CIAA Tournament: 8 Seniors to Watch in Baltimore 2026

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournament returns to Baltimore this week, with conference championships and automatic bids to the NCAA Division II tournament on the line. Among the players expected to contend for honors are eight seniors whose experience and leadership have been pivotal to their teams’ success this season.

D’Ayzha Atkinson, a forward for Shaw University, is currently the conference’s second-highest scorer, averaging 15.0 points per game. She delivered a season-high 27 points in a November win against Virginia-Lynchburg. Atkinson leads the Lady Bears in field goals made (122), steals (38), and boasts the conference’s best free-throw percentage at .781, according to team reports. She was named CIAA Player of the Week in December for her performances, as reported by Shaw University’s athletic website.

Bluefield State guard Jasmine Jenkins leads the CIAA in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game, and is also the team’s top rebounder with 5.0 rebounds per game. Jenkins, recently named to the 2026 All-CIAA first team, recorded a double-double in January against Virginia State, contributing 19 points and 10 rebounds, alongside four steals. She also leads the conference in steals, averaging 3.5 per game, and had a career-high nine steals against Bowie State earlier this month.

Claflin guard Ashari Lewis, also a 2026 All-CIAA first-team selection, is averaging 13.5 points per game, a career high for the veteran player. She recorded a career-best 32 points against North Greenville in January. Lewis has contributed 50 steals and 21 blocks this season, helping Claflin establish itself as the conference’s top-ranked defense. She has the opportunity to lead Claflin to its first CIAA title during her final season with the program.

Fayetteville State forward Talia Trotter, a two-time CIAA champion, has been a consistent performer for the Broncos throughout her four seasons. She averages 10.6 points per game and leads the conference in assists with 4.9 per game, maintaining a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Trotter was named CIAA Player of the Week on February 17 after totaling 44 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists the previous week.

Winston-Salem State guard Makayla Waleed is contributing to a historic season for the Rams, who have achieved a program-record 23 wins. Waleed, a 2026 all-conference selection, averages 10.5 points per game and is tied for first on the team in steals with 72. She had a standout performance in January against Shaw, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

On the men’s side, Fayetteville State’s Ezekiel Cannedy, the CIAA’s 2026 Sixth Man of the Year, has an established track record in the conference, previously earning All-CIAA honors and being named CIAA Freshman of the Year while playing for Johnson C. Smith University. This season, he is the conference’s No. 3 scorer, averaging 18.1 points per game, and leads his team in 3-pointers with 84. He earned conference player of the week honors last week after two 23-point performances.

Virginia State guard Jacob Cooper, a member of last year’s CIAA tournament championship team, recorded a team-high 16 points in the title game. He was a Boxtorow All-American last season and selected to the 2025 All-CIAA backcourt. This season, the All-CIAA first-team selection leads Virginia State in scoring, averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

Larry Howell of Fayetteville State was named the 2026 CIAA Player of the Year on Sunday. After beginning his career at Richard Bland College and transferring to Bluefield State, Howell now leads the conference in scoring with 21.1 points per game and boasts the highest free-throw percentage at 85.0%. He scored a season-high 32 points against Lincoln in January, shooting 7-of-10 from the 3-point line.