Claflin Panthers to participate in Trinidad & Tobago Hoops Classic

Claflin University Panthers Men's Basketball Team

Months before receiving official notice of its inclusion in NCAA Division II, the Claflin University men’s basketball team was gaining international attention.

On the strength of their HBCU-best 24-2 record last season, the Claflin University men’s basketball team has been invited to participate in the inaugural Trinidad and Tobago Hoops Classic, Aug. 14-16, which will be broadcast live on the twin islands.

“We believe that the tournament is a great catalyst for developing the game in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Brian Manning, president of the National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago, the tournament’s sponsor. “Obviously with (Claflin’s) support, the tournament will provide our basketball fraternity with the necessary international blend for this inaugural event.”

The four-team, two-game format tournament with an All-Star game will be played in the state-of-the-art basketball facility at The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine. Delaware State University’s men’s team has also been invited from the United States. The two teams (Claflin and Delaware State) will be pitted against two local All-Star teams featuring the best players from Trinidad and Tobago.

Panthers Coach Ron Woodard and Assistant Coach Terrence Jenkins

“We are going there to win,” Coach Ron Woodard said. “The special thing about this team is their willingness to stay focused and prepared. At the same time, this is a great opportunity for international exposure for our guys and to get revved up for the upcoming season. We are honored to be chosen to participate in the inaugural Trinidad and Tobago Hoops Classic. That means a lot and says a lot about the caliber of our basketball program.”

According to the tournament overview, the Hoops Classic was designed to provide its participants with “an unforgettable experience of top-class quality basketball,” and high energy entertainment featuring top local artists and dancers in a carnival-like atmosphere. A welcome reception, closing ceremony, site seeing tours and beach outing are among the activities planned for the basketball team.

The National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago governs basketball there and is charged with overseeing the sport at all levels. The tournament, also being held in collaboration with the University of West Indies Sport and Physical Education Department, will be held annually with the goal of exposing some of the best local talent to top NCAA programs in the United States.

As is commonplace at Claflin University, as well as its new conference, the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the members of the basketball team will also participate in community service activities while on the island, including a youth basketball clinic. They will promote the sport of basketball and expose the people of Trinidad and Tobago to NCAA Division II level of play. The team members will also give pointers on integrating academics and sports.

“They are trying to grow the sport of basketball there and we are humbled that we have been asked to help them achieve that goal by being invited to participate in the inaugural tournament,” Coach Woodard said. “We will be playing against some of the best athletes in Trinidad and Tobago. At the same time, they will get a chance to see what it takes to achieve success in basketball – our guys have to be focused, structured and know how to balance academics and athletics. It’s not as easy as going on the court and shooting a basketball.”

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago boasts oil industries, Carnival – described as the greatest street parade in the world, beautiful beaches and wildlife adventure. The favorite sport of Trinbagonians is cricket. Soccer, or football, is also popular as well as rugby, volleyball, running, triathlons, hockey and golf.

“Basketball is contagious,” Coach Woodard said. “Once you start loving it, it’s very hard to stop.”

Basketball Schedule
1st Round: Thursday, August 14
Claflin vs. TT team 1 – 6 p.m.
Delaware State vs. TT team 2 – 8 p.m.

2nd Round: Friday, Aug. 15
Delaware State vs. TT team 1 – 6 p.m.
Claflin vs. TT team 2 – 8 p.m.

3rd Round: Saturday, Aug. 16
All Star Game
Visitors vs. TT – 6 p.m.

Trophies will be awarded for Tournament MVP, Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive Player.

Claflin University earns NCAA Division II Status

It’s official. Claflin University has been granted NCAA Division II status, successfully completing a process that has spanned four years.

At a press conference Thursday, Claflin University Athletics Director Dr. Tim Autry announced that the University has received notification from the National Collegiate Athletic Association that Claflin has achieved active member status in NCAA Division II, effective Sept. 1, 2008. For the first time in four years, Claflin will be able to compete for championships in all sponsored sports.

“We are so elated that this long journey has ended with our being chosen to compete in the NCAA,” Dr. Autry said. “We have a dedicated and hard working athletics staff and athletes who are capable of competing among the best. This decision is a testament to our progress as an athletics program and an indicator of what Claflin University athletics can accomplish across the board.”

Claflin was one of 13 schools selected by the NCAA Membership Committee to be considered for full membership this year (2007-2008). In 2004, Claflin began its quest to make the transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA. The first year was exploratory for Claflin as the athletics department completed an institutional self-study. For the past three years, Claflin has been a provisional member of the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

“We were required to complete an annual report and go through the compliance blueprint process of the NCAA,” Dr. Autry said. “The membership committee met this month (July) and sent its recommendations to the management council.”

Claflin’s athletics program consists of basketball, baseball, indoor track, outdoor track and cross country for men and basketball, softball, volleyball, indoor track, outdoor track and cross country for women.

Three sports had 20-win seasons – men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball – with the men’s basketball team posting an HBCU-best 24-2 record against opponents that included NCAA Division II competition.

Claflin becomes the 12th South Carolina college or university competing in NCAA Division II. Others include Anderson College, Benedict College Coker College, Converse College, Erskine College, Francis Marion University, Lander University, Limestone College, Newberry College, North Greenville University and the University of South Carolina-Aiken.

About the NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a voluntary organization through which the nation’s colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. It is comprised of institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals committed to the best interests, education and athletics participation of student-athletes.

About Division II
Division II institutions have to sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, (or four for men and six for women), with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are contest and participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria – football and men’s and women’s basketball teams must play at least 50 percent of their games against Division II or Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) or Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) opponents. For sports other than football and basketball there are no scheduling requirements. There are no attendance requirements for football, or arena game requirements for basketball. Division II teams usually feature a number of local or in-state student-athletes. Traditional rivalries with regional institutions dominate schedules of many Division II athletics programs.