HBCU notebook: Mississippi Valley State’s Sh’Diamond McKnight no longer a secret

McKnight steps into the spotlight

Sh’Diamond McKnight never stops.

The 5’7 Mississippi Valley State senior guard is a hidden gem grinding in silence.

On the court, McKnight’s style is unmistakable. Her disposition to dominate is evident as she pushes through contact on thrusts to the basket or splashes mid-range jumpers that rarely touch iron. Her relentless pressure on defenders showcases her excellence on both ends of the court, making her one of the nation’s most formidable two-way players.

McKnight started the 2024-25 women’s basketball season with a near quadruple-double in a tightly contested road game against Memphis, which ended in an 89-78 setback. A Preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) First Team honoree, McKnight showcased her versatile skills, scoring 22 points, grabbing nine rebounds, snatching nine steals, and dishing out eight assists.

McKnight is no longer anonymous after that eye-opening effort.

Her presence was felt everywhere.

“It felt good (to finish with those numbers), but I couldn’t do it without my teammates. I wouldn’t get almost a quadruple-double if it weren’t for my teammates. (Against Memphis), it felt good to know that we never gave up. We played together as one. And it was amazing how we pushed through that game to where we didn’t get blown out.”

McKnight’s father, W.C., was a boys AAU coach who shared his knowledge with his youngest daughter, helping her learn to play with determination and grit, lessons the Devilettes and their fans benefit from.

“My dad coached a boys AAU team, and he used to put me out there with the boys,” McKnight reflected during a recent Zoom call with The Next. “He would tell me to go play, and my brother was on the team. He got on me for things I didn’t do right or was messing up on. I took that like he was toughing me up. So, they’ll tell me to stop crying and get up whenever I got fouled or failed.”

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McKnight’s style of play—rooted in heart, passion, and toughness—reflects the spirit of Itta Bena, a city renowned for its soul food and music featuring heartfelt rhythms that carry the essence of the Mississippi Delta’s blues heritage.

Like the blues, which reflects hardship and resilience, McKnight has faced her own challenges. This was especially true after tearing her meniscus and ACL during her sophomore year in high school. It was one of the rare times she cried, admitting, “I didn’t want to stop playing basketball because basketball is like life to me.”

In addition to providing a solid support system while she was recovering from her injuries, the tough love bonded McKnight with her older brothers, Robert and William, McKnight, who grew up in Bossier City, La., wanted to be like them, so she followed them when they went to the courts to play basketball. Even now, McKnight takes it to heart whenever they offer feedback and make the necessary adjustments.

McKnight’s mom, Brenda, was also a standout softball player, so her athletic genes ran deep in her family.

“My mom also played sports in high school,” McKnight said. “I played everything, especially in middle school, where I played basketball, ran track, and played softball because my mom did softball. So, my mom’s just the type. She’s not the type that would watch us play, and she would get on me. She’ll be like, you need to stop doing this, and you need to stop doing that. So, she’s pushing me to be better. So, she had a major part in it, too.”

McKnight arrived at Mississippi Valley State along with her teammate, senior guard Jaylia Reed, after they enjoyed strong two-year careers at Southern Arkansas Tech University. It was there that McKnight discovered her favorite part of the game. While some players love dropping dimes to teammates and others enjoy seeing the ball go through the net, McKnight’s passion is rooted in another critical aspect of the game.

Again, there wasn’t really a choice to embrace it if she wanted to play consistently.

“I like playing defense,” McKnight said. “It’s just my thing. I like defense so much because my JUCO coach was like the only reason I stayed on the court was defense. Honestly, defense wins the game, and all my points come from defense unless I have, like my teammates, that drives and kick it out to me, and I get the shot.”

McKnight’s defensive mastery stems from a blend of cleverness, intelligence, anticipation, quickness, and precise timing. McKnight’s fleet fingers and impeccable footwork allow her to stay locked onto her opponent or area of the court while disrupting their rhythm. Against Memphis, all these great skills were on display.

Last season – her first at MVSU – McKnight led the SWAC and was 16th nationally in steals per game (2.8) and 21st overall in steals (71). In addition, McKnight was fifth in the SWAC in scoring (13.4 points per game) and assists per game (3.2). The sticky-fingered McKnight had 19 games with at least three steals, including a season-best seven against Texas Southern, a game in which she finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds for her only career double-double at the Division I level.

Through five games this season, McKnight is picking up where she left off last season.

In addition to leading the SWAC, McKnight is sixth nationally in steals per game (4.00). Her 20 total steals are third nationally. She’s second in the SWAC in assists per game and seventh in scoring (14.2 points per game). She dropped 20 points in a 92-66 road setback at UAB, another impressive effort against a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Devilettes led the Blazers at halftime.

MVSU head women’s basketball coach Kimberly Anderson has been impressed with McKnight’s growth as a woman and a leader.

“She’s able to bring more energy to the table,” Anderson said during SWAC Media Day in October. “She’s also becoming the leader that I’m looking for. She’s now uplifting players. She’s motivating players, trying to get everybody at the point that we want to win, and we don’t want to be at the bottom anymore … She’s my go-getter and my Valley in Motion.”

Since arriving on campus, McKnight has been exceptional. She’s made an impact on the Devilettes. Now, she’s more determined and focused on helping MVSU enjoy a memorable season. She knows it won’t be easy, but McKnight believes the Devilettes have the talent to win more games this season.

“Being a leader is challenging,” McKnight said. “But for me now, as their leader, I make sure I pick them up, and they know to pick me up. As a leader, it’s hard because you have to be able to keep that energy on and off the court. I’m caring. I’m a listener, so if anybody needs to talk about anything or just come to me or talk in general, I will listen and give my feedback on what I think they should or should not do.”

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Much like the town’s name Itta Bena, which means “Home in the Woods,” McKnight has found her happy place at Mississippi Valley State, the youngest of all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), founded in 1950 as a vocational school.

McKnight is doing her part to add to Mississippi Valley State’s solid athletic heritage, highlighted by alums Jerry Rice and David “Deacon” Jones, both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Guard Alphonso Ford played in the NBA.

The most remarkable women’s basketball player in MVSU program history, Patricia Hoskins, held the all-time NCAA scoring record of 3,122 points for 12 years until Jackie Stiles broke it. Hoskins’ point total is now seventh all-time. Of course, now Caitlin Clark has the record. Hoskins led the NCAA in scoring (33.6 points) and rebounding (16.3) in her senior season (1998-99).

McKnight is excelling academically and looking ahead, with hopes of one day playing professionally. When the time comes to hang up her sneakers, McKnight envisions returning to coach at her high school.

Known for her love of sleep and rest, McKnight takes great pride in representing the Devilettes’ green and red, fully aware she’s no longer under the radar.

Inside Norfolk State’s win over Missouri

When asked about the significance of Norfolk State’s hard-fought 57-54 victory over Missouri earlier this month, 5’7 graduate guard Niya Fields focused on the larger picture.

It was Norfolk State’s first triumph over a Southeastern Conference (SEC) program and the first time since 1979-80 that NSU defeated a program from a Power Four conference – a 57-53 home victory over Virginia. The victory was the 150th of NSU head coach Larry Vickers’ career.

Yet, Fields recognized that the meaning of what they accomplished was much more significant.

“The win meant a lot, especially as an HBCU program,” Fields said as her words flowed fast during an exclusive phone interview with The Next. “The perspective is sometimes people look at HBCUs like we don’t have talent. There’s so much talent at HBCUs and we shouldn’t be overlooked. Against Missouri, we could feel it from the start, and we believed that this game was ours and we would get it. It was our time to show people who we are and what HBCU teams can really be.”

Norfolk State is one of the elite programs in the country, as evidenced by its ranking 10th in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The poised Spartans are experienced, talented, and resilient.

The two-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament champion Spartans are built for games against Power Four opponents. They played South Carolina and Stanford in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, respectively. They have been competitive against Power Four opponents only to be hurt by a bad quarter.

Vickers was excited to see his team play a complete game against the stunned Tigers, with strong defense, efficient offense, and a resilient attitude throughout.

“We finished,” Vickers said. “That was good to see. We had a similar situation at Penn State two years ago, and we lost that game, and even Stanford played well in the first half last year in the tournament. We were able to get some stops in the fourth quarter, and we finished strong. For us, our players saw how favored Missouri was, and they had a chip on their shoulder. We know we have a good team and can beat anybody. If we have the right mindset and approach, we can come out with a W.”

Following the victory over Missouri, which the Spartans expected, there was a brief locker room celebration where Vickers danced before they turned their attention to the next game, especially since they had a 3 a.m. bus ride from Columbia to St. Louis for the flight to Birmingham and then a drive to Tuscaloosa, where Norfolk State almost defeated another SEC heavyweight.

Three days later, after falling behind by 17 points to 22nd-ranked Alabama on the road, the Spartans closed to within, 51-50, with seven minutes remaining before losing by 10 points on the road.

“From start to finish, we attacked,” Fields said of Norfolk State’s effort against Alabama. “We could’ve had our heads down when they went on runs, but I am proud of the resilience we showed. We chose to fight and continue to chip away at the deficit.

“The accolades and love we have received so far are nice, but we haven’t dwelled on it because we have so much more to prove. Ninth in the mid-major poll is nice, but we want to be first, so we’re going to keep aiming for something higher.”

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Alabama coach Kristy Curry heaped praise on the Spartans during her postgame press conference.

“Having four in double figures and finding a way to beat a good team that had 27 wins a year ago and returned their top seven with several transfers on their (roster) is really good,” Curry said during her postgame press conference. “Diamond Johnson is as good of a guard that we’ll see (this season). She makes a lot of things happen for them, and then [Kierra] Wheeler, last year’s player of the year in their league, really did a nice job. Those two are good, and their teammates around them understand their roles. I think they were 103rd last year in the pace of play, and they’ll slow you down, and they do a great job of that and are so well coached.” 

While Norfolk State’s “Big Three” of Fields, Kierra Wheeler, and Johnson have accounted for 68.3% of their scoring this season, sophomore guard Anjanae Richardson has emerged as a critical cog of the Spartan machine. She averages 9.0 points per game, and her confidence has increased, giving the Spartans a formidable guard trio that’s challenging for defenses.

They are each different. Fields will pick her spots to score. Johnson is a shooter who can drive to the basket and finish through contact and over taller defenders. Richardson is a slashing guard who can shoot. She can shift the defense and is a good passer.

“She’s brought us some balance,” Vickers said. “She thinks more of scoring and puts pressure on the defense. She’s aggressive, and her shooting ability stretches the floor.”

Off to a 4-1 start following a rivalry road win over Hampton last week, Norfolk State has a fun December ahead with a neutral site game against Saint Louis in Washington, D.C., a road game against Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) favorite North Carolina A&T, and a home contest against last year’s CAA Tournament champion Drexel. Norfolk State will have more opportunities for a Power Four victory when it visits North Carolina and Auburn. 

Enjoying Morgan State’s rebounding Fair

It seems only appropriate that Morgan State senior forward Laila Fair has her sights set on becoming a financial advisor after her basketball career—a fitting goal for an economics major whose rebounding consistency has been as reliable as a solid investment.

Fair delivered in a big way in the Bears’ road setback to Old Dominion earlier this month when she finished with 20 rebounds and scored 16 points. Her 20-rebound performance places her among an elite group of Division I women’s basketball players to achieve this feat within the season’s first two weeks, joining Destiny Adams (Rutgers), Alisha Wilson (Alabama A&M), Makayla Timpson (Florida State), Mackenzie Egger (Yale), Saniyah Craig (Jacksonville), Maggie Hartwig (Evansville) and Aneesah Morrow (LSU). Adams, Wilson, and Timpson each had 22 rebounds, the season’s best.

Fair finished the week with a career-best 22-point performance in an 81-72 road setback to UMBC on Sunday, Nov. 17. She averages 11.0 points per game through Morgan State’s first six contests.

Fair’s 9.8 rebounding per game average leads the MEAC after two weeks. She reflected on her career-best rebounding effort while standing outside of her locker room after helping Morgan State edge local rival Towson, 64-63, in the Charm City Classic last Thursday.

“I was surprised that it was a large amount,” Fair said humbly. “When I’m out there and moving, I don’t know how many rebounds I tally up during the game. I try to go for every single ball. After the game, I thought, oh, that was a lot, but it was pretty cool. I think I’m always moving off the ball even when I shoot and the shot goes up, even if it’s my shot, I kind of crash the boards immediately.”

The foundation of consistent movement was laid when Fair was in third grade. She remembers running one to two miles in the park in Piscataway, N.J., with her father, Lamar, who played at Cheyney University when she was younger. Fair started playing in recreational leagues when she was in fifth grade.

“I was pretty toned up for a third grader,” a laughing Fair shared. “I even had a four-pack … My dad has always been into basketball. Prior to that, even before I started basketball, he always emphasized being a healthy human. So, I started playing AAU in eighth grade and played throughout high school.”

Fair has traveled the scenic route to Morgan State. She started her career at Saint Joseph’s and then transferred to UMass before finding a home in Baltimore. These transitions were not easy, but they helped her grow as a player and a person. Fair has played 18 career games for the Bears and has finished with at least five rebounds in 13 of them, including four this season.

Fair is happy to play this season for Morgan State after battling a foot injury last year, which forced her to miss 11 games. Fair was impactful when she played. Fair averaged 8.5 points per game, second on the team, and led the Bears with 7.1 rebounds per contest. She scored double figures in six of the 11 MEAC games she played and earned All-MEAC Preseason Third Team honors. Fair also blocked 22 shots, including four in a game against Oregon State.

She returned during conference play and made her presence felt with consecutive 14-rebound performances against UMES and Delaware State. She also scored 14 points in the game against the Hornets.

Fair is a strong around the basket with a smooth and feathery finishing touch. She’s active with her feet and hands on defense. Fair was in perfect position to contest Towson’s final shot of the game, a potential game-winner with 1.7 seconds remaining. She played straight up and made the shot difficult. It’s these nuances and subtleties that make Fair a strong and consistent player.

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After the Bears won eight games last season, there’s a different vibe around the program this season. They dropped six games by five points or less last season, proving they were much stronger than their final record indicated.  This improvement in their performance is a promising sign for the team’s season.

Fair’s healthy and veteran head coach, Ed Davis, loves the talented transfers he has welcomed into his program who are already paying dividends, like graduate guard Ja’la Bannerman, the Bears’ leading scorer at 13.0 points per game, which is fifth in the conference. In the win over Towson, Bannerman and Jael Butler had 13 points each.

Michaela Bogans added 12 points including a sweet move in which she used an in-and-out dribble to free herself and slashed to the basket for a layup.

“We were band-aiding our team most of last year with injuries,” Davis said. “The difference between this team and last year’s team is I got a little more depth on the bench, like tonight, the bench had 22 points, so that makes a big difference for me because I’ve always depended on bench scoring to lift us.”

Gourdine’s Summer Success Helping Southern

Aniya Gourdine‘s work is yielding immediate results.

A 5’9 senior guard, Gourdine spent a grueling summer in the gym preparing to play an increased role for Southern, which was picked second in the SWAC coaches’ preseason poll and has enjoyed 17 consecutive winning seasons in conference play.

While the low hum of the basketball shooting machine provided Gourdine’s summer soundtrack in her sneaker-squeaking sanctuary, her workouts had a specific purpose: Increasing her efficiency as a shooter.

“If my shooting percentage is 50 the first day, I won’t leave the next day until I could get to 52 or 53 percent,” Gourdine said to The Next during a Zoom interview while sitting in a Colorado hotel conference room between road games to Colorado and Colorado State. “I always try to improve. I shoot by myself or with a partner. I’ll try to make 20 by myself from different spots, and then I will keep pushing myself a little harder, only because I don’t mind being in the gym. There were times I was in there all day.”

Through six games, Gourdine is enjoying a sparkling start to the season. The Jaguars have played a brutal schedule against Power Four programs, including eighth-ranked Iowa State, ninth-ranked Oklahoma, and 21st-ranked Nebraska. Gourdine has risen to the competition, producing her best against some of the top teams.

The Jaguars’ schedule doesn’t let up. They play 20th-ranked North Carolina State on Monday in the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship tournament in the Bahamas. In December, they’ll also have games against fourth-ranked Texas, 22nd-ranked Illinois, and DePaul.

Gourdine is eighth in the SWAC in scoring (12.0 points per game), sixth in field goal percentage (42.3%), and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9%). She’s a three-level scorer.

Her numbers have increased from last season, when she averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Gourdine was eighth in the SWAC in steals per game (1.9). Gourdine scored in double figures in seven games and was one of four Jaguars to record at least 35 steals, including seven games with three or more steals.

This season, Gourdine scored in double figures in the Jaguars’ first five games. She scored a career-high 22 points against Nebraska on 9-of-15 shooting, including a 4-of-6 performance from 3-point range. She also scored 19 points against Missouri. Gourdine also had six rebounds to go along with 12 points against a Colorado team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season.

While these efforts may surprise some, it’s nothing new for the Baltimore native and Temple University transfer. Gourdine plays with grit, tenacity, and a forever chip on her shoulder. She also played a lot with Angel Reese. They are both St. Frances High School graduates and were members of the 2019 Team Takeover EYBL national championship team.

“We actually started playing rec leagues together,” Gourdine said. “It was always a pleasure. I feel like she brought out the best in me, and I brought the best in her. We both had a dog and heart mentality. So, I felt like we always just brought the best out of each other. Watching her now inspires me, and I’m happy for her.”

Gourdine, majoring in criminal justice and aspiring to be a lawyer, made an immediate impact at Temple, playing under former coach Tonya Cardoza. She earned All-American Athletic Conference Freshman Team recognition. Gourdine was also selected to the All-Big Five Second Team after making 19 starts and playing in 28 games. In finishing as Temple’s third-leading scorer at 7.7 points per game, Gourdine became the first Temple player in program history to record a triple-double.

The three-time Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) Champion and two-time All-Metro First Team honoree had two triple-doubles as a freshman at Temple against East Carolina (13 points, 10 assists, 11 rebounds) and Tulsa (11 points, 10 assists, 15 rebounds).

“My time at Temple made me who I am today,” Gourdine reflected. “Coming here to the SWAC, my time at Temple helped me prepare for it. I wanted to go to an HBCU. Coming here, I felt like it would help me focus more … I feel like it was perfect for me, perfect for me to watch me just focus on school. I have the best of both worlds here and have the best experience ever. “I would have never known that if I didn’t come to an HBCU. Being here with our out-of-conference schedule, we play everybody, so I really like that.” 

HBCU Happenings

• Howard University head coach Ty Grace has received a four-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season
• Speaking of coaches, Arkansas Pine-Bluff’s Erica Leak and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Malikah Willis earned their first career coaching victories
• Jackson State starts the season with 10 straight road games and two neutral site contests
• New JSU coach Margaret Richards earned her first win at her school after the Tigers beat East Tennessee State
• Coppin State forward Laila Lawrence was named MEAC Player of the Week after averaging 19.7 points in three games last week
• Lawrence scored 20 points each in games against No. 1 South Carolina and Virginia Tech
• Prairie View A&M’s CJ Wilson leads the SWAC in scoring (17.0 points per game)
• Alabama A&M’s first year coach Dawn Thornton has helped the Bulldogs to solid wins over Eastern Michigan and Kansas City