Robert Covington not only showed up Sunday at the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge proudly showing off his Tennessee State roots, he once again put his money where his mouth was.
Covington, 30, an eight-year pro with the Portland Trail Blazers who played at TSU (2009-13), wore a blue TSU jersey trimmed in red in the skills competition and afterward announced he was surprising two current TSU students with $25,000 scholarships.
This comes just four months after Covington pledged $1 million to build a TSU basketball practice facility on campus named the Covington Pavilion.
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In 2019 Covington gave $75,000 to TSU’s men’s basketball team, marking the largest single donation ever to the program.
The NBA and its players association committed this year to donate more than $2.5 million toward Historically Black Colleges and Universities such at TSU in COVID-19 relief.
Covington was the only NBA player from an HBCU who participated in the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge in Atlanta.
“It’s an overall great experience to be able to put all HBCUs on the map,” Covington told NBC Sports. “I’m the lone ranger when it comes to their support system in the NBA. For me, it’s big. It’s a huge statement for me and all HBCUs.”
TSU basketball coach Brian “Penny” Collins was beaming as he watched Covington wearing the Tigers’ jersey in the competition. Collins, however, wasn’t surprised by the gesture.
“That’s Rob for you,” Collins said. “To me it’s priceless to have a guy like that, who comes from Tennessee State and is so willing to give back. It was exciting. Seeing that jersey on TV just put a huge smile on my face.”
Covington was eliminated in the first round of the competition, but didn’t appear to be too bothered by it. The Skills Challenge had provided the platform he wanted to get his message out to HBCU players he hopes will follow his lead.
“If they see me doing this, it can help push them,” Covington said. “That’s what my whole purpose is to inspire and motivate everyone. Me coming from HBCU, I was counted out in a lot of ways… Nobody thought I would be in the NBA… Even once I got my chance — it was still a lot of ‘what ifs…’ I’m just thankful that I can help everyone’s narratives.”
Belmont’s Casey Alexander up for Skip Prosser award
Belmont basketball coach Casey Alexander, who won the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award in 2018, is a finalist for the award again this year.
Alexander was the coach at Lipscomb when he won in 2018.
The award, presented by CollegeInsider.com, honors coaches who not only achieve success on the court but also display moral integrity.
Alexander has led Belmont to more wins (26) than any team in nation this season including a 21-game win streak.
The Bruins won the OVC regular season and advanced to the conference tournament championship game.
Alexander also is a candidate for the Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year award.
Ex-Whites Creek coach Rayna Stewart promoted at Green Bay
Former Tennessee Oilers/Titans defensive back Rayna Stewart, who was the head coach at Whites Creek High and an assistant at Vanderbilt, has been promoted to assistant special teams coach for the Green Bay Packers.
Stewart spent the last two seasons as the Packers special teams quality control coach.
Before that he spent four seasons at Vanderbilt. He was the coach at Whites Creek in 2012 and 2013 an an assistant at Battle Ground Academy in 2010 and 2011.
Stewart began his coaching career as a defensive quality control coach for the Titans in 2009.
Former Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray was promoted to defensive backs/passing game coordinator at Green Bay.
MTSU’s Hayes sisters earn C-USA honors
Former Riverdale basketball stars Anastasia and Aislynn Hayes, now at Middle Tennessee State, made the All-Conference USA team. Anastasia, who was the player of the year, made the first team for the second consecutive season and Aislynn made the second team.
Anastasia, a junior, is the nation’s second-leading scorer (26.8 ppg.). She leads the conference in steals (2.8) and is second in assists (4.9).
Aislynn, a sophomore who was the C-USA freshman of the year last year, averages 14.3 points and is second on the team in rebounds (6.5) assists (3.5) and steals (1.2).
Austin Peay fires women’s basketball coach David Midlick
Austin Peay women’s basketball coach David Midlick was fired Monday.
Midlick, a Memphis native who began his college coaching career as an assistant at TSU (2006-10), posted an 85-88 overall record and 54-50 in the OVC over the last six seasons.
He served as a volunteer assistant for Austin Peay’s men’s basketball team (2003-06).
“I believe it is time for our women’s basketball student-athletes to take the next step as part of our ‘Total Gov Concept’ and excel on the floor as well as in the classroom and the community,” Austin Peay athletics director Gerald Harrison said.
Morehead State earned NCAA Tourney berth with local ties
Morehead State, which earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011, features several ties to the Middle Tennessee area.
The Eagles beat Belmont 86-71 in the OVC Tournament championship.
Former Martin Methodist head coach and associate athletics director Scott Combs is an assistant on the Eagles’ staff. Combs played at Austin Peay and spent 12 years there as an assistant.
Morehead State sophomore forward Julius Dixon is a part-time starter for the Eagles and junior forward Jaden Stanley-Williams is a reserve who played at Columbia State.
Also, Morehead State media relations director Matt Schabert is a Cookeville High and Tennessee Tech graduate and the son of longtime Tech assistant athletics director Rob Schabert.
The last time Morehead State earned an NCAA Tournament berth was in 2011 when it won the OVC Tournament played at Municipal Auditorium.
Vandy great Na’Sheema Hillmon’s daugher is Big Ten Player of the Year
Michigan’s Naz Hillmon, the daughter of Vanderbilt basketball great Na’Sheema Hillmon, is the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
Naz Hillmon, a junior, became the first player in Michigan’s history to win the award.
She averages 25.1 points and 11.3 rebounds. Hillmon had 50 points and 16 rebounds in a game against Ohio State and 35 points and 22 rebounds against Nebraska.
Na’Sheema Hillmon was a four-year starter at Vanderbilt who made the All-SEC first team in 1998.
FCA hosting flag football tourney
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is sponsoring a 5-on-5 Flag Football Tournament on March 20.
The tournament, which will be at Freedom Church in Gallatin, is for the first 24 high school (grades 9-12) teams and eight middle school (grades 6-8) teams to sign up.
There will be cash prizes for first ($1,000), second ($500) and third ($250) places.
For more information call 615-275-6871 or email Jason McCormick at JMcCormick@fca.org. Register at FCA Flag Football Tournament.
TSU’s Antonio Zita, who came close to transferring, is specialist of the week
In May TSU kicker Antonio Zita entered the transfer portal.
The junior from Lincoln County had made the OVC newcomer team as a freshman and All-OVC second team as a sophomore.
A couple of months later Zita announced he was transferring to West Florida.
Then in October Zita decided to remain at TSU.
On Tuesday he was named the OVC specialist of the week after going 3-for-3 on field goals against Jacksonville State last Sunday. Zita’s field goals were from 47, 41 and 36 yards.
Columbia State back in the top 25
Columbia State’s men’s basketball team broke back into the National Junior College Athletic Association top 25 Monday at No. 24.
The Chargers began the season at No. 22 in the preseason poll in mid-January.
They fell out of the poll on Jan. 25 and remained out until improving to 8-1 last week.
Music City Triathlon returning this summer
The Eddie Ferrell Music City Triathlon, which was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, will return on July 24th.
The 300-meter, 22-kilometer bike, 5-kilometer run takes place in downtown on the Cumberland River.
There also will be a sprint course (1-k swim, 44-k bike, 10k-run).
Race officials will monitor the status of the pandemic and remain in regular communication with local health officials to make sure the in-person event meets all guidelines.
For more information visit nashvilletriathlonclub.com.
Bill Cude golf tournament coming in April
Registration is open for the Bill Cude Memorial Golf Scramble, which is April 24.
The tournament will be at Centerville Municipal Golf Course with proceeds going to the Tennessee Golf Foundation’s Junior Golf Program.
Lunch and a silent auction will be included.
The fee is $75 per player and $300 per team. Register by emailing gcude@tngolf.org.
If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
