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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Miami Herald
Saniyah King left her mark at Howard. Now she eyes success in the SEC.
Saniyah King, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, did not land at Mississippi State for the next chapter of her basketball career due to a lack of success or a winning pedigree. The ex-HBCU point guard averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a MEAC and Bison-best 4.5 assists per game while starting in 31 of 32 games for Howard University last season. She also dished the second-most assists (145) among freshmen in the nation behind Florida Gators guard Liv McGill. King wants to continue her basketball evolution with dreams of playing in the WNBA after college. With the departure of MSU's guards Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell to graduation, and Denim DeShields taking her talents to Mississippi (Ole Miss), the Bulldogs needed another collection of elite point guards. King is what Purcell needs while also believing the Bulldogs' coach and his staff will help her fulfill her hoops dream. "My main goal [for entering the transfer portal] was development," King told HBCU Gameday. "I know [Mississippi State] is going to help me become the best version of myself." Things will look extremely different for King this fall. She spent her entire life in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region with her mother, Stacey Pettiford. However, Pettiford - an HBCU alum from Howard University - tried to get the 5'7" point guard to leave the DMV to explore her basketball dreams elsewhere. "I wanted her to go away," Pettiford said. "It's a big world out there, and she'd experienced the DMV all of her life." King wasn't ready to take her talents from the big city to a new hoops terrain. But now, as she transitions to Starkville, Mississippi, the sophomore floor general is ready to embrace her next chapter, one that will include some "peace and quiet." "I wanted to slow my life down," King said. "I don't know what life is like without hearing trains, ambulances, and cars constantly passing by. I wanted new scenery. That helps me feel at peace now." King's choice and determination to ditch familiarity for the Magnolia State would not be possible without confidence in her dream, faith in God, and the lessons learned at "The Mecca" of HBCU culture. King, who at 10 years old did not have experience hooping with an elite club team, strolled into a DMV gym for a tryout with the Lady Prime AAU basketball team, coached by then-Washington D.C. street hoops legend Lonnie Harrell. Tons of budding, young female basketball players graced the court. After a couple of drills and some intense 5-on-5 action, Harrell walked over to Pettiford and did not waste any time in his desire for King to join the team. "I remember [her tryout] like it was yesterday," Pettiford said. "Harrell was like, 'we need her' and asked 'how long had she [Saniyah] been playing?'" King's genesis in basketball began with playing with boys at the park during recess in elementary school and running a few houses down the street in her Bowie, Maryland, neighborhood to play pickup games during the week. "I didn't think I was good," King said with a laugh. Her talent reached new heights when she joined Lady Prime. That season, King and her teammates didn't lose a game. As her skills grew with Lady Prime, it later opened the door for success at Bishop Ireton - a private Catholic high school in Alexandria, Virginia - as well as on the AAU circuit playing for Team Durant EYBL, named after 15-time NBA All-Star and DMV native Kevin Durant. However, a "turning point" in her personal development came during the height of the coronavirus pandemic when she completed workout sessions three times per day with Joshua Morgan-Green, the founder of the Triple Threat training regimen based in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. "I was probably there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.," King said. "When I was younger, I was always stronger and a little faster than my peers. That summer, I really got skilled. My ball handling went to a different level, I perfected my shot, and learned how to work. He [Green] changed my life." King entered the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU after excelling in the classroom as an AP scholar and becoming one of the top 15 point guards in Virginia for assists per game. She held a long lineage of Howard pride in her family. Pettiford, one of King's 11 family members to attend HU, played a key part in her daughter's interest in attending Howard after many years of taking King to basketball games and events on the HBCU campus. King, who had spent all of 18 years of her life living with her mom prior to attending HU, saw Pettiford depart the DMV to move to Atlanta during her freshman year. "When I was at home with her [Pettiford] every day, I would spend most of my time in my room," King said with a laugh. "Seeing her leave helped me mature emotionally." With a 10-hour trek separating the two, King began to realize the lessons Pettiford shared with her about life, time management, and avoiding worldly distractions in pursuit of her dreams, both on and off the court. However, when she entered the gates of the renowned Main Quadrangle, walked across The Yard or stepped inside Frederick Douglas Memorial Hall and Burr Gymnasium for the first time, she quickly found out that Howard was the epitome of "Black excellence" but also a place where she had to grow up and balance a myriad of priorities as a student athlete. "I underestimated college," King said. "Howard helped me come to that realization very fast. It wasn't the normal college experience. … Howard really prepares you for the real world." While pursuing a degree in psychology, King navigated her way as the only freshman on a veteran HBCU women's basketball program - coached by Ty Grace - that featured a combined dozen seniors and grad transfer players, including her friend and teammate, Destiny Howell, the Bison's leading scorer in 2024. "Saniyah is just the player you enjoy and want to play with," Howell previously told Howard Athletics consultant Rob Knox in December. "The first thing I noticed about her is that she is not scared of work, she does not duck no smoke. …She is a good person, making it easier to be a good teammate." King shared similar sentiments about Howell and also credited her leadership. "Destiny [Howell] always sat and watched game film with me and offered encouraging words," King said. "She would tell me that I'm "HER" and to walk like it." But with Pettiford away and a surplus of daily college life distractions around her, it forced King to find herself while remaining focused on her goals in the classroom as well as becoming the best point guard on the hardwood. King leaned into her faith in God to navigate her challenges. Each day, she logged into Instagram, swiped to her bio section and visited one of her highlights named Daily Words of Encouragement (DWOE), which listed her favorite Bible verses and quotes. One of her go-to scriptures comes from Matthew 19:26, which reads, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" As her freshman season progressed, when she wasn't in class, at practice, or lifting weights with her teammates, she watched sermons and read the Bible, drawing closer to God when she was unable to attend Sunday services at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Silver Springs, Maryland. "I was in a place where I had to find and put God at the forefront of my life," King said. "His presence in my life strengthened my mindset and my vision to conquer my goals." As King embraced her walk with God, she matured in the face of adversity. King, who became a force for Howard in HBCU women's basketball, captured Rookie of the Week honors 11 times. With three games remaining against North Carolina Central, South Carolina State, and the defending MEAC champions Norfolk State, Howard sat in second place (17-9) in the MEAC standings. The Bison entered their clash with NCCU, winners of seven consecutive contests and 10 of their last 11 games since league play began on Jan. 4. And for King, her focus remained on finishing the season strong and getting another chance to face the Spartans. However, things took a twist for the Bison point guard. King injured her left foot in Howard's 74-51 victory against the Eagles, sidelining her for the final games of the regular season. She wasn't a stranger to foot injuries. King struggled with bone bruises over the years due to the absence of an arch in her feet. But with the MEAC tournament around the corner, her shot at helping Howard dethrone the Spartans and securing an automatic bid in the women's NCAA tournament remained in motion. However, with an injury comes a wave of emotions and physical challenges. When she returned to the court for the league tourney - specifically in Howard's matchup against Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC semifinals - King didn't feel like herself on the court. "I played a little scared," King said. "I wasn't trying to land a certain way [on my foot] and I kept thinking about that. That's not my usual mindset." HU's win set up the MEAC title against the Spartans and future 2025 WNBA signee Diamond Johnson, a player whom King respected, studied, and watched from afar throughout her college career in the Big Ten and HBCU hoops. But like the first two contests, NSU defeated Howard 68-56, ending the Bison's NCAA tourney hopes. "This was supposed to be the time that I shined [on the court]," King said. "It was almost like they [Spartans] had every single play we tried to run rehearsed." Still, the Bison received an automatic qualifying bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), defeating Siena at home in the first round before losing to Charleston in the second round. Despite the loss, King felt like she took a step forward in her progression after the injury. "My shot was falling, it was like I had woken back up," she said. As King transitions to Starkville, she's embracing the progression of her game. Her daily 7 a.m. workouts include weight lifting, watching film, listening to basketball podcasts as well as improving her technique and feel for reading ball screens and elevating her shooting percentage from beyond the arc. "I hate waking up early," King said. "But since the season ended, I continued that habit. … Losing in the [MEAC] tournament and heading to a new school has inspired me to work even harder this summer. I want to improve my vision to open up the floor more for my teammates." King will have the opportunity to upgrade those skills and more as one of the Bulldogs' floor generals, in addition to pursuing a business degree at MSU. As she navigates her process, King is catching up on family time with her grandfather - who never missed her home games - and spending time with her four little brothers all under the age of 12. She's also going on nail appointments, along with brunch and dinner dates with Pettiford. And when the two aren't tasting new foods at a restaurant, King is whipping up delightful meals in the kitchen, featuring entrées like whole fish, alfredo, roasted Branzino, along with an occasional sweet potato casserole. "She's really a whole chef," Pettiford said with a laugh. "Cooking in the kitchen and on the court." For King, Howard University and her time in HBCU basketball symbolized family on multiple fronts. While she won't walk across The Yard every day this fall, she will take the memories of her teammates and a stronger relationship with Pettiford to Mississippi for a new beginning. "God gave me the older sisters I always wanted but I never had when he brought me to Howard," King said. I love and will miss them all. The post Saniyah King left her mark at Howard. Now she eyes success in the SEC. appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona State's Darrell Mosley named Coppin State women's basketball coach
Coppin State announced Monday afternoon that it has hired Arizona State assistant coach Darrell Mosley to lead the women's basketball program. Mosley has worked at the college level for 15 years and was the coach at Division II Lincoln (Pa.) for six years. Advertisement 'I am honored to join the Coppin State family and lead the women's basketball program into its next chapter,' Mosley said in a statement distributed by the university. 'I'm committed to building a culture of excellence both on and off the court that reflects the pride and spirit of Coppin State University. I would like to thank President Dr. Anthony L. Jenkins, Director of Athletics Derek Carter, and the selection committee for entrusting me with this opportunity and I can't wait to get to work.' Mosley replaces Jermaine Woods, who was hired on April 4 by Norfolk State to helm his alma mater. In three seasons under Woods, the Eagles compiled a 39-55 overall record and a 21-21 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Coppin State went to a league tournament semifinal in 2024 — its first since 2016. This past winter, it went 19-15, its most wins since the 2012 team won 20, earned a school-record 10 nonconference victories and qualified for its first postseason tournament since 2009. The Eagles defeated Colgate, 58-48, in the first round of the WNIT before falling to Cleveland State, 72-70, in the second round. Mosley's three years with the Sun Devils included the past two as associate head coach. This past season, he helped shooting guard Jalyn Brown, a Baltimore native and St. Frances graduate, and point guard Tyi Skinner received All-Big 12 honorable mention status. Advertisement In March 2023, Mosley was recognized on the Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) Women's Basketball Black Coaches Watch List. And in December, Mosley was one of 32 coaches nationwide selected to participate in the 2025 Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Next Generation Institute, an initiative for experienced assistants who aspire to become college head coaches. Born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, Mosley played basketball at Delaware State from 2006 to 2008 and chipped in to the Hornets' march to a regular-season Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and WNIT appearance in 2007. He then transferred to Lincoln for two more seasons and became the team's starting point guard and team captain. After graduating in 2010, Mosley remained with the Lions as an assistant coach on the men's basketball staff for five years. In 2014, Lincoln registered its first 20-win campaign as a Division II school and won the 2014 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title. A year later, Mosley made the switch to women's basketball as head coach and compiled 82 victories from 2015 to 2021 — the second-most in school history. He guided the program to three consecutive semifinals of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament and was named the league's Coach of the Year in 2020. Advertisement Mosley spent one year at Delaware, contributing to that school's run to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship in 2022 and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013. Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@ 410-332-6200 and Related Articles
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FAMU tennis headed to New Orleans to recapture SWAC Tournament championship trophy
FAMU tennis headed to New Orleans to recapture SWAC Tournament championship trophy The Florida A&M tennis team is headed somewhere that has become all too familiar. The Rattlers are headed to this weekend's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, played at New Orleans' City Park Tennis Center. Advertisement FAMU (9-10, 7-2 in SWAC) enters the eight-team SWAC Tournament bracket as a three-seed and will match up against Southern (4-12, 4-5 in SWAC) in the first round. The first serve begins on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Florida A&M head tennis coach and director of tennis Nikki Houston looks on during the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament at the City Park Tennis Center in New Orleans. When FAMU and Southern played during the regular season, the Rattlers came out on top with a 4-1 victory. 'The girls are confident that we can come out and play well this weekend,' FAMU tennis head coach Nikki Houston told the Tallahassee Democrat. 'We got Southern in the first round and are looking forward to playing them again.' The SWAC Tournament match is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. Advertisement If FAMU reaches the title match, it will be the program's third consecutive year competing for the SWAC Championship. In 2023, the Rattlers defeated Jackson State in the SWAC championship. Last year, FAMU lost to Alabama State in the SWAC Tournament's championship match. Florida A&M's Reagan Harris participates in a match at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex. Five of FAMU's six-woman roster remain from the Rattlers' SWAC Championship team. FAMU has four seniors and two juniors. 'We got a veteran team,' Houston explained. 'Everybody has been to the championship, the expectations, and the focus we have to go in with.' The SWAC tennis title may run through Jackson State and the defending champions Alabama State. Jackson State is the No. 1 seed, with Alabama State at No. 2. Advertisement Those were the only SWAC teams FAMU lost to during the regular season. 'Even though we didn't fan out the regular season like we wanted to, we were in those matches,' Houston said. 'It prepared us for the championship this year.' Florida A&M tennis player Sara Rakim participates in a match at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Tallahassee, Florida FAMU winning the SWAC title would be its second in the last three years. Houston helped the Rattlers win the 1997 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. 'It would be great and add to the legacy of FAMU tennis and athletics,' Houston said when asked about what winning the SWAC title would mean. 'We come in to graduate and get a ring. So, that's what we're trying to do.' Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat. Follow his award-winning coverage on and contact him via email at GDThomas@ or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU tennis aiming for 2nd SWAC title in last 3 years this weekend
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Morgan State names former WNBA player Nadine Domond as head coach of women's basketball
Former WNBA player Nadine Domond has been named as the new head coach of Morgan State University's women's basketball team. The announcement comes after the departure of former Head Coach Ed Davis, Jr., who retired from a 33-year coaching career in March after the team's loss to Maryland Eastern Shore in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Domond previously served as head coach for Virginia State University's Lady Trojans. She led the team to consecutive 20-win seasons and their first NCAA Division II tournament appearance. She was named CIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year and HBCU All-Stars Lonnie Bartley NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year. Her appointment as head coach comes at a time when women's college basketball is gaining national attention. "This opportunity comes at the perfect time—not just in my journey but in the evolution of women's college basketball and the rise of HBCU programs across the country," Domond said. "Morgan represents everything I believe in excellence, legacy, and a commitment to developing student-athletes into champions in every arena of their lives. I chose Morgan because I see the vision, the potential, and the hunger to win, and I'm ready to build something special here," she added. Domond earned a USA National Team silver medal in 1997. After earning her bachelor's degree at the University of Iowa, she was chosen as the New York Liberty's 19th pick in the 1998 WNBA draft. She played for the Sacramento Monarchs. Domond began her coaching career as a graduate assistant and then assistant coach at Hampton University. She moved on to coaching at Rutgers University and Grambling State University before landing at Virginia State University. Domond will be the first new head coach for the Lady Bears in nearly a decade, university officials said. "Morgan has always been a place where excellence is not only expected but cultivated—and that is exactly what we see in Coach Nadine Domond," Morgan State University President David Wilson said. "She brings a championship mindset, a proven track record of developing women both on and off the court, and a vision that aligns perfectly with our aspirations for the Lady Bears."
NBC Sports
23-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Auburn women's basketball hires Norfolk State coach Larry Vickers
AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn has hired Norfolk State coach Larry Vickers to be its women's basketball coach, the school announced Sunday. Vickers led Norfolk State to consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances during the last three seasons. He replaces Johnnie Harris, who was fired a day after Auburn lost to Florida 60-50 in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. 'Coach Vickers has an incredible technical understanding of women's basketball,' Auburn athletic director John Cohen said in the school's announcement. 'He demands excellence from his student-athletes, while fostering an environment for young women to succeed. His understanding of the new landscape of college athletics is impressive. No one has worked harder for an opportunity like this than Coach Vickers.' Vickers had coached the Norfolk State women since 2016, going 177-99. He started out as an assistant with the men's program in 2008. Norfolk State earned a No. 13 seed in March Madness this year and lost to fourth-seeded Maryland in the first round 82-69. 'Auburn is a great institution with one of the best athletics programs in the country,' Vickers said in the announcement. 'I am excited to get to work and help bring championship level success to our women's basketball program.'
