HBCU Athletic Conference announces Week 11 Men's Basketball Honorees

NEW ORLEANS - Philander Smith University forward Raymond Reece wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Huston-Tillotson University center Kemondreon Cansler takes Defensive Player of the Week. Southern University at New Orleans wing Jaylon Hicks garners Freshman of the Week. Fisk University's Josh Alexander II captures Newcomer of the Week. The men were honored for their performances between January 5-11, the conference announced on Monday.

Reece averaged 30 points and 14 rebounds per game to keep the Panthers unbeaten in HBCUAC play. Twelve of his rebounds were on the offensive end. In Thursday's 81-62 victory at Huston-Tillotson, he put up 31 points and 16 rebounds with six on offense. Against Paul Quinn on Saturday, he posted 29 points and 12 rebounds in an 84-82 victory.

Cansler blocked 13 shots in two contests and grabbed 12 rebounds with seven on defense. His seven blocks and six rebounds on Saturday helped the Rams win their first HBCUAC game against Wiley.

Hicks averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds per game in two contests. He added eight steals with six coming against Loyola University on January 5. Hicks shot 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc. He improved his scoring average to 13.6 points, which ranks 12th in the conference.

Alexander posted 17 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in two contests last week. He recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Bulldogs to an overtime victory over East Division leader Stillman College on Thursday. He followed with 10 points and seven rebounds in a rout over Rust College.

Additional men's basketball weekly nominees: Dorian Booker (SUNO), Cortez Collins (Wiley), John Harrison (Paul Quinn), Isaiah Haliburton (Huston-Tillotson), Jordan Hicks (Paul Quinn), Jordan Hill (Oakwood), Rydarius Hill (Voorhees), Gabriel Iwuala (Huston-Tillotson), Kaleb Jeffries (Fisk), TJ Mitchell (Paul Quinn), Shamir Mosley (Wiley), Antonio Patterson (Tougaloo), Donavan Seamster (Wiley), Tim Smith (Voorhees), Eric Steward Jr. (Tougaloo), Steven Toston (Philander Smith), Kesean Washington (Philander Smith), Simeon Williams II (Fisk), Gabriel Wright (Voorhees)

2025-26 Men's Basketball Player of the Week

About the HBCU Athletic Conference

The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.