CHARLOTTE, NC (October 7, 2025) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, tipped off the 2025–26 basketball season at its annual Media Day in Baltimore, MD, unveiling the Predicted Orders of Finish and Preseason All-CIAA Teams for men’s and women’s basketball. 

The event, hosted Under Armour Headquarters, brought together coaches, student-athletes, and media to preview another highly anticipated season. 

Women’s Basketball Outlook 
Fayetteville State University enters the season as the preseason favorite on the women’s side, securing the top spot in the predicted order of finish with three players named to the preseason All-CIAA Team: Talia Trotter, KaNyah O’Neal, and Nyah Wilkins. The Broncos’ depth and experience make them the early team to beat.  

Virginia State University follows at No. 2, with Head Coach Millette Green’s Trojans boasting leadership from standout guard Skylar White. Bowie State sits at No. 3, led by preseason pick Mia Smith, one of the league’s most versatile scorers. Virginia Union (No. 4) and Claflin (No. 5, led by preseason honoree Ashari Lewis) round out the top five. 

Other notables include Shaw University, which features a powerful duo in preseason selections D’Ayzha Akinson and Mahogany Collins, and Winston-Salem State, bolstered by rising star Jakaiya Mack. 

Women’s Predicted Order of Finish: 
1. Fayetteville State 
2. Virginia State 
3. Bowie State 
4. Virginia Union 
5. Claflin 
6. Livingstone 
7. Winston-Salem State 
8. Shaw 
9. Lincoln (PA) 
10. Elizabeth City State 
11. Johnson C. Smith 
12. Bluefield State 

Women’s Preseason All-CIAA Team: 

• Jasmine Jenkins (Bluefield State) – The Big Blue’s go-to guard and leading scorer, known for her ability to create offense. 

• Talia Trotter (Fayetteville State) – A versatile scorer and leader, steadying one of the league’s deepest rosters. 

• KaNyah O’Neal (Fayetteville State) – A dominant forward who controls the glass and anchors the Broncos inside. 

• Mia Smith (Bowie State) – A skilled shooter and reliable scorer, capable of taking over late-game situations. 

• Nyah Wilkins (Fayetteville State) – A defensive anchor who brings toughness and balance to the Broncos’ lineup. 

• Ashari Lewis (Claflin) – A two-way standout who sets the tone for the Panthers with energy and grit. 

• D’Ayzha Akinson (Shaw) – A crafty guard who can score at all three levels and spark momentum. 

• Mahogany Collins (Shaw) – A physical presence inside, one of the CIAA’s most consistent rebounders. 

• Kyshonna Brown (Johnson C. Smith) – A veteran guard with playmaking ability and strong leadership. 

• Jakaiya Mack (Winston-Salem State) – A rising star known for her athleticism and dynamic play on both ends. 

Men’s Basketball Outlook 
On the men’s side, Virginia State University headlines the preseason rankings at No. 1, fueled by veteran leader Jacob Cooper and key transfer Amare Wimbush (formerly of Bowie State). Claflin University lands at No. 2 behind transfer Xavier Tubbs-Matthews, while Fayetteville State is No. 3, strengthened by preseason picks Larry Howell (Bluefield State transfer) and sharpshooter Ezekiel Cannedy. 

Virginia Union enters at No. 4, led by interior force Bobby Gardner, and Lincoln (PA) rounds out the top five with All-CIAA center Kesean Shillingford anchoring the Lions. 

Johnson C. Smith’s Jamauri Bryant (No. 6) and Livingstone’s James Nipper (No. 10) add depth to an impressive preseason team, while Shaw’s Avery Huggins gives the Bears (No. 7) a proven frontcourt presence. ]

Men’s Predicted Order of Finish: 
1. Virginia State 
2. Claflin 
3. Fayetteville State 
4. Virginia Union 
5. Lincoln (PA) 
6. Johnson C. Smith 
7. Shaw 
8. Bluefield State 
9. Bowie State 
10. Livingstone 
11. Elizabeth City State 
12. Winston-Salem State 

Men’s Preseason All-CIAA Team: 

• Amare Wimbush (Virginia State) – A high-scoring forward and transfer from Bowie State, expected to make an immediate impact. 

• Larry Howell (Fayetteville State) – A powerful post presence who transferred from Bluefield State, bringing strength inside. 

• Jacob Cooper (Virginia State) – A steady veteran and emotional leader, the floor general for the Trojans. 

• Xavier Tubbs-Matthews (Claflin) – A versatile scorer and transfer from Elizabeth City State, bringing firepower to the Panthers. 

• Ezekiel Cannedy (Fayetteville State) – A sharpshooter who stretches defenses and provides instant offense. 

• Avery Huggins (Shaw) – An energetic forward with a tough inside game, one of the Bears’ anchors. 

• Bobby Gardner (Virginia Union) – A consistent force in the paint, known for his physical presence and rebounding. 

• James Nipper (Livingstone) – A confident guard with strong scoring instincts, a key returner for the Blue Bears. 

• Jamauri Bryant (Johnson C. Smith) – An explosive playmaker who broke out last season and is primed for more. 

• Jaquantae Harris (Elizabeth City State) – A quick guard who controls tempo and sets the tone for the Vikings’ offense. 

General Admission tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament taking place February 24–28, 2026 at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD.  All single session, packages and group tickets are available NOW.  First come, first served tickets are available HERE.    

The 2025–2026 season is expected to showcase a balance of experience and new talent throughout the CIAA. Every program has pieces in place to contend, ensuring a competitive path to the 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament. This year’s tournament will once again be held in Baltimore, Maryland, continuing a celebrated partnership with Visit Baltimore. 

Media Contact:  
Anna M. Butzlaff  
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications  
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)  
abutzlaff@theciaa.com  

About the CIAA  
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest running African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.  

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.