BLACK COLLEGE ATHLETES WIDEN THEIR GAZE
Hampton Roads athletes have joined a growing list of Black athletes leaving Predominantly White Institutions — institutions of higher learning where white students account for 50% or greater of the enrollment — to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Prominent Black athletes’ transfers ‘will put a light on HBCUs’
Brandon Gaddy felt it was time for change.
The former football star at Catholic High in Virginia Beach had completed three seasons at Maryland but felt like things weren’t working out. So, he and his twin brother, Breyon, entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Not long after, he received a call from Alabama State coach Donald Hill-Eley.
“He was the first one to call us when we entered the portal,” Brandon Gaddy said. “His son, Ayinde, played with us at Maryland and he was our roommate. And he’s from (Hampton Roads), so I knew he would take care of us.
Tayvion Land also needed a change. Land, who played one season with the Gaddys at Catholic before finishing at Ocean Lakes High, played in 11 games last season as a freshman at Liberty University.
But Land decided to leave Liberty last month “due to the racial insensitivity displayed by leadership” at the school. In a tweet, he wrote, “I pray that I am able to be provided with an opportunity at a new school that respects my culture and provides a comfortable environment.”
Earlier this week, Land found that school when he signed with Norfolk State.
Land and the Gaddys have joined a growing list of Black athletes who are leaving Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) — a term used to describe institutions of higher learning in which whites account for 50% or greater of the student enrollment — to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Last week, Makur Maker, a five-star basketball recruit ranked No. 16 by ESPN in the 2020 class, committed to Howard, an HBCU.
He chose the Bison over many powerhouse programs, including Kentucky, Memphis and UCLA.
Also last week, former Wake Forest basketball player Sharone Wright Jr. announced he was going to Morgan State.
Last month, Nate Tabor, a four-star basketball recruit, signed a letter of intent to play at Norfolk State. Tabor, who is from Queens, New York, had initially committed to St. John’s but moved away from the school after Chris Mullin was