An argument could be made that Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) star Jamal Gibson has been the best individual performer in HBCU basketball this season.
The reigning HBCU Athletic Conference (formerly Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) Player of the Year averages 22.4 points, 15.6 rebounds (leads NAIA), 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Gibson has opened 2025 with a bang, putting forth a pair of monster performances against Wilberforce and Rust, respectively.
He combined 67 points on 76% shooting, 37 rebounds, and four blocks, with the Knights securing wins in each contest.
Gibson, who worked as a tattoo artist before enrolling at SUNO, was also recently named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week.
“I definitely plan on going harder and putting my foot on the pedal,” Gibson said. “I hope my face is on the weekly honor board every single week from here on out.”
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SUNO has an 8-10 overall record, including a 7-2 record against HBCUAC competition. They are one win away from tying their win total from last season.
Said head coach James Matthews, who discovered Gibson — a non-high school graduate — on the pick-up game circuit and wasn’t aware of what the player meant to the team:
“This young man is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player. As great as he is on the court, he’s an even greater human being. He genuinely cares about people. This award speaks volumes about his work ethic and his ability to overpower opponents. It’s incredible to me that this is normal for him,” Matthews said with a chuckle. “And what’s normal for him creates a problem for opponents.”
