ECSU duo leads 2008 "Baad Team"

LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor

A quintet of forwards makes up the men's first team and players of the year in four conferences lead the women's team as the Black College Sports Page selects its top players for the just completed 2007-08 basketball season. Dubbed the "Baad Team" of black college all-stars ­ signalling that the selectees are so 'baad' they're good ­ this season represents the 14th year the BCSP has selected its list of all-Americans.

Heading the teams are players of the year from the CIAA, both from Elizabeth City State, one who has garnered a number of awards on the national scene.

2007-08 HBCU ALL-STARS WOMEN FIRST TEAM Shalamar Oakley, Sr., G, Cop. St. 17.5 ppg., Crystal Benton, Sr., F, Tuskegee 17.9 ppg., 10.3 rpg. Celeste Trahan, Sr., F/C, ECSU 23.7 ppg., 15.9 rpg. Candice Thomas, So., G, PV 15.7 ppg. Rashida Suber, Sr., G, Coppin St. 17.9 ppg. SECOND TEAM Corin Adams, So., G, MSU 16.6 ppg. Takesha Riggs, So., G, FVSU 19.3 ppg. Brittany Mingo, Jr., G, WVSU 19.3 ppg. Amber Bland, Jr., F, NCA&T 15.1 ppg. Kendra Appling, Jr., G, Tenn. St. 17.7 ppg., 2.5 spg. THIRD TEAM Nikia Trice, Jr., G, Albany St. 15.2 ppg. Sylbrena Johnson, Jr., G, Stillman 18.1 ppg. April McBride, So., F, UMES 15.6 ppg., 8.8 rpg. Oby Okafor, Jr., F, Tenn St. 16.9 ppg., 8.3 rpg. Kyria Buford, Jr., F, JCSU 15.3 ppg., 7.9 rpg. MEN FIRST TEAM Anthony Hilliard, Jr., F, SAC 19.7 ppg., 11.4 rpg. Roy Bright, Sr., F, DSU 19.1 ppg., Brad Byerson, Sr., F, VUU 16.8 ppg., 8.1 rpg. Kenny Jones, Sr., F, KSU 17.3 ppg., 9.2 rpg. Jamar Smith, Sr., F, MSU 16.6 ppg., SECOND TEAM Rashad West, Sr., G, Hampton 17.2 ppg. Flawaan Flaggs, Jr., G, Miles 20.4 ppg.. James Helton, Sr., F, WVSU 18.4 ppg., 8.9 rpg. Bruce Price, Sr., G, Tenn. St. 17.8 ppg. Boubacar Coly, Sr., C, MSU 11.2 ppg., 10.9 rpg. THIRD TEAM Andrew Hayles, Jr., G, Alab. St. 14.6 ppg Trant Sampson, So., G, AA&M 15.5 ppg., .407 3FG Tywain McKee, Sr., G, Coppin St. 16.6 ppg. Tramaine Stevens, Sr., G/F, FMC 24,5 ppg. Kenny Boyd, Jr., F, Morehouse 15.8 ppg., 10.0 rpg.

Lady Vikings' senior center extraordinaire Celeste Trahan has been the most decorated black college player on the national scene since Shaw guard Ronald Murray was named men's NCAA Div. II player of the year in 2002. The 6-1 Stockton, Ca., native has piled up a number of national awards after being named the CIAA's player of the year for the second straight season.

Trahan, who led NCAA Div. II and all black college players in scoring (23.7 ppg.) and rebounding (15.7 rpg.), has added the Daktronics NCAA Div. II South Atlantic Region's outstanding player award and the Daktronics Div. II player of the year award, the first time a CIAA women's player has been so honored since 1998 (Konecka Drakeford, Johnson C. Smith).

Trahan, who was also named CIAA defensive player of the year, finished her career as the first player in women's Div. II history and only the fourth player in any division to record 2,000 points and 1,500 rebounds. She finished her career with 2,151 points and 1,542 rebounds becoming the first Lady Viking to have her jersey retired.

Based on her great accomplishments, Trahan is the BCSP women's player of the year.

Joining Trahan on the women's first team are players of the year from the three other HBCU conferences. Tuskegee forward Crystal Benton led the Lady Tigers to regular season and tournament titles in the SIAC averaging 17.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She garnered both the regular season player of the year and tournament most valuable player awards.

Coppin State senior guard Shalamar Oakley also won both regular season and tournament outstanding player awards. Oakley averaged 17.5 points per game and won the tournament MVP trophy after leading her second-seeded Lady Eagles to the title over top-seed N.C. A&T. Backcourt mate Rashida Suber, who led the Eagles averaging 17.9 ppg. and hit the winning shot in the championship game, joins Oakley on the first team.

SWAC player of the year Candice Thomas, a 5-9 sophomore guard who averaged 15.7 points per game for the regular season champ Lady Panthers, rounds out the first five.

All five positions on the men's first team are occupied by forwards led by another Elizabeth City State product, 6-4 junior guard/forward Anthony Hilliard.

Coming off an MVP performance in the 2007 CIAA Tournament, the ball-hawking Hilliard matched Trahan leading the CIAA in both scoring (19.7 ppg.) and rebounding (11.4 rpg.) this year to earn conference player of the year. He was then named co-player of the year in the South Atlantic Region and second team Daktronics Div. II all-American. Hilliard is the BCSP player of the year.

Morgan State ran to the MEAC regular season title behind the play of conference player of the year, forward Jamar Smith. The rugged 6-4 swingman whose late-season foot injury perhaps prevented the Bears from adding the league's tournament title, averaged 16.6 points and 5.4 rebound per game while shooting 48% from the field. Talented 6-6 Delaware State forward Roy Bright averaged 19.1 points per game, second best in the league, and challenged Smith for the league's top player award. He is also named to the first team

Two seniors round out the men's first team. Six-six forward Kenny Jones (17.3 ppg., 9.2 rpg.) finished his Kentucky State career with the SIAC's player of the year award. Virginia Union center/forward Brad Byerson led the Panthers to the CIAA regular season crown with averages of 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

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