Tag Archives: NBA All-Star

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TSU Basketball hosts successful All-Star Celebrity game, more than 4,000 fans in attendance


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – To see all-star celebrities like former NBA player Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway, former WNBA player Dawn Evans and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a TSU alum who spent 12 seasons in the NFL, gear up in TSU apparel to support the university was a priceless moment for many fans in attendance.

Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway, Memphis Tiger coach and former NBA player fist bumps another player during the D2W All-Star celebrity game. (Photo by Logan Duncan)

Tennessee State University Basketball hosted the Deserve To Win All-Star Celebrity Weekend on June 25 at the Gentry Center Complex. The event benefited TSU basketball and brought out more than 4,000 attendees.

“You can’t even put a price tag on what that means for our program moving forward,” said Brian “Penny” Collins, head coach of the TSU men’s basketball program. “I was just proud.”

Hardaway, who is currently University of Memphis Tigers basketball coach, said the experience of participating in the all-star game was great because the ultimate win is the university and the men and women’s basketball program.

“To come down and support … to help an HBCU, that’s beautiful,” Hardaway said, noting that he will be back for next year’s celebrity game as well.

“I am going to make time to come back because I want to be able to support TSU.”

Local celebrities, professional athletes, musicians, politicians, and TSU alums were in the building cheering on their favorite athletes who played on teams “Music City” vs “Team 615.

Team 615 won the game in overtime with a final score of 115-113.

Jordan Bone, professional basketball player dunks during the celebrity game in Gentry Complex. (Photo by Logan Duncan)

As fans swarmed the basketball court after the game to grab photos and autographs from the All-stars, Collins said he looks forward to receiving the same support and energy for the upcoming TSU basketball season.

Brian “Penny” Collins, head coach of TSU men’s basketball program speaks with local News 4 about the event. (Photo by Logan Duncan)

Here’s a list of the All-Star participates and celebrity coaches:

Team 615

  • Jordan Bone
  • Patrick Miller
  • Le’Jzae Davison
  • Judge Rachel Bell Auburn
  • Christian Mekowulu
  • Josh Malone
  • Domonique Rodgers Cromartie
  • Lachavious Simmons
  • Dontae’ Jones

Celebrity Coaches: Dubba-AA and Josh Cooperwood Sr.

Team Music City:

  • Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway
  • Dawn Evans
  • A.J Merriweather
  • Jauan Jennings
  • Whitney MeiHwa
  • Ian Clark
  • D.J Wootson
  • Starlito
  • James Shaw
  • Jacob Phillips
  • Shaq Mason
  • MyCole Pruitt

Celebrity Coaches: Meghan Triplett and Robert Higgins

Josh Malone NFL wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans and NFL linebacker for the Cleveland Browns Jacob Phillips square off during the all star game. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a  premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees.  TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee.  With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students  with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

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NBA star, TSU alum Robert Covington awards $25K scholarships to two student athletes at his alma mater

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Two Tennessee State University student athletes will each receive a $25,000 scholarship thanks to NBA star and TSU alum Robert Covington.

He made the announcement during the recent NBA All-Star weekend in Atlanta. The scholarship recipients are Nashville, Tennessee, junior Micahlea Njie (VB) and Michael Thompson (track), a junior from Miami, Florida.

Covington graduated from Tennessee State University in 2013 with a degree in Exercise Science while finishing his college basketball career ranked seventh on Tennessee State’s all-time list in both scoring (1,749 points) and rebounding (876). 

The Portland Trail Blazers forward is currently the only NBA player to have graduated from an historically black college or university. Covington sported a TSU jersey when he competed in the All-Star skills competition.

In November, he gifted TSU with a donation for a construction project to enhance the university’s basketball program. The facility, to be called the “Covington Pavilion,” will have two practice courts, locker rooms and offices for the men’s and women’s basketball programs.

The gift is the largest of that magnitude to an HBCU by a former athlete who was a product of its program. During the announcement of the gift, Covington talked about the impact of attending TSU, an HBCU.

“This university (TSU) has molded me, gave me the foundation and helped me play with a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I wouldn’t change it for nothing. I’m a walking product of a kid that went to an HBCU and created a narrative for myself. I feel like now is the time for change and progression all around. I’m in a great place to give back to the place that shaped who I am – not only as an athlete but as a man. “

This year, as part of NBA All-Star 2021, the league and the players’ association  committed more than $2.5 million in funds and resources toward HBCUs.

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a  premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight doctoral degrees.  TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee.  With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students  with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.