Five Knights Receive RICE Fame Group Makeda Excellence Awards

The legacy of Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) Athletics continues to grow, as five of its own – three student-athletes and two coaches – were honored at the 2025 RICE Fame Group Makeda Excellence Awards, one of the highest honors in HBCU athletics. The Knights' five honorees was the most out of all Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and tied for the most selections nationwide.

The Makeda Excellence Awards celebrate the top athletes and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with winners chosen through voting by peer coaches and band directors across the NAIA, NCAA, NCCAA, and USCAA. With nominees coming from all 78 four-year HBCU athletic programs, the honor reflects the remarkable respect SUNO's programs have earned across the country.

SUNO's 2025 Makeda Excellence Award Honorees:

Coach Olen Parker, Jr. – Baseball (Coach of the Year)
Resilient, disciplined, and fearless – Parker built a contender in just two seasons.
Coach Parker guided the Knights to a 24-27 (16-14) record, finishing runners-up in the 2025 HBCUAC Hope Credit Union Baseball Championship and earning a trip to the NAIA Regionals. The Knights shocked the tournament by knocking off top-seeded teams and placing five players on the All-Tournament Team. Under his leadership, Christopher Nunez threw the first no-hitter in conference history since baseball's return in 2023. Off the field, Parker's program also excelled academically, with 12 players named to the honor roll – four of them posting a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Miles Bowens – Baseball (Player of the Year)
From promise to powerhouse – Bowens became a force at the plate.
Bowens took a leap forward this season, transforming into a reliable hitter who consistently delivered in big moments. His growth fueled the Knights' offensive firepower and became a defining part of their postseason push. Bowens improved his hitting tremendously this season. He finished the regular season No. 3 in the conference for total home runs with 9 and leads the HBCUAC with 7 homers in conference play only. He was No.7 in the HBCUAC with 33 RBI against conference opponents and No. 4 overall with 51 RBI. He is in the top of the conference for total bases (No. 5 with 95) and slugging percentage (.605, No. 11). In the field he had 86 putouts and just 3 errors this season, good for a .967 fielding percentage.

During the postseason, he led the Knights' offense, batting .375 over 7 games. He was named to the 2025 HBCUAC Baseball All-Tournament Team. In 46 games played, Bowens hit .344, had 54 hits, 42 runs scored, 21 hits for extra bases, and was walked 28 times. 

Armoni Harris – Volleyball (Player of the Year)
A wall on the court and a spark for her team – Harris set the tone every match.
Harris dominated defensively, establishing herself as one of the most prominent players in the conference. Her ability to disrupt opponents' offenses and rally her teammates made her a cornerstone of SUNO's success on the court. A powerhouse on the defensive end, Armoni Harris earned All-HBCUAC First Team honors. She led the conference in digs per set and ranked fifth in total digs with 319 during the regular season. In conference games alone, Harris commanded the leaderboard with 234 total digs and 5.2 digs per set during the regular season. She shows remarkable control on the court, committing just 27 errors in 485 receptions, which placed her fourth-best in the HBCUAC. Known as a "court general," Harris orchestrates plays, guiding her teammates and ensuring consistent passes to the setters.

Jamal "Tall" Gibson – Men's Basketball (Player of the Year)
The heartbeat of Knights basketball, raising the standard two years in a row.
For the second consecutive year, Gibson earned the Makeda Excellence Award, further solidifying his reputation as a transformational leader. He led SUNO in every major statistical category except blocks, earning an astounding 14 Offensive Player of the Week honors and 15 Defensive Player of the Week honors. His dominance on the defensive end was recognized nationally as he became the first player in SUNO history to be named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week twice.

Gibson reached a career milestone on January 6, 2025, against Fisk University, scoring his 1,000th career point in just his 47th game—making him the fastest player in program history to hit the mark. He also broke his own single season scoring record of 630 points, with 674 points scored in his sophomore year..

Nationally, Gibson was a rebounding machine, leading the entire NAIA with 477 total rebounds (16.4 per game). He also topped the HBCUAC with 23.2 points per game and repeated as Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, accolades he claimed last season. Gibson is now a two-time All-American and holds the school record for consecutive double-doubles, rebounds, and points in a single season. 

James A. Matthews, III – Men's Basketball (Coach of the Year)
A leader on and off the court – Matthews defines what it means to be a Knight.
Matthews, who serves as SUNO's Director of Athletics and Head Men's Basketball Coach, stood out for his athletic dominance and leadership. The SUNO Knights men's basketball team made history this season, achieving milestones not seen in over a decade. With a double-digit win total for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign and a 9-8 conference record—its best in 11 years—the Knights have reestablished themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).

The Knights finished the regular season ranked second in the HBCUAC in points per game (78.4) and field goals made per game (28.7). Their dominance on the boards was unmatched, leading the conference in total rebounds per game (41.4) and defensive rebounds per game (28.1). On the defensive end, the Knights led  the HBCUAC in blocks per game (5.1) across all contests.

Under Matthews' tutelage, the Knights had two Preseason All-HBCUAC selections, one First Team All-HBCUAC, Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Player of the Year - for the second consecutive year. Matthews also coached the only player to win National Defensive Player of the Week, and this year, that player won NAIA Defensive Player of the Week twice - the first mark in program history.

A Legacy of Excellence

This is the second consecutive year both Coach Olen Parker, Jr. and  Jamal "Tall" Gibson have earned Makeda Excellence Awards – a rare distinction that underscores SUNO's rise as a force in HBCU athletics. 

"Our coaches and student-athletes have proven that SUNO belongs on the national stage," said James A. Matthews, III, Director of Athletics. "These awards are not just recognition of individual achievement – they represent the spirit, resilience, and pride of what we call SUNO Knight Life."

About the Makeda Excellence Awards
The Makeda Excellence Awards are named after Queen Makeda, the legendary Queen of Sheba, remembered as one of history's wealthiest and wisest women. Her story of leadership and vision inspired the awards, which recognize individuals who embody excellence and elevate the legacy of HBCU athletics. 

For more information about SUNO Athletics, visit sunoathletics.com.

-SUNOKNIGHTLIFE-

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