HBCU notebook: Texas Southern’s Courtlyn Loudermill and Jaida Belton are hidden gems

Together they are having a blast; they’re among the top duos in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), feeding off each other and helping transform the Tigers into a formidable force. Even though they were picked ninth in the preseason poll and have a 1-9 overall record, the Tigers could pull a few surprises this season behind Loudermill and Belton once conference play begins next month.

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Playing for the first time in two years, Loudermill, a North Texas transfer, has reached double-digits in scoring in eight of the Tigers’ 10 games this season. Her joyful approach to the game has elevated her to third in the conference in scoring (14.0 points per game) through Dec. 19. Loudermill had 16 points as Texas Southern dropped a 94-88 decision to the University of Central Florida (UCF) on Dec. 7, a performance that earned her the SWAC Newcomer of the Week award on Dec. 11.

It was a game the Tigers led at intermission.

“I just went into the game like myself,” Loudermill said of her mindset against UCF. “I didn’t fear them because they’re in the [Big 12]. I didn’t care if they were a top school. I just went in, just in my mind, and I was like, I’m going to score, I’m going to play defense, I’m going to help my team, and stuff like that. So, I just had that mindset. I just played like myself.”

Loudermill rediscovered her passion for the game after sitting out last year to focus on earning her degree. She began her college basketball career at Oral Roberts, where she played just seven games before transferring to Panola College as a sophomore. There, she showcased her scoring prowess by averaging 13.1 points and scoring in double figures 23 times. As a junior at North Texas, she played 20 games, scoring 17 total points in 156 minutes during the 2022-23 season. Now, it appears Loudermill has finally found her best fit at Texas Southern.

The fact that Loudermill is playing a significant role means the world to her, especially since she comes from a basketball-loving family. Her aunt Ashley Jackson played at Texas, her uncle Kevin played at Texas A&M, and her parents, Raeo and Rashida, played the sport, as did her grandmother, Lurthea.

With those high-level hoop genes, Loudermill, who majors in kinesiology and wants to be a coach one day, had no choice but to play basketball. But, it took time to find a comfortable fit.

“Courtlyn is just so fun to coach, and she can do so many different things on the court,” Texas Southern third-year head coach Vernette Skeete said. “You have some of those kids who are gamers. She works hard in practice, but she is a gamer. When the lights come, she is ready to die out there. She is ready to give everything and puts so much emphasis on her role to lead the team with scoring that I have to talk her off the ledge some days like ‘baby, you’re not just a scorer but a ballplayer.’ It’s been fun helping her come out of her shell and allowing her to be as great as she could be because there’s a lot more for sure for her.”

Meanwhile, Belton, an All-SWAC Preseason Second Team selection, has been a tower of power as the second-leading shot blocker (1.3) and third-leading rebounder (8.6) in the conference. She has four double-doubles this season, including a solid 13-point, 10-rebound masterpiece against UCF. She also had 12 points and 10 rebounds against Texas A&M. Known for her relentless effort on the boards, Belton is rapidly approaching two significant milestones: 500 career rebounds and 100 career blocked shots.

Majoring in psychology and minoring in sports management, Belton’s journey to rebounding excellence began on the volleyball court, where she honed her skills as a middle blocker. The experience of swatting shots and finishing rallies fueled her competitive edge and enhanced her athleticism, instincts, and vertical leap — qualities that have translated seamlessly to her basketball success. Last season, in a game against Alabama A&M, Belton made national headlines with a 24-point, 18-rebound performance.

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“A lot of people said to me, oh, you’re tall, you should try basketball,” Belton said. “So, I was like, I want to try basketball. I was in middle school, and I fell in love with the game … I wanted to develop and do something with this, and I also played volleyball. In my senior year of high school, I decided. It was hard, but COVID helped me. I graduated during COVID, so when COVID came around, COVID stopped volleyball, and I kept playing basketball.”

Skeete is thrilled to have Loudermill and Belton as part of her program. With Belton, Skeete believes she has yet to showcase just how great she can be. Belton was one of Skeete’s first signees when she took the job.

“When it comes to Jaida, she’s just a walking double-double, and she’s not even trying,” Skeete said. “She hasn’t put together a great game yet, but even being on the court, she’s a double-double, and we’re trying to get her into that space where satisfaction doesn’t linger here. … She’s been up and down. A double-double is great, but I tell her she could double the double-double.”

“I love Jaida because she’s been with me so long, and she understands what I am saying, and she’s such an easy kid to coach,” Skeete continued. “She’s mature and fun to coach, but she’s a better person off the court. She’s a great teammate. She knows all of the guard stuff before the guards. She has an excellent IQ.”

Skeete has also been pleased with the early efforts of 5’11 sophomore guard Aylasia Fantroy, who averages 10.4 points per game, and 5’7 sophomore guard Aaliyah Henderson, who scores at an 8.4 point per game clip. Henderson is 15th in the SWAC in assists per game (1.9) after transferring to Texas Southern from SMU. Meanwhile, Fantroy was named the SWAC Impact Player of the Week on Dec. 11 and Dec. 17.

Skeete also highlighted the effort of 5’11 senior guard Alisa Knight, who graduated this month but had to leave the team for personal reasons. She scored 12 points in a season-high 34 minutes against UCF.

“She’s a tremendous and smart kid who does everything on the floor,” Skeete said. “She’s always in some type of stat, remembering the scout, talking everybody else through the scout, and helping them out … I think she’s going to end up going to nursing school down there, but it’s just a sad but joyous moment for me … To make a decision to leave, which is the right thing to do says a lot about her, but I’m grateful for her because she kept everything together.”

The Tigers visit Tarleton State on Dec. 29 before opening SWAC play against preseason favorite Grambling State at home on Thursday, Jan. 2. Their only victory this year was a 119-27 win over College of Biblical Studies from Houston in which Texas Southern led 44-0 after the first quarter. Yet, signs of positive progress from a competitive performance against UCF and a one-point loss against East Texas A&M are building blocks for future and consistent success.

“You can’t water the seed and eat the apples overnight, so we’re still in the watering phase,” Skeete said.

Haynes leading Maryland-Eastern Shore

A young Zamara Haynes was captivated the moment she watched her first AND1 video. The dazzling dribbles, no-look passes and ankle-breaking crossovers sparked a dream — a vision of herself pulling off those moves one day.

Determined to make that dream a reality, the 5’7 Maryland Eastern Shore graduate guard asked for a special Christmas gift. It has been one that keeps on giving for the Hawks’ leading scorer, who scores 13.1 points per game, which is seventh in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

“I just asked for a basketball,” Haynes told The Next after UMES dropped a seven-point decision to Arizona State in the second game of the Coaches vs Racism Classic at the Entertainment & Sports Arena last week. “I was about seven or eight. Then, I learned to go between my legs and behind my back. I pretty much put the ball in my hands myself. I just had a thing for it and have stuck with it ever since.”

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Haynes, a huge Kyrie Irving fan, wore No. 2 at Imhotep High School in Philadelphia, mirroring her idol. When Irving changed his uniform to No. 11, she followed suit and proudly sports it as she slices through defenses and competes with relentless passion and grit.

Haynes achieved a significant milestone that fills her with pride and sets her up for future success. On Dec. 13, she became the first member of her family to graduate from college, a special moment that celebrated her hard work and marked a significant milestone in her life and her family’s history.

“It’s been a long ride,” Haynes reflected. “I wasn’t the biggest academic person. I had to learn to love it. I love the game a lot, and knowing that being strong academically is going to keep me on the floor, I had to tackle all the obstacles when it came to that. It’s a blessing to be a first-generation college grad. I’m just trying to pave the way, and I feel like that’s what kept me going.”

Haynes extends her influence beyond the court, impacting the Princess Anne community by sharing wisdom, reading to elementary school kids, and speaking with middle and high school students about her journey. Her commitment to community engagement is a source of pride for the local area and speaks to her character.

Haynes has also been an influential leader for the Hawks (currently 4-7 overall) under first-year head coach Malikah Willis. She has scored in double figures in seven games this season and has had three of the most prolific scoring bursts in games against big-time opponents, including 23 points against VCU and 20 against Buffalo and Illinois.

Her biggest game was a career-high-tying 25-point outing on Nov. 25, which helped UMES earn a 62-56 victory over Dayton, a significant triumph for the Hawks program.

“A win like that just opened our eyes to the possibilities of the things that could go well when we just stick together as a team,” Haynes said. “That showed us that we are enough. We’re good enough to compete with any school in a bigger conference.”

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A sociology major, Haynes worked hard during the offseason to prepare for a memorable final season. She improved her three-point shooting by dedicating five to six days a week to the gym, focusing on conditioning and shooting.

When Willis got hired, Haynes made an immediate impression. Last season, Haynes averaged 8.6 points over 30 games because the Hawks had more scoring options. She increased her scoring average by over five points through 10 games this season. With 923 career points, Haynes is on pace to reach quadruple digits, which would be another great moment for her.

“I noticed just how hard she plays,” Willis said. “I mean, she has a lot of heart. She’s tough. You know, you can coach her hard. She wants to win, and you can see that in her game. She exudes that aura of a winning mentality and getting in the trenches. She’ll go 40 minutes if I need her to.”

Willis has been building the Hawk foundation through defense. Specializing in creating festive chaos, UMES leads the MEAC in opponent field goal percentage (34.5%), 3-point field goal defense (28.4%), rebounding margin (+7.1) and steals (10.7). The Hawks are also second in scoring defense (59.1), and held Arizona State to 64 points and kept Dayton below 60 points.

While the Dayton victory was a nice feather in the Hawks’ cap, Willis, who has coached at numerous programs, was happy with the outcome, but is still looking for more from her team.

“It helps,” Willis shared. “It’s just another win regarding how much it means to me, but it helps to show on film that we could play with different competition on different levels. So, when we go back and look at the film and show our players, it is very beneficial, but it’s just another win. We have to stack them together. We have to learn how to win, and that’s the hardest part right now. The learning process of how to get it done and play four quarters.”

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Haynes has plenty of assistance from her teammates, like 5’11 forward Brianna Barnes, 6’0 forward/center Mahogany Lester, 6’2 forward Lainey Allen, and 5’9 guard Ashanti Lynch. In the conference, Lester and Allen are ninth and 12th, respectively, in rebounding. Lynch is third in the MEAC in steals (2.0).

Willis has so far enjoyed coaching the Hawks. There have been moments of frustration, but overall, her team’s potential has excited her for conference play. UMES hosted Mississippi State on Dec. 20, a game that Willis said got scheduled because of previous relationships. Lester, another key returnee, has been one of the Hawks’ leaders this season. She scored 12 points during a 70-52 loss to Mississippi State.

“She’s just a glue kid,” Willis said. “She’s the one that keeps me secure when she’s out there. She doesn’t shoot the ball enough for me. I don’t know if she’s been counted on enough in her past, but I need her to light it up a little bit because she’s definitely a player that deserves it. She’s been here the longest and earned that trust in me, but I love what she’s doing right now.”

Jackson State road warriors

Jackson State has been the definition of road warriors this season.

The reigning SWAC Tournament champions have yet to play a single home game this season. Instead, they’ve endured 12 consecutive road games, making them the only Division I women’s basketball team out of 362 programs still awaiting the comforts of home. However, relief is in sight with just two more road trips remaining: a visit to Missouri on Dec. 29 and their SWAC conference opener at Alcorn State on Jan. 4.

Jackson State’s home opener will be Thursday, Jan. 9 against Alabama A&M.

“When I got here, we had to complete a schedule,” Jackson State head coach Margaret Richards said to The Next. “When you start calling people, they want you to come play at their place. So, at that point, our goal was to get some home and homes so we would never be in this situation again.”

“I am just blessed to have the opportunity to lead a first-class program. As a leader, I control what I can and help my young ladies focus on what we can control and get better. As far as traveling, we make the best of it. We travel well and stay in nice hotels and do team bonding,” she continued.

According to Richards, Mercer, Tennessee Tech and Arkansas State are scheduled to visit Jackson State during the 2025-26 season.

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Despite their grueling schedule, the Tigers head into Christmas on a high note after securing a 66-54 victory over Mercer on Dec. 19. The road-weary squad built a commanding 22-point lead by the end of the third quarter, earning their second win. Interestingly, Jackson State’s only other victory also came against a Southern Conference opponent, East Tennessee State.

In the victory, the Tigers were led by 5’9 graduate guard/forward Leianya Massenat, who had 16 points and seven rebounds. Jaileyah Cotton added 13 points and seven rebounds, and 5’8 senior guard Taleah Dilworth helped with 13 points.

Dilworth has been a ray of positivity and consistency for the Tigers, who are 2-8 overall.

The Kentucky State transfer averages a team-best 14.1 points per game, tied for first in the SWAC. She has scored double figures in nine of the Tigers’ 10 games, including a season-high 18 points against Tennessee Tech. Dilworth, who has so far scored the most points of any player in the SWAC with 141, is also 19-for-22 from the foul line over the Tigers’ last three games.

“My main goal is for us to peak as a team at the right time,” Richards said. “Adversity builds character. This will help us, and we are remaining positive throughout everything. We don’t make excuses.”

Alabama A&M’s strong start

The Bulldogs, under the leadership of first-year head coach Dawn Thornton, are enjoying a successful non-conference campaign. This season, Alabama A&M has stood out among SWAC programs by not heavily relying on road games at Power Four programs. The Bulldogs’ season kicked off with a home game against the University of Alabama, a match that, despite the loss, set the tone for the season and showcased the team’s potential for greatness.

More importantly, the game against Alabama had the highest women’s basketball attendance in the AAMU Event Center’s history, with 5,539 fans showing up. 

Alabama A&M has won six of its last eight games after edging Central Arkansas, 55-53, in the consolation game of the Tulane tournament. Their only setbacks have been a 56-54 loss to Utah Valley in the San Diego Christmas Classic and a 63-56 setback to Tulane, the Bulldogs’ first road loss of the season.

During this hot stretch of hoops, Alabama A&M has earned wins over Kansas City (Summit League), San Diego (West Coast Conference), Lindenwood (Ohio Valley), and North Alabama (Atlantic Sun). Alabama A&M also defeated Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference.

The win over North Alabama was a historic moment for AAMU, as it marked the team’s best start in program history at 6-3. The victory also extended Alabama A&M’s unbeaten road record to 5-0. The Bulldogs are now 7-4 overall.

The game was particularly memorable for senior center Alisha Wilson, who reached a career milestone by grabbing her 1,000th rebound. Senior guard Kaila Walker also had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 30 points and leading the SWAC in scoring with an average of 13.6 points per game.

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The Bulldogs have had several contributors step forward to lead them this season. In the win over Lindenwood, 5’6 senior guard Jaiyah Harris-Smith earned her 300th career assist after recording a game-high seven assists. Harris-Smith played her first three years at Little Rock before joining the Bulldog program. She’s made an immediate impact, and is now second in the SWAC in assists per game (3.0), including five assists against UAB.

Harris-Smith has enjoyed plenty of options to distribute the ball, with 5’9 senior guard Lauryn Pendleton and 6’1 senior guard Kourtney Rittenberry averaging double digits (12.1 and 10.6 respectively).

Walker, who played at Arkansas Pine-Bluff last year under Thornton, scored 24 points in the win over San Diego. She has scored double figures in nine games this season, including a 23-point performance against Alabama-Huntsville. Rittenberry also played at UAPB last season, and so far scored in double figures six times this season, including a season-high 14 points in the win over Eastern Michigan. Rittenberry added eight rebounds to go along with her 13 points in the win over San Diego.

Pendleton scored in double figures in six straight games from Nov. 9-30, and had 15 points and four assists against San Diego. She is also a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line over Alabama A&M’s last three games. An Arkansas State transfer, Pendleton, who majors in creative media production, was part of the OTA Elite club team that qualified for the USA Women’s 3×3 U18 National Championship in 2018.

Meanwhile, Wilson is anchoring the Bulldogs with an 8.2 point per game average and an 8.8 rebound per game average. In the win over Lindenwood, she achieved her second double-double of the season after scoring 11 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and collecting three steals. 

Worley breaks out for Coppin State

Coppin State’s Cire Worley enjoyed a coming out party as the Eagles narrowly defeated Kent State, 67-61, in overtime on Dec 19. She tied her career-high with 15 points, 12 of which came after intermission. Worley scored Coppin State’s first four points of overtime and made a critical defensive play, tying up a Kent State player to force a jump ball.

Worley, a Philadelphia native from a basketball family, transferred to Coppin State this year after averaging 4.8 points per game at UMass-Lowell. Worley’s dad, Eric, is in the West Chester Hall of Fame. Worley’s sister Dee played at Hofstra and was an assistant coach at UMass Lowell for two years, while her cousin, Aaliyah, played basketball at Stony Brook University. Playing AAU for Philly Triple Threat and Philly Rise, Worley graduated as the all-time leading scorer in Abington High School history.

After enduring hard times in her personal life, she’s now thriving for the Eagles, who are 8-5 overall after winning six of their last eight games before a Dec. 21 contest at Virginia.

“I’m playing more how I played in high school,” Worley said outside the locker room following the win against Kent State. “I was more in the post, so now I am getting my confidence back and getting back to what I’m used to. Now, I play confidently, knowing that my teammates have my back, good or bad.”

During its week between games, Worley met with head coach Jermaine Woods to discuss her role. Standing at 6’0, Worley is versatile and can play anywhere on the floor. At UMass-Lowell, she played mostly in the post and out of position.

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Now, at Coppin State, Worley is having a blast playing on the wing and contributing. Woods was happy to witness Worley’s breakout game. He already understood her potential and saw it every day during practice, it was just a matter of time before she fully displayed during a game.

Worley also played a season-high 34 minutes against Kent State. In an oddity, Coppin State got 25 bench points against Kent State after getting none against Arizona State, both overtime home wins.

“That’s what we brought her here for, to score the ball,” Woods said. “We had a heart-to-heart, and I gave her my feelings, she gave me hers, and we agreed. It’s been working. That’s the kind of coach I am. If you have something to say and you want to get something out, come to my office. Let’s talk about it. She was right. I had to put in a better situation to be successful and give her more opportunities … I am proud of her. She stepped up tonight.”

Coppin State has enjoyed a strong non-conference campaign that’s featured three overtime victories and two more by less than two points. The Eagles have gotten game-winning shots from Angel Jones against Frostburg State in its season opener and Laila Lawrence against NJIT. Coppin State concludes its non-conference campaign next week in the FDU tournament against a pair of America East foes, Bryant and Maine, on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29.

McEvans coming on strong for Florida A&M

Florida A&M 5’9 graduate guard Cheyenne McEvans has been on a scoring surge lately that has led her to the top of the SWAC in scoring, at 14.1 points per game. McEvans is tied with Jackson State’s Taleah Dilworth for conference scoring honors.

McEvans scored in double figures for the five games prior to her 15-point, 10 rebound double-double in a 72-67 overtime victory over Samford on Friday. This included the Syracuse transfer’s season-high 24 points against Middle Tennessee. The Rattlers have won two straight games heading into Christmas break, including an 85-57 win over North Florida where McEvans had 17 points.

FAMU head coach Bridgette Gordon has also been nominated for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Gordon enjoyed a decorated career at the University of Tennessee where she was the 1989 NCAA Final Four MVP, SEC Female Athlete of the Year, and SEC Player of the Year.

Howard’s Saniyah King among nation’s top freshmen

Howard freshman Saniyah King is second nationally among freshmen in assists per game (5.1) behind UCLA’s Elina Aarnisalo. King enjoyed a breakout two games during the Hawk Classic in Philadelphia, scoring in double figures in each contest to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. She scored a career-high 23 points against Saint Joseph’s on Dec. 20, and has scored in double figures eight times this season.

Amazingly, of the 11 family members who attended Howard before her, including her mom, King is the first student-athlete. King spent so much time at Howard before officially enrolling that she could have been mistaken for one of the campus’s iconic landmarks, like Founders Library — the historic site where Thurgood Marshall prepared his briefs for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

Howard head coach Ty Grace is happy to have King leading the Bison and believes her best days are ahead of her.

“She’s just a tough kid and plays with a motor,” Grace told The Next. “She’s gritty and not afraid of hard work or afraid to get hit. She’s an even better person off the court. I appreciate her so much. She just came in and jumped into it right away and done everything I’ve asked her to do, and she continues to improve. So just glad to have her.”