelson leads Rams’ ‘Bench Bunch’
Basketball championships run in the Nelson family and there is room for more. Jason Nelson Jr. has become a ringleader of VCU’s talented “Bench Bunch” that has spurred the Rams to the threshold of the Atlantic 10’s top perch.
VUU’s future tied to Caine
In what has been a rebuilding season for Virginia Union University basketball, Joshua Caine is a cornerstone.
NFL broke color line in 1946
Sunday night’s Super Bowl will showcase two franchises with Black players making up some 65% of their rosters.
Kuany is VCU’s sure shot
If VCU is looking for someone to take a shot, from any spot on the floor, at any time, Kuany Kuany is willing and able.
Mahomes, Purdy in NFL spotlight
Meet the “odd couple” of Super Bowl quarterbacks. Greatness, from the get-go, was predicted for Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, not so for San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, the longest of the longshots.
Primed for takeoff
Chance discovery at Ohio airport lands King at VUU
College athletes frequently transfer, usually for more playing time, a higher profile environment, to be closer to home or even for more Name Image Likeness (NIL) money. Jonathan King fell into a different category in transferring to Virginia Union University from Alderson Broaddus University in tiny Philippi, W.Va.
JM girls don’t play second fiddle
Some might contend that the John Marshall High girls basketball team plays in the shadow of JM’s frequent-state champion boys squad. If so, Coach Virgil Burton’s young women are casting some mighty long shadows of their own on the North Side and beyond.
Chiefs, 49ers primed for Super Bowl rematch
This year’s Super Bowl matchup features franchises with plenty of experience on football’s grandest stage.
Curry comes off the bench
Steph Curry will be in an unusual role for this year’s NBA All-Star Game. He’ll be coming off the bench.
Embiid drops 70, breaks Wilt’s record
Erasing Wilt Chamberlain’s name from any record book is a rare feat, but Joel Embiid has done it.
Beltré set for place in hall of fame
Ozzie Virgil opened the gates in 1956. Ever since, there has been a flood of stars who have reached the Major Leagues from the Dominican Republic. Adrián Beltré surely made his mark on the game. The slugging third baseman has become the fifth Dominican to be selected for the Hall of Fame, following Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero and David Ortiz.
New Rams finding own identity
It’s not too unusual for a basketball team to repeat as league champion or top contender. But with a nearly all-new cast?
Rispress takes recruiting prowess to Colorado
Devin Rispress helped Florida A&M’s football team win a national championship. Now he hopes to do the same for the University of Colorado.
VUU women upset No. 11 Trojans
Virginia Union’s women hoopsters were not intimidated after seeing Virginia State’s NCAA Division II, No. 11 national ranking.
VUU men get big win against rival
Virginia Union University has known hard times this basketball season, but the way Coach Jay Butler sees it, “We’re 1-0 ... 1-0 with nine to go.” The CIAA Northern Divi- sion title is determined by divisional record and VUU started divisional play with a convincing 54-44 win at Virginia State as part of the Freedom Classic Festival.
Daily news: ‘I’m smaller, but I’m faster’
Anyone using the excuse of being too small for basketball needs to take a lesson from Cherish Daily. Inch for inch and pound for pound, the 5-foot-2, 115-pound Armstrong High junior might be the city’s top baller.
ECSU taps Richardson as interim basketball coach
Andre Gray has been fired as head basketball coach at Elizabeth City State. He has been replaced on an interim basis by alumnus John Richardson III.
JM speeds on after speed bump
Don’t worry, John Marshall High fans. The basketball still has plenty of air in it on the North Side.
Pats add Mayo to pigskin recipe
Hampton native Jared Mayo is the New England Patriots’ new head coach, succeeding the iconic Bill Belichick.
New pro basketball team is looking for ballers
So, you’re out of school, getting a bit older, but still want to play some serious basketball? Here’s your chance. There is a new pro basketball team forming in town — the Richmond Ram Chargers — and it’s looking for ballers.
Moore’s leadership might have saved Michigan
Will he stay or will he go? That’s the question the football world is asking about Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh following his national championship.
Double your pleasure at VSU-VUU Classic
Let Freedom ring. Doors open at 2 p.m. Saturday for the annual Freedom Classic Festival that combines basketball with numerous community and cultural activities.
Gridiron star is hoopin’ it up
Among the area’s top football prospects doubles as a basketball standout. Darius Gray is a difference maker in sneakers as well as shoulder pads for St. Christopher’s School in Richmond’s leafy West End.
Judea Watkins rides high with Klutch Sports Group
University of Southern California freshman Judea “JuJu” Watkins is lighting up scoreboards and already taking her earnings to the bank.
HBCU history made in the snow
Two days after Christmas in 1892, a group of young men from Charlotte rode horse and buggy to Salisbury on a snowy winter’s day.
Fla. A&M’s Simmons going to Duke
For the second straight season, the SWAC football Coach of the Year is changing addresses.
The Saints are marching in
No, that wasn’t a sonic boom or earthquake Richmonders heard coming from the west last Friday night.
Moses, Ferrell in NFL spotlight
The NFL’s upper echelon has a Richmond look. A pair of Richmond natives went head-to-head Christmas night in what was among the season’s most viewed games with 27.2 million TV viewers.
R-MC’s Nixon wins top honors
Nehemiah Nixon didn’t get the headlines, but he caused plenty of headaches for the opposition.
Thomas’ star shines at NSU
It’s very early. But if votes were cast today for MEAC Player of Year, Jamarii Thomas might be the top candidate.
Rams’ ‘Odometer’ clicking upward
Virginia Commonwealth University’s eight-game homestand – among the longest in school history – ends Saturday with a 4 p.m. tipoff against Atlantic 10 rival George Washington University.
Salazar’s glad his travels landed him at VUU
If you’re living in Richmond with a cellphone area code of 562, you are likely far from home. Meet Jonathan Salazar, whose basketball road trip has taken him from his native Panama to Nevada to California to New Mexico, back to California, and now to Virginia Union University. His 562 Area Code stems from when he was in high school (St. John Bosco Technical Institute) in the Greater Los Angeles area.
CFP has a Southern drawl
Officially, it’s the College Football Playoff. Unofficially it’s been the “Southern Showdown.”
Virginia Tech’s Brooks is halfway to 1,000 wins
Coach and women’s team think like champions, play like champions
Kenny Brooks has lifted Virginia Tech women’s basketball to new heights, and he’s far from finished.
VUU’s Parker to coach in New Orleans
Dr. Alvin Parker’s football coaching excellence at Virginia Union University hasn’t gone unnoticed. Coach Parker has been named as a co-coach for Team Gaither in the HBCU Legacy Bowl Feb. 24 at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Wildcats’ Byrd is the word
Armstrong’s standout athlete feels ‘capable of doing anything’
There was only one No. 5 on the Armstrong High football roster, but it must have seemed like four to the Wildcats’ opponents.
Miller and son are dynamic duo at VSU
Toddler steals hearts of basketball team and fans
Amesha Miller is more than just a student-athlete at Virginia State University. She’s that rare student-athlete and mother.
Rattlers shine in James’ shoes
Florida A&M University, perhaps with a little help from LeBron James, is the Celebration Bowl and National Black Colleges football champion.
Hall of Famer McGinnis dies at age 73
George McGinnis, whose basketball Hall of Fame career spanned multiple seasons in the old ABA and NBA, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, of heart complications. He was 73.
Liberty’s Flames turning into a bonfire
On a winning football scale of one to 13, Liberty University is a 13. There are only four undefeated major college football teams left, and one of them is located only a fast two hours west in Lynchburg.
Number of Black quarterbacks honored with Heisman continues to climb
A running back was the model for the iconic Heisman Trophy statue, but over time it is increasingly awarded to quarterbacks.
Bronny makes USC debut
Bronny James’ much-awaited college debut will be remembered for plenty of excitement, but also a painful loss.
It’s time to celebrate
Florida A&M and Howard head to bowl game in ATL
The eighth Celebration Bowl will have a first-time winner this year. Florida A&M and Howard are newbies to the annual event used to crown the de facto Black National Champion.
Smith says ‘anchors aweigh’
Basketball standout Kyah Smith has proven to be in ship-shape as a college freshman. The native Richmonder and former L.C. Bird High of Chesterfield star is making waves at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Harding scores most points by a Panther since 1990
Virginia Union University enjoyed the CIAA’s top scorer a year ago in Robert Osborne. With Osborne having graduated, the Panthers may have another scoring champ this year in Tahj Harding.
Versatility defines Travis Hunter’s MVP award
Travis Hunter is college football’s MVP …no, not Most Valuable player, but rather Most Versatile Player.
Mayden brothers pitch Black-owned baseball league open to all
Think you can play baseball? Here’s your chance.
JMU’s Bickerstaff no stranger to basketball
If the name Bickerstaff sounds familiar to basketball and/or movie fans, it should.
Former Henrico hoops star transfers to Baylor
Jada Walker has taken her talents to the Lone Star State.
