logo
Florida State assistant expected to take HBCU job

Florida State assistant expected to take HBCU job

Miami Herald10-04-2025

A Florida State assistant is expected to take a vacant HBCU basketball job.
Alcorn State is expected to hire Jake Morton as its next head coach, according to a report by Jon Rothstein. The move is the latest in a busy offseason across HBCU basketball, as Morton steps in to replace Landon Bussie, who left last month to take over at Chicago State.Morton brings a deep resume to the HBCU ranks, having served as an assistant coach at numerous Division I programs and currently completing his first season at Florida State under Leonard Hamilton. His return to head a program aligns with Alcorn's desire to maintain momentum after Bussie helped make the Braves a consistent force in the SWAC and the broader HBCU basketball landscape.A former standout at the University of Miami, Morton played for Hamilton from 1989 to 1993, later returning to the Hurricanes as an assistant coach. He helped guide Miami to three straight 20-win seasons and a 2008 NCAA Tournament berth. His coaching path includes stops at East Carolina, Jacksonville State, Coppin State, and even an early stop at HBCU Bowie State, where he began his coaching career in 2000.
Morton's time at Jacksonville State marked one of the most successful stretches in program history, including an Atlantic Sun regular-season title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. His teams averaged 20 wins per season, a level of consistency Alcorn State fans will welcome.
Alcorn State is aiming to stay competitive in the SWAC and nationally among HBCUs, and Jake Morton's hiring signals a commitment to experience and proven results. As HBCU programs continue to raise their profiles and invest in high-level coaching talent, Morton's arrival is both a reunion with his roots and a chance to lead his own program after one year at Florida State.
The post Florida State assistant expected to take HBCU job appeared first on HBCU Gameday.
Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Louisville makes 6th CWS with 3-2 win over Miami on King's RBI double in 7th
Louisville makes 6th CWS with 3-2 win over Miami on King's RBI double in 7th

Yahoo

time13 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Louisville makes 6th CWS with 3-2 win over Miami on King's RBI double in 7th

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Eddie King Jr. doubled in the winning run in the seventh inning to lift Louisville to a 3-2 win over Miami on Sunday, advancing the Cardinals to their sixth College World Series. King's clutch hit came after Jake Munroe's two-out single and a wild pitch. Advertisement Neither team was among the top 16 seeds, but the Cardinals (39-21) were the surprise winners of the Nashville Regional hosted by overall No. 1 seed Vanderbilt and Miami won Southern Mississippi's Hattiesburg Regional. Louisville will face the Oregon State-Florida State winner in Omaha, Nebraska, later this week. Miami (34-26) was hoping for its 26th CWS appearance. Miami took the lead on Max Galvin's two-run homer in the third. The Cardinals got those back in the fourth on an RBI double by Zion Rose and a fielder's choice. Miami starter Ethan Eberle went five innings, allowing six hits. Jake Schweitzer (4-2) gave up two hits and two walks in three innings. Justin West got two outs in the ninth but also walked two before Brennyn Cutts got a flyout for his second save. Will Smith (3-1), the third of five Miami pitchers, took the loss. ___ AP college sports:

'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA
'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA

USA Today

time20 minutes ago

  • USA Today

'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA

'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA Clifford Omoruyi established himself as a dynamic player in college, and the former Alabama standout is looking to showcase that ability and more ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. Omoruyi was born in Nigeria and moved to New Jersey at the age of 14. He eventually committed to play at Rutgers in March 2020 after fielding over 20 offers, becoming the first consensus top-50 recruit to join the program since Kadeem Jack in 2010. The 6-foot-11 center saw steady improvement over his four years with the Scarlet Knights, culminating with two All-Big Ten Defensive Team selections. He played with a relentless motor, fighting for every rebound while protecting the rim at a high level. Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks on 51.2% shooting from the field as a senior during the 2023-24 season. He ranked fourth in the country in blocked shots (93) and was the first player with at least eight blocks in multiple conference games since 1999-00. "Just being Nigerian, you've got to push yourself to be better," Omoruyi told Rookie Wire of his energetic playing style. "Everybody is trying to win and chase their dreams, so if I don't do it, someone is going to do it. It is just better if I push myself to do it." Fresh off a tremendous season, Omoruyi entered the transfer portal and was viewed as one of the top available interior defenders. He eventually chose the Crimson Tide over the likes of Georgetown, Kansas State and North Carolina, among other programs. Omoruyi helped Alabama advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight year, averaging 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 37 appearances. He registered two double-doubles and ranked ninth in the country in 2-point field goal percentage (73.9). The 23-year-old finished in double figures 13 times this past season, including a season-high 17 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks on March 21 in a win over Robert Morris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. "The best thing he does is protect the rim and rebound, and you've got to have that to win," Alabama head coach Nate Oats told Rookie Wire. "We are the only school in the country that has made the last two Elite Eights, so he helped us have a really successful year. We competed for an SEC championship, and the SEC was the best conference in the history of college basketball this year, and we were one of the top teams. He helped us with all of that." Omoruyi stepped into a starting role at Alabama, averaging 19.2 minutes per game, a decrease from 26.9 minutes per game the previous season. Oats and the team used a more pro-style approach designed to maximize their personnel, including Omoruyi. Because of their depth, Omoruyi wasn't required to log 30-plus minutes a night. By keeping him mostly in the 18-24 range, Omoruyi was able to continue to make high-energy plays by chasing loose balls, crashing the glass and protecting the paint. Omoruyi adjusted well to how the Crimson Tide operated on offense by serving as a consistent lob threat, with his athleticism and 7-foot, 6 1/4-inch wingspan. He put pressure on the rim as a roller in pick-and-roll situations and expanded his offensive game by handling the ball more. "He definitely wasn't used to playing at the pace we did, but I think he picked that up as it went on," Oats said. "He was used to getting the ball a lot more in the post, coming from Rutgers. He had no complaints ever about scoring less. He was really just a team guy and did whatever we needed him to." Omoruyi is now focused on proving himself, with team workouts and interviews ramping up before the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York. He signed with Edge Sports, which also represents Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman, among other players. The Nigerian has made his 3-point shooting a point of emphasis during his offseason workouts, putting up at least 500 shots in the gym on most days. He is also working on various other elements of his game, such as pick-and-rolls, ball handling and attacking the rim. "I have really improved greatly because I've been working on everything," Omoruyi said. "During the season, my coaches knew I could shoot, but that wasn't my game. They just wanted me to be a better player and work on what I'm good at, so I've been working on adding the 3-pointer to my game, and that is going well." Omoruyi previously tested the predraft process in 2023, competing in the G League Elite Camp in Chicago, Illinois. He views himself as a completely different player than he was at that time, and is more comfortable doing different things on the court. That experience prepared him for this year, after he finished his collegiate career with the Crimson Tide. He is looking to make the most of this process and is eager to show teams that he can be a reliable player at the next level. "I can be the best version of myself, I just need the opportunity to get there and keep doing what I'm doing," Omoruyi said. "I'm already a great defensive player, and I can improve more. I just have to keep improving on my shooting and everything." Omoruyi is considered a potential second-round pick, with many projecting him to be a productive backup center. He has completed several workouts with teams, including the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, and has additional visits scheduled this month. After a productive five years in college, Omoruyi is on the verge of advancing to the next stage of his career. He left his mark at each stop over that span, and is looking to do it again in the NBA. "He is one of the best kids I've ever coached," Oats said. "He is great. He has a high IQ and is all about the team. He was wonderful to coach. Whoever gets him is going to get a great kid. I hope he ends up in a great situation where he gets a real chance to play. I think he'll take full advantage of it."

Jase Richardson drops to late first in recent Sports Illustrated NBA Mock Draft
Jase Richardson drops to late first in recent Sports Illustrated NBA Mock Draft

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Jase Richardson drops to late first in recent Sports Illustrated NBA Mock Draft

Jase Richardson drops to late first in recent Sports Illustrated NBA Mock Draft A recent mock draft from Sports Illustrated has Michigan State Jase Richardson dropping to the late first round of the upcoming NBA Draft. In NBA Draft On SI's latest mock draft, Richardson dropped to the late first round, going No. 22 overall to the Atlanta Hawks. Richardson has widely been considered a late lottery or mid-first round pick so this mock from SI is definitely on the lower end for Richardson. Richardson starred for the Spartans during his lone season in college, playing a massive part in Michigan State winning the Big Ten and reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Richardson averaged 12.1 points per game and shot above 40% from three-point range, which raised his draft stock to where it was a no-brainer to enter the NBA Draft and leave after just one year. The landing spot for Richardson isn't a bad fit as he would have the opportunity to step into a playoff contending team right away in Atlanta. But dropping the later part of the first round would be disappointing to see since he has typically been mocked higher. The NBA Draft will be held on July 25 and 26 in Brooklyn. The draft will be televised on ABC and ESPN. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store