FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 3 - 9, 2012

O'Quinn goes to Magic City

NORFOLK, Va. Some three months after helping Norfolk State play "Cinderella" in the NCAA Tournament, Spartan center Kyle O'Quinn had another chapter in his own Cinderella story written last Thursday night when the Orlando Magic selected him in the second round of the NBA Draft. O'Quinn, who was the 49th overall pick in last Thursday's draft, is NSU's rst NBA draftee since Lee Johnson was taken in the third round of the 1988 draft by the Detroit Pistons. O'Quinn is also the rst draftee from a MEAC school since Florida A&M center Jerome James was a second-round selection of the Sacramento Kings in 1998. He is the rst HBCU player drafted since David Young of North Carolina Central was the 41st pick by the Sonics in 2004. "This is the ultimate blessing that I've been hoping for a long time would come," OQuinn said. "I want to thank my coaches at NSU for taking a chance on me and getting me to this point. I'm excited to be a member of the Magic. 'It's a miracle," he told the New York Post. "There's no other word I can use. Nobody would have thought this back in 2008 (when he entered NSU). The amount of work that had to be put in, from start to nish, it looked like it was too much. To get there, is like, wow!" O'Quinn joins Orlando's rst round pick, St. Bonaventure center Andrew Nicholson, on the Magic squad. Nicholson, a 6-9. 234-pound

Norfolk State center, MEAC player of the year taken by Orlando in second round of NBA Draft

O'QUINN ON MAGIC RIDE

Norfolk State / NBA photos

MAGIC MAN: Norfolk State center Kyle O'Quinn rides big postseason to second round NBA Draft selection.

JSU'S TINSLEY WINS 400 HURDLES, OLYMPIC BERTH; NEW ADs AT TUSKEGEE, LIVINGSTONE

Orlando Magic photo

UNDER THE BANNER

WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS

NEWBIES: New Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan (center) is anked by 2012 rst round draft choice Andrew Nicholson of St. Bonaventure (left, #44) and second round selection Kyle O'Quinn (right, #9) of Norfolk State.

SALISBURY, NC Livingstone College President, Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., announced Andre Springs as the new Director of Athletics Monday at an on-campus press conference. "Andre has camaraderie with the coaches and staff that will take Livingstone College athletics to the next level." Springs is no stranger to Livingstone College or the CIAA. Springs started his second stint as a LivingSprings stone employee in January 2010 when he was named the head men's golf coach and for the last six months has been working additionally as the Assistant Athletic Director for Fundraising. "Its an honor and a blessing to be a part of the Blue Bear family," Springs said. "Dr. Jenkins challenged me with improving this department overall and I stepped up to the challenge." Springs rst came to Livingstone in 1979 as the head golf coach after playing four years at Fayetteville State and winning four CIAA Championships. Springs coached the Blue Bears for 10 years, helping put together a team that won three consecutive PGA Minority Golf Championships. "When I left Livingstone the rst time, I told myself that when I returned it would be as the Athletic Director," Springs said. "Two years after I was hired as the golf coach, its my time to lead this department." Springs spoke briey of his plans to lead and elevate the athletic department by improving facilities and supporting the Livingstone student-athletes in their academic and athletic achievements. Springs future plans start with fundraising and during the press conference he received $3,000 in pledged donations from coaches and community leaders. TUSKEGEE, Ala. Patric Simon, the former athletic director at Langston and Alcorn State, has been chosen as Tuskegee's new athletic director. He will replace Alvin Jackson who had been the university's athletic director since February 2010. Simon will assume his responsibilities immediately. During his four-year tenure with Langston, Simon had a combined total Simon of 10 conference championships in the Red River Athletic Conference and Central State Football League of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Langston was ranked the No. 1 Historically Black University and College in the NAIA in Directors Cup standings. In the 2011 standings for Leareld Sports, Langston University was the top school in both the Red River Athletic Conference and Central States Football League for a third consecutive year. Simon is a 1977 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University. In 1989, he earned a master's degree from Clark Atlanta University. KINGSTON, JAMAICA Johnson C. Smith University alums Leford Green and Shermaine Williams are headed to the 2012 London Summer Olympics representing Jamaica. Green won the 400 meter hurdles event at the 2012 Jamaica National Senior Championships on Friday evening inside National Stadium. The St. Catherine, Jamaica native is the national champion in the event for the third consecutive year. He won the race with a season best time of 48.88. Saturday, Williams qualied for the national team by placing third in the women's 100 meter hurdles nal. She was clocked at a time of 12.79 to become the rst ever female Olympian from JCSU. Williams is also a native of St. Andrew, Jamaica. Williams and Green are the rst Olympians from Johnson C. Smith since Vince Matthews. Matthews competed and won gold in the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics. He set world records in both, running the 4x400 meter relay in 1968 and the 400 meter dash in 1972.
AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XVIII, No. 49

NEW AD AT LIVINGSTONE:

center, was taken with the 19th overall selection in the rst round. Nicholson and the 6-10 O'Quinn may help ll a large hole in the frontcourt should All-Star center Dwight Howard of the Magic choose to depart via free agency. "We are extremely proud of Kyle and what he accomplished at NSU," Spartan head coach Anthony Evans said. "He's worked hard to position himself for this day and we couldn't be happier for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the next chapter of his basketball career." OQuinn didnt begin playing organized basketball until his junior season at Campus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights, N.Y.,

and NSU was the only school to offer him a scholarship. After serving as a valuable reserve for the Spartans as a freshman in 2008-09, O'Quinn blossomed into an All-MEAC honoree in his nal three seasons. He averaged 11.5 points and 8.7 rebounds as a sophomore in 2009-10, earning second-team All-MEAC accolades. As a junior in 2010-11, OQuinn averaged 16.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game en route to an All-MEAC rst team nod and MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 2011-12 season was a fairy tale year for OQuinn and the Spar-

tans. OQuinn averaged 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while leading the Spartans to their rst-ever MEAC title and an upset of No. 2 seed Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. OQuinn became the rst player in MEAC history to sweep league Defensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year honors in the same season while helping NSU to a 26-10 record, the school's most victories since 1994-95. He was also named MEAC Tournament MVP and the Lou Henson Award winner at the nations top 'mid-major' player. OQuinn started making a name for himself nationally with a 26point, 14-rebound effort in the win over Missouri in the Spartans rstever NCAA Tournament appearance in March. He went onto earn MVP honors at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April before attending June's NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. OQuinn leaves NSU as the school's all-time leader in blocks (283) and is No. 6 in rebounds (1,092) and 16th in scoring (1,607). He is the 14th Spartan to hear his name called in the NBA Draft, and rst in the Division I era. Only three former Spartans have ever played in an NBA game: David Pope (Kansas City Kings, 1984-85; Seattle SuperSonics, 1985-86), Ray Epps (Golden State Warriors, 1978-79) and former NBA All-Star Bob Dandridge (Milwaukee Bucks, 1969-77 and 1981-82; Washington Bullets, 1977-81).

TUSKEGEE'S NEW AD:

The NCAA is apparently very serious about the Former Jackson State men's track and eld standout Michael Tinsley has made his rst Olympic team after winning the 400 meter hurdles Sunday at the U. S. Olympic team trials in Eugene, Oregon. Tinsley won with a time of 48.33, knocking off the gold, silver and bronze medal winners from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Tinsley overtook Angelo Taylor, who had a big lead but faltered over the nal hurdle and lost momentum. Taylor was able to get to the nish line and land second with a time of 48.57. Former Saint Augustine's hurdler and fourtime U. S. Outdoor champion Bershawn Jackson did not make the team nishing fourth in 48.94, just .05 of a second behind third-place nisher Kerron Clement (48.89). Tinsley will participate as a member of the 2012 US Olympic team in London, England. The 2012 Olympics start July 27 with the opening ceremony and end on August 12 Former North Carolina A&T sprinter Calessio Newman came within one-hundedth of a second of making the Olympic team in the 200 meter dash. Newman nished fourth in the event with a time of 20.17 seconds just behind third-place nisher Isiah Young. Wallace Spearman won the event in 19.82 with Maurice Mitchell second in 20.14. Former Howard hurdler David Oliver nished fth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.17. Aries Merritt won the event in 12.93. Former Albany State and SIAC track star Brandon Roulhac nished fth in the men's triple jump. Roulhac jumped 52-2 1/4 behind winner Christian Taylor (57-10 3/4). While at Jackson State, Tinsley placed his

Jackson State's Tinsley headed to London

USAT&F Photo

FINALLY!: Former Jackson State and SWAC track star Michael Tinsley celebrates after crosseing the nish line ahead of Angelo Taylor in winning the men's 400 meter hurdles nal on day ten of the U. S. Olympic Track & Field Team trials at the Hayward Field on July 1, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon.

name on the national and world scene in 2006. He recorded a sixth-place nish at the USA Outdoor meet and a win at the NCAA Championships. With the win, Tinsley became the rst JSU track athlete to win an NCAA Division I title. With wins in 2006 at the Texas Relays and the NCAA Championships, Tinsley continued his move up the national rankings (No. 4), and ended the year with his rst ever T&FN top ten world ranking ( No. 10). In 2005, he gave a hint of what was to come

with a third-place nish in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He was ranked No. 7 at the end of the year, in the U.S. Track & Field News. Tinsley won both the 110-meter and 400meter hurdles titles at the 2004 SWAC Outdoor Championships. A multi-event athlete, he ran the second leg of the team that captured the 4x400m relay title at the 2004 SWAC Championship

BCSP Notes
Pierce named Director of Track and Field at Hampton
HAMPTON, Va. Maurice Pierce, who for 10 years has served as Hampton University's head women's track & eld coach, was named Director of Track & Field for the school, the Department of Athletics announced on Monday. Pierce will be in charge of both the men's and women's cross country and track & eld programs. "Im thankful," Pierce said. "Im grateful to (HU President Dr. William R.) Harvey for looking at the leadership I've shown over the years and offering me this opportunity. "The timing is right for this." Pierce's Lady Pirates have enjoyed much success during his tenure; most recently, Hampton swept the MEAC women's cross country, indoor track & eld, and outdoor track & eld titles this past season. During Pierce's tenure, the Lady Pirates have won four MEAC cross country titles (2004, 2006, 2010-11), nine indoor track & eld championships (2003-09, 2011-12), and eight outdoor track & eld titles (2003-04, 2006-10, 2012). Pierce has coached ve NCAA champions while at Hampton; Francena McCorory won three NCAA crowns in the 400-meter dash (2009 indoor, 2010 indoor, 2010 outdoor), while Yvette Lewis took a pair of NCAA titles in the triple jump (2006 indoor, 2007 outdoor). McCorory recently earned a spot on the 2012 Olympic team. "My biggest challenge right now is trying to improve the overall team performances for men's track," Pierce said. "Historically, the men have had great individual talent, now we have to use that success to build a whole team."

JC SMITH OLYMPIANS:

Pierce will retain current assistant coaches Aldrin Gray and Damion Drummond; Gray will become the coordinator of men's track, while Drummond will work with the distance and cross country runners for both teams. Prior to coming to Hampton, Pierce served as an assistant coach at Maryland Eastern Shore (199899), and as a volunteer women's assistant coach at Norfolk State (1995-98). While at Norfolk State, Pierce was instrumental in helping the Spartans win two CIAA championships and coached over 15 CIAA Pierce champions, four NCAA Division II qualiers and one Olympian (Rachelle Thomas, who competed in the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays for the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1996). Pierce is also considered one of the top hurdle coaches in the world. He coached David Payne, who competed in the 110-meter hurdles at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and won a silver medal with a time of 13.17. Payne was the rst athlete coached by Pierce to win an Olympic medal. Pierce also coached former Hampton star James Carter as a professional hurdler from 2000-04. Carter placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2004 Games in Athens. During the four years Pierce coached Carter, he made two Olympic teams, three World Championships teams, one World Cup Team, and one NACAC U-23 team. Carter was ranked in the top 10 in the world all four years. Pierce is a 1996 graduate of Norfolk State, where he was a member of the Spartans track team in 1992-93, and 1995. He is married to Cantrese Pace-Pierce, a 1998 graduate of Hampton.