SUNO duo, Stillman Sellers claim Week 13 HBCUAC Men's Basketball Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Southern University at New Orleans guard Jaylon Hicks wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week. Jermaine Lawrence earns Defensive Player of the Week. Stillman College guard Dasean Sellers takes home Newcomer of the Week. The men were recognized for their performances between January 19-25.

Hicks posted two 30-plus scoring games, helping the Knights to a win in two games. He scored 37 points on a 12-for-25 shooting performance in a 90-87 double overtime victory over the University of Mobile on Tuesday. He hit a jumper with 1:21 left in the second overtime to give SUNO a two-possession lead. He assisted on the game-sealing basket. It was the Knights first victory over the Rams since their program returned in 2022-23. Hicks led SUNO with 30 points in Saturday's game against Tougaloo. For the week, he had 13 assists and seven offensive rebounds. Hicks grabs his ninth and 10th weekly honors and moves up to No. 5 in the HBCUAC in scoring with 15.7 points per game and fourth with 61 assists.

Lawrence grabbed 14 rebounds with 12 on defense and blocked nine shots in two games. He recorded 11 rebounds with 10 on defense and blocked six shots in the double overtime victory against Mobile. He grabbed the game-winning rebound in double overtime. He followed that performance with three rebounds and three blocks against Tougaloo. Lawrence moves to sixth in the conference with 21 blocks. 

Sellers averaged 15 points, five rebounds and 2.3 steals in three games, leading the Tigers to two HBCUAC victories. He recorded 19 points, five rebounds and three steals against Voorhees University on Thursday. Sellers posted 20 points and seven rebounds, to lead Stillman to a victory over the HBCUAC East leader Talladega College. This is Sellers' second honor.

Additional men's basketball weekly nominees: Kayden Diggs (Voorhees), Jason Griffin (Oakwood), Rydarius Hill (Voorhees), Brandon Howard (Stillman), Antonio Patterson (Tougaloo), Josh Price (Stillman), Eric Steward Jr. (Tougaloo), Shaun Walker (Talladega), Jagger Young (Tougaloo)

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.