All MEAC player announces transfer location
South Carolina State standout forward and All MEAC performer Drayton Jones has entered the transfer portal and will continue his collegiate basketball career at Butler University. Jones shared the news with the Athletic on Tuesday and was reported on social media.
Jones, a 6-foot-11 sophomore from Houston, Texas, was a dominant presence for the Bulldogs during the 2024–25 season. He averaged 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 56.4% from the field. Known for his physicality and touch around the basket, Jones quickly emerged as one of the top frontcourt players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The South Carolina State Bulldogs concluded the 2024–25 men's basketball season with a 20–13 overall record and an 11–3 mark in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, earning a share of the MEAC regular-season title. Under third-year head coach Erik Martin, the Bulldogs demonstrated significant improvement, highlighted by a seven-game winning streak to close the regular season.
In the MEAC tournament, South Carolina State secured victories over Coppin State and North Carolina Central before narrowly falling to top-seeded Norfolk State in the championship game. The team's offensive prowess was evident, averaging nearly 80 points per game, ranking 49th nationally.
His most memorable performance came in December when he erupted for 34 points, eight rebounds and six blocks in a win over Charleston Southern. Jones was later named HBCU National Player of the Week by BOXTOROW in early March after leading S.C. State to back-to-back conference wins, including a crucial upset over then-MEAC leader Norfolk State.
Jones becomes the latest Bulldog to move to a high-major program via the transfer portal, highlighting the talent and development coming out of Orangeburg. He is expected to provide Butler with immediate help in the frontcourt as the Big East program looks to build momentum heading into next season.
The post All MEAC player announces transfer location appeared first on HBCU Gameday.
Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win as Surge Continues
Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win as Surge Continues originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Head coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs continue to bolster the class of 2026 during an important recruiting period. Advertisement The Bulldogs had yet to surpass 10 commitments in the 2026 cycle at this time last month. After a number of high-profile official visits, though, things have certainly picked up. Marking the fourth commitment over the last two weeks, Georgia received a pledge from in-state offensive lineman Zachary Lewis on Monday. Lewis (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) plays for North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he ranks as the No. 32 interior offensive lineman and the No. 53 player in the state (247Sports). Georgia coach Kirby Smart leads his team onto the field before the start of the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Georgia hosted Lewis on an official visit over the weekend after he previously took an official trip to in-state rival Georgia Tech on May 30. South Carolina and North Carolina were also in contention for Lewis before he announced his decision. Advertisement 'I've grown up a Dawgs fan and now I get to be a Dawg!" Lewis said via On3's Hayes Fawcett. The Bulldogs began the month of June by landing highly touted cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick, the brother of former Alabama Crimson Tide standout and current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Justice Fitzpatrick, out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks as a top-100 recruit and the No. 8 player at his position. Additionally, Georgia landed four-star defensive lineman Carter Luckie on May 31 after receiving a pledge from four-star wide receiver Ryan Mosley three days earlier. Advertisement Now holding 13 commitments to date, Smart and Co. sit fifth nationally and have an inside track to finish with another top-five class. Georgia hasn't finished outside the top five in nine consecutive years under Smart. Related: Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit Related: Nation's No. 1 Linebacker Responds To Georgia's Major Recruiting Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Liberty vs. Sky odds, predictions: WNBA picks, best bets Tuesday
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. The betting market often knows every development and detail. The only difference among bettors and oddsmakers is the reaction and opinion of them. The Chicago Sky have lost starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot for the entire season, as she suffered a torn ACL in their most recent game. The 15-year veteran is the team's captain and floor leader. The market consensus agrees that this is a negative, but I believe this is a major setback for a team that is already limited offensively. The Sky are just 2-5 and rank third-worst in points per game. Things are about to get much worse. Rookie Hailey Van Lith figures to replace Vandersloot in the starting lineup, as she logged a season-high 26 minutes in Saturday's loss after Vandersloot suffered the injury in the opening minutes. Van Lith gained popularity in college and appeared in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, but her skill set leaves a lot to be desired. She is too slow for this league and cannot generate many opportunities for her teammates, which contributed to Chicago only mustering 52 points in its last game. Breanna Stewart and the Liberty are undefeated. NBAE via Getty Images Chicago is a 17.5-point road underdog against the Liberty on Tuesday with a total of 168 at FanDuel. The Liberty are one of the WNBA's two remaining unbeatens. The defending champs are significantly better, but center Jonquel Jones is expected to miss this game. The reigning Finals MVP rolled her ankle in their most recent game and did not return, although the team announced she avoided significant injury. The Liberty have a deep team, but Jones is a vital part of their prowess. If she misses this game, they will have their hands full at times defending Chicago's young frontcourt duo of Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. They aren't elite scorers, but they can pose enough problems for a Liberty defense that plays without Jones. In my opinion, that will slow down the pace and prevent the Liberty from scoring a boatload of points. I think they will win by double digits, but without Vandersloot, Chicago will also try to minimize possessions and rely on half-court sets with a potential advantage down low. I have a 47-40-1 ATS record in this Post sports section and have two plays for this game. I will take Under 168 (-140, BetMGM) and Chicago's team total Under 76 points. Why Trust New York Post Betting Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jarrian Jones, the Jaguars player Saquon Barkley hurdled, reacts to 'Madden 26' cover: 'I don't give a damn'
When you're on the wrong end of a legendary sports play, it can be hard to shake that reputation. Leon Lett is remembered for his Super Bowl fumble, Earnest Byner is known for causing "The Drive," and Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones will be immortalized for being the victim of Saquon Barkley's backward hurdle. Jones isn't a household name on the same level as Lett or Byner just yet, but it could just be a matter of time after that play was featured on the "Madden 26" cover. The video game cover art features Barkley hurdling a defender in a clear homage to that play. It's not an actual photo of the play, so Jones isn't featured on the cover, but it's a constant reminder of one of his most embarrassing moments on an NFL field. Advertisement That's not how Jones views it, though. Jones was asked about the "Madden 26" cover during minicamp Tuesday and gave a refreshing answer. Jones opted to praise Barkley for making an awesome play. Jones added he would happily be featured on the cover if it meant he got some money from EA Sports. Video contains some NSFW language. "I seen it and I was like 'damn, they didn't put my number on there?'" Jones continued, "The play was fire, to me. Everybody DM'd me like I was going to be mad or something. I don't give a damn. He made a good play. It is what it is." That's a good perspective from Jones, who is aiming to improve after a solid rookie season in 2024. Jones, a third round pick by the Jaguars in the 2024 NFL Draft, racked up 40 combined tackles, two sacks and an interception as a rookie. Bigger things are expected from Jones this season. After starting four games as a rookie, Jones could see a much bigger workload in Year 2. While he might never fully shake being the player Barkley hurdled, he has plenty of opportunities to post excellent highlights of his own if he can keep building on an encouraging rookie season.
