We all know that black college basketball programs have to grind to earn money and gain recognition in the national limelight. They hit the road early and often, usually to the detriment of their overall record and RPI.
But some players from these squads make the most of these road trips to show opposing fans and pro scouts what they may be missing in the anonymous ranks of the MEAC and SWAC. Here’s the top five players in black college basketball making the most of their teams getting the living hell beat out of them by power conference opponents.
(G) Tywain McKee – Coppin State – McKee was the hero of the 2008 MEAC Basketball Tournament as he basically willed the Eagles to a MEAC title as a seventh-seed. This season, McKee is averaging 19.3 points per game, three assists and three steals per game, and has scored 20 or better in seven games. His most notable outburst was a 31-point performance at Syracuse.
(G) Troy Jackson - Alcorn State – The leading scorer in the SWAC this season has lit up the likes of Michigan State, Louisiana State and DePaul. Against the Blue Demons, he scored 31 points and shot 4-9 from three-point range.
(F) Grant Maxey – Jackson State - Likely the most versatile player on the team, Maxey has failed to score in double-figures only once this season, and has had high point and rebound totals against LSU, Kansas, and Arizona State.
(F) Arturo Dubois – Delaware State – Not really an explosive scorer, but Dubois has put up good numbers in points and rebounds against Rutgers, Maryland, Ohio State and Kentucky.
(C) Jeremy Caldwell - Jackson State – It’s not just the consistent scoring and rebounding, but the 82 percent from the free throw line and 52 percent from the field that makes Caldwell a force in the middle, even against power conference foes.
