The Virginia State Trojans men’s basketball team come in to the 2025-2026 season as the team to beat, being picked to finish atop the CIAA standings in the conference’s predicted order of finish.
The 2024-2025 season was a year of improvement for the Trojans, upgrading from an 8-9 record against the CIAA the previous year to a 13-3 record, earning the CIAA North division title.
After beating Bowie State and the defending conference champion Virginia State to advance to the CIAA title game, the Trojans lifted the trophy with a 71-64 win over Bluefield State.
“We pride ourselves on being disciplined and doing what you’re supposed to do when you’re supposed to do it,” said Virginia State head coach Lonnie Blow on the key to maintaining a number one program.
Coach Blow also stated that the team hardly talks about winning the championship last season, with the focus on looking forward with this current team ahead of the upcoming season.
Should Virginia State claim the CIAA championship this year, they would become the first men’s basketball to repeat as conference champions since Livingstone in 2015.
CIAA Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish:
- Virginia State
- Claflin
- Fayetteville State
- Virginia Union
- Lincoln (PA)
- Johnson C. Smith
- Shaw
- Bluefield State
- Bowie State
- Livingstone
- Elizabeth City State
- Winston-Salem State
All-CIAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Team
Amare Wimbush, Virginia State
Larry Howell, Fayetteville State
Jacob Cooper, Virginia State
Xavier Tubbs-Matthews, Claflin
Ezekiel Cannedy, Fayetteville State
Avery Huggins, Shaw
Bobby Gardner, Virginia Union
Jamauri Bryant, Johnson C. Smith
Jaquantae Harris, Elizabeth City State
