Black Lives Matter Plaza coming to an end
By Ashraf Khalil and Jacquelyn Martin The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Starlette Thomas remembers coming down almost daily to the intersection of 16th and H streets to protest police brutality and systemic racial iniquities during the summer of 2020.
On Monday, March 10, the 45-year old Bowie, Maryland, resident returned to the site of those protests to mourn the end of Black Lives Matter Plaza.
fend off encroachments on D.C.’s limited autonomy. Bowser said last week on X that, “The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our No. 1 concern.”
Among those who gathered to witness the work Monday was Megan Bailiff, CEO of Equus Striping, the pavement marking company that originally painted the letters.
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Association.
“I needed to be here today. I can’t just let this go away,” Thomas said, as jackhammers began tearing into the giant yellow letters in the street. Thomas discretely secured a chunk of pavement and said holding it made her feel conflicted.
“To walk away with a piece of that, it means it’s not gone,” she said. “It’s more than brick and mortar.”
Crews started work Monday, to remove the large yellow “Black Lives Matter” painted on the street one block from the White House. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the change last week in response to pressure from Republicans in Congress. The work is expected to take about six weeks, and the words will be replaced by an unspecified set of city-sponsored murals.
The painting of those words was an act of government-sponsored defiance during President Donald Trump’s first term. The removal amounts to a public acknowledgement of just how vulnerable the District of Columbia is now that Trump is back in the White House and Republicans control both houses of Congress.
Bowser, a Democrat, ordered the painting and renamed the intersection Black Lives Matter Plaza in June 2020. It came after days of chaotic protests at that location following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer; Bowser had clashed with Trump over her handling of the protests. But now Bowser has little power to
Bailiff called the dismantling of Black Lives Matter Plaza, “historically obscene” and said its presence was “more significant at this very moment than it ever has been in this country.”
The far right celebrated the shift online, with conservative provocateur
Charlie Kirk visiting the site to hail, “the end of this mass race hysteria in our country.”
(Associated Press journalist Nathan Ellgren contributed reporting.)
President Calvin Anderson Editor Stephanie R. Jones
Part of the mural reading “Black Lives Matter” painted in June 2020 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pastor Ricky Floyd shot and killed outside nightclub
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
Well-known Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd was gunned down outside a popular local nightclub and diner following a verbal dispute with a woman in the early morning hours Wednesday.
The shooting occurred outside Momma’s Bar and Diner at the corner of Crump Avenue and Kentucky Avenue around 1 a.m., March 12. The establishment was closed at the time.
Memphis Police Department released a mugshot of Samantha Marion, 42, who has been charged with voluntary manslaughter.
Witnesses told MPD the argument began inside but spilled outside, where Floyd’s anger allegedly turned into “aggressive” behavior. According to police, video footage also captured Floyd throwing Marion’s phone, along with a can of beer, before entering his vehicle. As he drove away, Marion began recording with her phone. Floyd stopped his car and confronted her. After a witness separated the pair, Marion
allegedly began walking toward Floyd. The footage shows the pastor falling to the ground.
Marion reported the incident to police. A single shell casing was recovered at the scene.
Floyd, 58, was senior pastor at Pursuit of God Church, located at 3759 N. Watkins in the Frayser community. He co-founded the ministry with his wife, Sheila, in 2002.
“On behalf of the family, it is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Pastor Ricky D. Floyd, a beloved husband, father and son. His unwavering dedication to our community and his profound impact on the lives of those he touched will be remembered and cherished,” Pursuit of God Church said in a statement.
Floyd was also pastor of the nonprofit Salvation Revelation Ministries, which provided outreach to youth, along with abstinence training, singles events, children’s study groups, feeding events and housing needy families.
Mayor Paul Young issued a statement saying Floyd’s death is a loss for
Memphis.
“My heart is more than heavy today as we mourn the tragic loss of Pastor Ricky Floyd to senseless gun violence. Pastor Floyd was a beloved leader, friend, mentor and servant to our city. He dedicated his life to lifting up others and guiding countless souls with his wisdom,” Young said.
“Gun violence in our city has taken too many lives, shattered too many families and left too many communities in grief. This must stop. We cannot allow senseless violence to define us. We must stand together — neighbors, leaders, law enforcement and faith communities — to bring meaningful, lasting change,” Young wrote.
Pastor Ricky Floyd (Facebookscreen capture)
School yourself about integration and HBCUs
By Terri Schlichenmeyer Special to The Tri-State Defender
The anticipation is high.
Your soon-to-be-graduate has been checking every day to see if there’s good news or bad news from the college of their choice and to determine if they need a change of plans. It’s an unnerving time but also one of hope. So why not be prepared, and read these great books about education in the Black community.
More than 70 years ago, something happened in rural Tennessee that was almost lost to history: Three people -– one of them, a white man -– joined forces to help Black southerners get past Jim Crow laws and vote. As you’ll read in “Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement” by Elaine Weiss (One Signal, $29.99), they accomplished this feat by opening Citizenship Schools which, by 1965, had grown from one little room in the back of a grocery store, to more than nine hundred such schools. How this happened and what these schools accomplished is a story you can’t miss.
Here’s another book that presents another side of history: “Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children” by Noliwe Rooks (Pantheon, $28) challenges the narrative that says Brown v. Board of Education fixed what was wrong with separate-but-equal laws for schools. Rooks says, in fact, there’s so much more to this story, and that understanding what integration actually did for Black students is to understand how it can be so much better. Bonus: Rooks includes personal stories here, which are as entertaining as they are informative for readers concerned about their children’s education. If your student is heading for an HBCU in the fall, be sure to check out “With Faith in God and Heart and Mind: A History of Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity” by Maurice J. Hobson, Eddie R. Cole, Jim C. Harper II and Derrick P. Alridge (University of North Carolina Press, $29.95). Started in the fall of 1911 by four students at Howard University, Omega Psi Phi was a place for students to join, to bond and to get support. But it was also a place for greatness: Many of its members went on to serve in the military in high places and to serve in society, medicine, science and politics. In this book, you’ll read a history of the fraternity, and you’ll learn about its prominent alumni.
And finally, if your student isn’t sure if college is in their future, look at “Who Needs College Anymore?” by Kathleen Delaski (Harvard Education Press, $34). There are other ways to get an education, says the author. It may still involve a formal education or new twists on old methods of finding a career. Some of them may be controversial. Others may be just the key for a new grad with an aversion to school. If these books on education aren’t enough for you or your student, be sure to ask your librarian or bookseller for more suggestions. There are many more books on the history of education for you to read, addressing elementary schools, college-level and high school.
Books about integration, schools and HBCUs by various authors c.2025, various publishers $28 - $34 various page counts
■■ COMMUNITY
Former MATA leadership misled riders with unfulfilled bus schedules, interim CEO reveals
Thousands of riders left waiting as 20% of scheduled routes went unmet for nearly a year, with financial mismanagement also uncovered at the transit authority.
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
Former MATA leadership misled riders by publishing bus schedules with routes they knew would go unfulfilled, the transit authority’s interim leader revealed during a board meeting Friday, March 7.
Thousands of riders were left waiting hours, or hopelessly, as an average of 20% of scheduled routes went unmet for nearly a year. An additional 9% of routes were not offered due to expected shortcomings.
“Anecdotally, we’ve heard from our customers: ‘My bus doesn’t show up. I’ve had to wait an hour. I’ve had to wait two hours,’” said interim MATA CEO John Lewis. “And we’ve heard from leadership: ‘Well, we had a bus breakdown. We’ve been missing parts. We’ve had operators not show up.’ Those vehicles were never intended to show up, and it was deliberately designed that way.”
The issue lasted from April 2024 through January 2025. The timeline appears to line up with the tenure of former interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin, who was appointed after the retirement of former CEO Gary Rosenfeld. Lewis is a principal for Tampa-based Transpro Consulting. The current board voted to hire the consultants on
“Anecdotally, we’ve heard from our customers: ‘My bus doesn’t show up. I’ve had to wait an hour. I’ve had to wait two hours.’”
— Interim MATA CEO John Lewis
an interim basis in January. Last year, they performed an audit of MATA after a $60 million budget deficit was discovered.
City of Memphis Mayor Paul Young appointed a new board in October, rejecting a previous proposal to cut routes. All route changes require board approval.
“We could find no action by the previous board on any of this, and we went back a year and a half,” said Lewis. “You certainly didn’t take action on the February cuts.”
Mauldin was suspended from her current position as chief of staff on Thursday, March 6. Lewis confirmed to the board that a disciplinary action is in the works.
“I’ll make it short and sweet, absolutely,” replied Lewis. “And we’ll be making recommendations to you as we finish out that investigation.”
The root cause of the issue was the transit authority’s operator pick system, which allows drivers to select routes based on seniority. This system allowed less desirable routes to remain unscheduled.
Known by interim leadership, the remaining 9% of shortfalls were attributed to breakdowns, lack of spare buses or parts and employee absences. Lewis also pointed to needed improvements, including paying vendors, training mechanics and hiring backup drivers.
“Unfortunately, that was a pipe dream,” said Lewis. “Because the
schedule that was actually being delivered out there was actually something significantly less.”
The cumulative effect of the unfulfilled routes and expected failures was totaled in a month-by-month spreadsheet, revealing 4,670 “missed trips” in the month of September. Only 18,569 of the month’s 23,238 scheduled routes were offered. The remainder of the year saw similar results.
“I’m mad. I’m upset. I’m mad as hell after hearing this,” declared MATA board member Cynthia Bailey. “So all this time, they were violating and had the customers acting as if it was their fault … So they were giving false information to the customers. I’m mad as hell.”
In addition to false schedules, MATA’s woes extend to financial mismanagement. Another unnamed executive was also suspended March 6 for misuse of a company credit card.
A red flag was raised when $848,000 in discretionary spending showed up on the card’s account. Much of the money was spent on Grizzlies tickets, but $144,000 of the total included non-essentials, such as $30,000 for promotional items and branded merchandise, $10,000 for party rentals, $10,000 to Amazon, $8,000 on event tickets and $7,000 at Sam’s Club, to name a few.
■■ COMMUNITY
Spring break book fair inspires young readers with hundreds of free books
By Lee Eric Smith Special to The T-State Defender
Backin 2023, hometown sports hero Trey Draper published his first book “Winning Language,” aimed at helping people realize their full potential.
So when Draper got a DM on social media from a young person who wanted a copy because he couldn’t afford to buy one, it did something to him.
“My mindset was, if that one kid was in that position, how many other kids probably can’t afford books?” he said. “I don’t want it to be about the money. I never got into this for the money. I never wrote the book for the money. So I had a conversation with a friend, and it took off from there.”
By “took off,” Draper means that’s how he found himself hosting hundreds of children and parents for a massive Spring Break book fair on Tuesday, March 11 at The Gallery, an event venue on Brooks Road.
The event featured eight Black authors from across the country, including guests from Los Angeles, Houston, and Charlotte. Champions for Literacy, an organization that partners with NCAA programs to promote reading, also joined forces with Draper, donating 400 to 500 books to be distributed for free.
To be certain, there were more than books there. A DJ provided the music as people lined up at a nearby food truck. On the side of the building, kids took turns shooting hoops at a portable “pop-a-shot” setup. Dance groups performed and kids got their faces painted. The event started at 3 p.m. and was swarming with activity from the start.
And those free books? Mostly gone within the 90 minutes. Draper had to pause the book fair to give authors a moment to restock.
“You can’t fake influence,” Draper said. “It’s not even 4 o’clock yet, and we’ve got 200 people lined up outside. We’ll be here until 7, and my books ran out in the first hour.”
A leader on and off the court
After playing basketball for the University of Memphis, Draper transitioned into coaching, training, and leadership consulting. His career has taken him from Mitchell High School, where he helped lead the team to its first state championship, to coaching roles
at IMG Academy and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He has worked with over 50 Division 1 athletes, trained NBA and WNBA players, and provides NBA Pre-Draft and Off-Season training for elite prospects, including Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant. Beyond basketball, Draper is also a college basketball analyst for ESPN and a play-by-play announcer for University of Memphis broadcasts.
His passion for personal development led him to write Winning Language, a book about communication, leadership, and building a success-driven mindset.
“To most people, there are five love languages — acts of service, gift giving, physical touch, quality time and words of affirmation,” Draper writes in his book. “But my Love Language is helping you win.”
Champions for Literacy steps In
One of the event’s key partners was Champions
for Literacy, an organization that collaborates with NCAA sports programs across the country to promote childhood reading. Trey Willis, the Fight for Literacy Games Director, helped coordinate a donation of the books to be given away at the fair.
“We use the power of sports to impact childhood reading,” Willis said. “We work with men’s and women’s sports teams all across the country, ranging from basketball all the way to gymnastics, and we use that platform to inspire kids to become strong readers.”
For Willis, the event was personal.
“I’m from Memphis. I know how important literacy is,” he said. “This is something that’s meaningful and important to me, so to be able to give back to the city, to be able to give back to the children who have a future in the city in this way is just special.”
Willis first connected with Draper at a University of Memphis women’s basketball game, where Champions for Literacy was also giving away books. Their shared passion for literacy led to a collaboration that
Trey Draper thanks the crowd at the Spring Break Community Book Fair — which was such a roaring success that he asked the crowd to clear the room so that authors could restock with more books. “I show up for the people, the people show up for me,” he told the TSD later. (Photos: Lee Eric Smith/Tri-State Defender)
■■ COMMUNITY
think kids don’t want to read,” he said. “But this event proves that reading still matters, and it’s still important to kids.”
made the book fair possible.
“We stayed in touch, and he invited Champions for Literacy to be a part of this event today,” Willis said. “And now, we’re seeing all of these beautiful young minds walk away with books to build their home libraries.”
More than books: A celebration of literacy and opportunity
The book fair wasn’t just about handing out books—it was about creating a space where children could see new possibilities for their futures.
Among the featured authors was Tray Wilson, writer of “Ivy’s Big Race,” a children’s book centered on anti-bullying, leadership, and friendship. Wilson, who was an untraditional learner growing up, wrote the book to inspire children who might feel different in the way they process the world.
“If you’re an untraditional learner, this is the book you want,” Wilson said. “Everybody has a different perspective on things, and that’s what this book is about — showing that different perspectives matter.”
Wilson’s journey as an author began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he felt a calling to create something lasting for young readers.
“I was a kid who learned differently, and sometimes I felt like the way I was doing things was wrong until I realized my way was the right way for me,” he said. “I want kids to know that no matter how they learn, their way is valid.”
His book was inspired by his pet fish, Ivy — the fastest fish he had ever seen — and its story evolved into a lesson about perseverance and self-confidence. Seeing the turnout at the fair reaffirmed Wilson’s belief in the power of books.
“Sometimes, when you look at the media, you’d
Bringing it back to Memphis
For Draper, bringing this event to Whitehaven was intentional.
“Champions for Literacy asked me, ‘Trey, where do you want to do this?’ And respectfully, I didn’t want to go to Collierville, I didn’t want to go to Germantown,” he said. “I wanted to do it for our kids, for them to see that it’s possible.
“You don’t have to make it to the NBA. You don’t have to go to the NFL. You don’t have to be a rapper,” he continued. “We love those fields, but you can do something else.”
For Draper, the turnout wasn’t a surprise.
“I show up for the people, and the people show up for me,” he said. “That’s just the best way to put it.”
The crowd reflected the power of relationships. Family, former coworkers, and friends traveled from across the country to be part of the event.
“I see scientists in the building, trainers, coaches, journalists, artists. It’s about showing kids different paths,” Draper said. “When you look at it, here we are now, 20 years later — we grew up in the ’hood, and instead of promoting violence, we’re promoting literacy.”
Trey Willis of Champions for Literacy welcomes a young reader to his table. Champions for Literacy gave away hundreds of books at the event, Willis said.
Author Brianna Davidson poses with fans of her book, “The Invisible Crown.”
Tray Wilson shared copies of his book, “Ivy’s Big Race,” which he says is for anyone who is an untraditional learner. “Everybody has a different perspective on things, and that’s what this book is about—showing that different perspectives matter,” Wilson said.
Volunteers pause to pose at the Spring Break Community Book Fair at The Gallery, 1104 E. Brooks Road.
MLGW takes ‘first big step’ toward solar and battery storage
Utility requests proposals from vendors
By Lee Eric Smith Special to The Tri-State Defender
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water is moving forward with plans to integrate solar energy and battery storage into its system, a move utility leaders say will improve reliability, affordability, and long-term sustainability.
MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen announced at a news conference Wednesday, March 5, that the utility will issue a request for proposal (RFP) on March 14, 2025, seeking vendors to provide 100 megawatts of solar generation and up to 80 megawatts of utility-scale battery storage. The deadline for proposals is April 28, 2025, with the first operation expected in the third quarter of 2026.
“This is a big deal for our community,” McGowen said. “For the first time, solar is going to allow us to generate energy locally at a very affordable rate, and the utility-scale batteries are going to allow us to ‘peak shave’ – dispatching stored electricity during periods of high demand.”
McGowen emphasized the initiative is part of a broader effort to improve infrastructure and energy resilience.
“This gives us the ability to generate some of our own power and to have that hedge of resilience with battery storage. This is the first step in what will be, over time, a much larger storage project,” he said.
Strengthening the grid
Mayor Paul Young, MLGW Board Chairman Carl Coleman, and other city officials at the news conference, highlighted the utility’s continued push for grid modernization and storm resilience.
“As storms become stronger and summers get hotter, we need to think about new ways to keep the power on,” Young said. “Solar and battery storage will be powerful tools in our energy arsenal.”
McGowen pointed to the utility’s aggressive investments in infrastructure – such as expanded tree-trimming programs – as factors that contributed to 2024 being MLGW’s most reliable year in the past six years. “We are not at our reliability goals yet, but we are moving toward where we should be,” he said.
Young added that a reliable energy grid is essential for economic development.
“A stronger grid makes Memphis more attractive to businesses, and reliability is something we highlight when we recruit companies to the area,” Young said.
How solar and batteries will work
MLGW’s plan calls for the installation of solar generation alongside battery storage, which will allow the utility to store electricity for use during peak demand periods such as extreme
heat waves or cold snaps.
“The sun doesn’t shine all the time, which is why you capture and store some of that energy in batteries for later use,” McGowen said.
Partnership with TVA and future expansion
MLGW’s existing power supply contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority will remain unchanged, but McGowen confirmed that both parties are committed to finalizing a solar and battery project agreement. MLGW serves more than 429,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County and is the largest three-service public utility in the nation.
“This does nothing to change our fundamental power agreement with TVA,” he said. “It will be memorialized in a separate side agreement.”
The RFP process will be flexible –MLGW is open to multiple vendors and sites, including potential locations outside Memphis and Shelby County. Priority, however, will be given to land MLGW already owns and not usable for other purposes.
Companies interested in bidding on the solar and battery project can contact TaShay Yates, procurement contracts specialist II, at DistributedEnergyRFP@mlgw.org.
MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen talks about storing solar energy. “The sun doesn’t shine all the time, which is why you capture and store some of that energy in batteries for later use.”. (TSD Archives)
MLGW announced that the utility will issue a request for proposal (RFP) seeking vendors to provide 100 megawatts of solar generation and up to 80 megawatts of utility-scale battery storage.
■■ NEWS
20 years after Miss Black Tennessee, Lorean Mays is still crowning lives with impact
From
pageantry to purpose: How a win turns into a legacy of advocacy
TSD Newsroom
Chattanooga, TN — Twenty years ago, Lorean Mays stood on stage as she was crowned Miss Black Tennessee 2005, a moment that would set the foundation for a lifetime of advocacy, research and community leadership. Today, she continues to empower communities through her work in health advocacy, education and historical research, proving that her impact extends far beyond the pageant stage.
From pageantry to purpose
Mays’ journey into pageantry began on a dare from a friend to compete in a collegiate fraternity pageant, Miss Phi Beta Sigma. That unexpected entry sparked a deep passion, leading her to compete for the Miss Black Tennessee USA crown and winning in February 2005. She would then go on to compete for Miss Black USA 2005, placing in the Top 15. Over the course of 13 years she won eight other Ms/Miss Tennessee titles. But for Mays, pageantry was about more than crowns and sashes — it was about representation, scholarship opportunities and using her platform to make a difference.
“Winning Miss Black Tennessee was never just about the crown — it was about opening doors, creating opportunities and showing young women that they have the power to define their own paths,” said Mays. “Pageantry gave me a platform, but it was my passion for advocacy that gave me a purpose.”
Throughout her pageant career, Mays leveraged her visibility to champion breast cancer awareness in the African American community, inspired by her grandmother’s experience. This commitment to advocacy led her to work with major organizations, such as the
American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Sisters Network, Susan G. Komen Foundation and countless others.
Her passion for service also led her to leadership roles including: chairwoman of the Tennessee State Advocacy Committee for the American Heart Association; a 2025 American Heart Association “Woman of Impact” nominee; and her new role as director of the Miss Teen Northwest Georgia Volunteer Pageant, where she will continue mentoring young women entering the world of pageantry.
Advocacy, research and community impact
Beyond pageantry, Mays has built a career dedicated to health and education advocacy. She also serves on multiple national boards, advocating for better health care access and equity.
Her passion for history and research inspired her to create Diaspora Girl History and Research (DGHR), a business dedicated to providing genealogy and historical research services, educational programming and scholarships for HBCU students. As she relaunches DGHR, Mays aims to help others uncover their ancestral roots while preserving the history of the African diaspora.
Overcoming adversity and paving the way for others
Mays’ journey has not been without challenges. She openly shares her experiences with bullying, self-confidence struggles and navigating spaces where Black representation is lacking. These experiences have fueled her drive to create opportunities for others, particularly young women seeking mentorship in education, research and the pageant
world.
“I know what it feels like to navigate spaces where Black voices aren’t always heard, and that’s why I’m committed to amplifying our stories,” said Mays. “Whether through advocacy, research or mentorship, my mission is to ensure that our history is preserved, our health is prioritized and our future leaders are empowered.”
As she marks two decades since her first big pageant win, Lorean Mays is focused on the future — expanding her advocacy work, mentoring the next generation and ensuring that history, especially Black history, is researched, preserved and celebrated.
Twenty years after being crowned Miss Black Tennessee 2005, Lorean Mays continues to empower communities through her work in health advocacy, education, and historical research, proving her impact goes far beyond the pageant stage. (Courtesy photo)
By Terry Davis Special to The Tri-State Defender
PJ Haggerty and Dain Dainja combined for 20 points apiece to lead a Tigers second-half charge over the South Florida Bulls, 84-68, and capture the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship at the FedExForum on Friday, March 7.
It is Tigers coach Penny Hardaway’s first AAC regular-season title.
“It has been a great season because we have been so grounded. We know where our power comes from. Tonight’s game is a result of staying close and keeping our faithful,” Hardaway said.
Memphis also secured a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament with the victory. The achievement marks a rebound from last season’s postseason absence. After not being selected to the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24, Hardaway opted to skip the lesser NIT event.
“It is definitely sweeter because of last season. When you can fall down and get back up, that’s what life is all about. When you see someone fall and get back up and be victorious, that’s the American story. It has been rewarding compared to last season,” Hardaway said. “What a difference a year makes.”
Memphis outscored South Florida 49-33 in the second half. Tyrese Hunter kicked off a 6-0 run with a three-point shot from the top of the arc to start the half. A few plays later, Hunter intercepted a pass and found Colby Rogers open for a corner three to extend the Tigers’ lead to 44-36 with 18:00 remaining.
An alley-oop from CJ Brown to Kobe
■■ SPORTS
Memphis Tigers clinch AAC title, NCAA bid with 84-68 win over South Florida
Knox narrowed the Bulls’ deficit to 50-45. It was as close as South Florida would get to sniffing a victory. By midway through the half, the Tigers had pulled away to a 60-48 lead on a Dainja dunk. The senior center shot 10-for-13 for the night.
A three-point shot by Haggerty with 3:22 remaining gave the Tigers a 78-60 lead, effectively icing the game. The Bulls scored eight points in the rest of the second half. Confetti dropped at the sound of the horn in celebration.
Haggerty averages 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, ranking sixth-best in NCAA Division I, after transferring from Tulsa last season. The sophomore guard hit 5-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-3 from deep, in 32 minutes of play. The team’s leading scorer also hit 8-for-10 from the freethrow line. Between each attempt in the second half, Tigers fans chanted, “One more year.”
“I appreciate all the love. I tried to focus on this year. We have a lot of games ahead of us. I think we are a Final Four team,” Haggerty said.
Tyrese Hunter also played well, scoring 16 points, dishing a game-high seven assists, and collecting a teamhigh three steals.
“It feels good. We are going to enjoy the moment. A lot of people didn’t want us to have it. We worked hard to get to this moment,” Hunter said.
Hunter, Haggerty, and Dainja combined for 37 second-half points after both teams ended the first half in a 35-35 stalemate.
Dainja and Hunter were two of five seniors honored before the game, along with Colby Rogers, Nicholas Jourdain, and Moussa Cisse.
South Florida was led by Jayden Reid, who scored 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field. The sophomore guard also hit 2-for-3 from deep. The
Bulls finished the season 13-18, 6-12 for ninth place in the AAC. The conference championship and tournament bid reflect a vast improvement in the Tigers’ record. The Tigers wrap up the season with a 26-5, 16-2 record, compared to last year’s squad, which finished the season 22-10, 11-7, and tied for fifth place in the AAC with SMU.
Memphis will have to wait until Sunday, March 16, to learn their seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Most experts peg them as a sixth seed with a couple of wins in the AAC Tournament. The conference is considered a one-bid league.
The Tigers will play their first contest of the conference tournament on Friday, March 14, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Tip-off is at noon. The winner will face the winner of eighth-seeded Wichita State vs. the TBA ninth-seeded squad.
Terry Davis
Leading scorer PJ Haggerty inspired his team with a 20-point game including a three-point shot with 3:22 remaining to give the Tigers a 78-60 lead, effectively icing the game. (Noah Smith/Tri-State Defender)
Southern Heritage Classic welcomes new teams, continues legacy in Memphis
By Brianna Smith-Herman Special to The Tri-State Defender
The Southern Heritage Classic, a cornerstone event in Memphis since 1990, is set to usher in a new era with fresh competitors. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Alcorn State University Braves will take the field in the upcoming games, marking a significant shift in the event’s storied history.
This change follows the departure of longtime participants, Jackson State University and Tennessee State University. Jackson State played in 29 classics, while Tennessee State competed in 33.
The decision to include UAPB and Alcorn State injects fresh energy into the classic Both teams are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and share a competitive rivalry, with UAPB holding a slight edge in their all-time series, at 22-20-3. Their participation not only renews the game’s excitement but also introduces a conference matchup to the classic for the time.first..
More than just a football game, the Southern Heritage Classic is a cultural and economic powerhouse for Memphis. Founded by Fred Jones Jr., the event has evolved into a weekend-long celebration of HBCU pride,
drawing over 50,000 visitors annually and generating more than $20 million in economic impact to the city. Beyond the game itself, Classic features concerts, tailgating, and a variety of festivities.
It’s scheduled for Sept.11-13 at AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
The Classic has also served as a
launching pad for football talent, with nearly 50 former Classic players going on to play in the NFL, including four first-round draft picks. Additionally, the event’s celebrated show bands have become an integral part of the experience, further elevating its cultural significance.
GloRilla to headline NCAA Women’s Final Four concert
By Brianna Smith-Herman Special to The Tri-State Defender
Memphis-born rap sensation GloRilla is set to take center stage at the NCAA Women’s Final Four Super Saturday Concert on April 5, at the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, Florida. The free event, featuring DJ ReRe, kicks off at 7 p.m.
As one of the biggest rising stars in hip-hop, GloRilla’s performance holds special significance during Women’s History Month, highlighting the power of women in sports, music, and culture. The Grammy-nominated artist has made waves with hits like “TGIF” and “Yeah Glo!,” culminating in her debut
album “Glorious” and a 20-city tour that will conclude with a special performance in Memphis.
The Super Saturday Concert is a major part of the NCAA Women’s Final Four festivities, bridging the worlds of sports and music. GloRilla’s success in a male-dominated industry mirrors the groundbreaking strides being made in women’s basketball, making her the perfect artist to energize fans ahead of the championship games.
Women’s basketball is experiencing a surge in its fan base and hip-hop continues to see female voices rise to the forefront. GloRilla’s presence at the Final Four is a testament to the paths women are cutting in entertainment and athletics.
GloRilla
Bank of America names Mohammed Aiyedogbon and Maquitta Snelling as vice presidents in Memphis market
TSD Newsroom
Bank of America announced that Mohammed Aiyedogbon has joined its Memphis team as vice president, consumer banking market leader, and Maquitta Snelling has been promoted to vice president, community relations manager.
“The Bank of America Memphis team would like to congratulate Mohammed and Maquitta on their new roles,” said Trevia Chatman, president, Bank of America Memphis. “I know that they will do a phenomenal job as we continue our investment in serving clients, community and teammates in the Memphis market.”
Aiyedogbon will lead more than 85 teammates across the Memphis financial center network. His team is charged with delivering responsible growth for the company and supporting nearly 148,000 consumer and small business clients with over $2.1 billion in retail deposits.
Snelling will lead community relations efforts, driving employee and community engagement, targeted volunteerism and signature BofA programs like Neighborhood Champions and Student Leaders.
Aiyedogbon joined Bank of America in 2021, leading multiple financial centers in the Metro New York region. He has more than 13 years of experience in financial services. Before relocating to Memphis, he was active in the New York area and previously served in leadership roles on a number of employee networks and remains
actively engaged.
Aiyedogbon has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in marketing from the University of Maryland Global Campus and an associate’s degree in business administration from Anne Arundel Community College.
“Mohammed’s demonstrated leadership and experience will help make the financial lives of our clients better through the power of every connection we make with them,” said Chatman.
Snelling’s tenure with Bank of America began in 2003 as a financial center manager, leading multiple locations across the Arkansas market. In 2017, as a vice president of the BofA Academy, she helped teammates build knowledge, skills and behaviors to create confidence and commitment to help them deliver for clients.
Snelling also serves as a Better Money Habits Champion, where she promotes financial literacy by creating partnerships within local school districts to help prepare junior and senior high school students to be financially independent. Snelling has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
“Maquitta has been an incredible asset to Bank of America and has demonstrated her continuous commitment to serving her community. She’s a great addition to our team as we remain focused on driving growth in Memphis,” said Chatman.
Bank of America announced that Mohammed Aiyedogbon, above, has joined as vice president, consumer banking market leader, and Maquitta Snelling has been promoted to vice president, community relations manager.
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Bonus Prize
Get your ticket by May 16 for a chance to win the Ultimate Memphis Basketball Experience including season tickets to the Memphis Grizzlies, season tickets to the Memphis Tiger’s men’s basketball, and Peabody Weekend Getaway, courtesy of Regions Bank, Campbell Clinic and The Peabody Memphis.
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Art by St. Jude patient Levi