Over the weekend, the National Basketball Player Association (NBPA), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) hosted the 2024 HBCU Top 50 Basketball Camp on the campuses of Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
Since 2017, the Top 50 Camp has been aiding HBCU student-athletes take their next step in their careers. There, the premier prospects play in interconference games and scrimmages that sharpen their skills. With Jason Thompson (NBA), Solomon Jones (NBA), and Mactabene Amachreeas (WNBA) participating as coaches and mentors, the student-athletes also went through skill development drills and attended educational seminars.
More than an opportunity to improve their game, an invite to the Top 50 Basketball Camp is also a chance for these prospects to expand their network.
NBPA Co-Hosts HBCU Basketball Camp In Atlanta
Here are the 50 student-athletes who received an invite to the camp:
Alvin Miles (Miles College); Alvin Stredic (MVSU); Amarr Knox (Alabama State); Andrew Stewart (Clark Atlanta); Asanti Price (Benedict College); Ayjay Plain (Savannah State); Brayon Freeman (Bethune-Cookman); Cameron Butler (Alcorn State); Lorenzo Downey (Alabama A&M); Chris Martin (Clark Atlanta); Christian Moore (Arkansas Pine Bluff); Christian Wells (LeMoyne-Owen College); Corey Hines Jr. (Alabama State); Corey Trotter (Miles College); D’Anthony Pennington (Tuskegee); Damani McEntire (Bethune-Cookman); Damion Mitchell Jr. (Morehouse College); Darell Johnson (Lane College); Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. (Bethune-Cookman); Derrick Tezeno (Southern University); Donovan Sanders (MVSU); Elijah Stewart (Clark Atlanta); G’Shan Aldridge (Allen University); Goliath Mitchell (Edward Waters); Isaiah Veal (Spring Hill); Jaden Gray (Morehouse College); Jalyke Gaines (Alcorn State); James Chase Ballard (Miles College); James Flippin (Grambling State); Jasteven Walker (Alabama State); Kharye Cayne (Clark Atlanta); Kintavious Dozier (Grambling State); Klemen Vuga (Arkansas-Pine Bluff); Kusamae Draper (Tuskegee); Mikale Stevenson (Grambling State); Myson Lowe (Fort Valley State); Qua King (Savannah State); Quentin Bolton (Arkansas-Pine Bluff); Reginald Ward (Bethune-Cookman); Rylen Walker (Morehouse College); Shakur Poteat (Albany State); Shemani Fuller (Clark Atlanta); Steven Key II (Central State); Tidjane Dioumassi (Southern University); Trey Thomas (Bethune-Cookman); Tyler Pendergrass (Fort Valley State); Walter Hamilton (MVSU); Walter Peggs Jr. (Spring Hill)
Many of these players will go undrafted, either pursuing other career paths thereafter or pushing forward with their hoop dreams. However, there are a few prospects who could become professional athletes, whether that’s stateside or abroad.
Peggs (36 percent), Pennington (36 percent), Downey (36 percent), Veal (37 percent), Miles (40 percent), Poteat (40 percent), Ward (41 percent), Wells (42 percent), and Ballard (44 percent) demonstrated proficiency from 3 last season. The 3-ball alone may not guarantee a long and fruitful career. Nonetheless, plenty of players who have made millions of dollars because of their ability to knock down outside shots.
Players like Plain could make enough noise at the defensive end to draw the right attention. In 2023-24, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged an eye-popping 2.9 steals per game. A true point guard as well, the two-way playmaker could be a jumper away from a two-way contract.
