HBCU Sports This Week

**L.A. Rams Select Durant At No. 142 In NFL Draft**

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams have selected South Carolina State defensive back Decobie Durant with the 142nd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

A First-Team Associated Press FCS All-American and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Durant led the Bulldogs with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups while making 12 starts last season. He also collected 38 total tackles.

Durant joins a Rams defensive backs room that currently includes Jalen Ramsey, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Taylor Rapp, Terrell Burgess, David Long Jr., Robert Rochell, Grant Haley and Jake Gervase.

**Claflin’s Gonzalez Named 2022 CIAA Softball Coach Of The Year**

CHARLOTTE, NC - After hitting the ground running and leading the Claflin Lady Panthers softball team to a stellar performance during the 2022 season, the honors are coming in for softball head coach Jose Gonzalez as he was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Coach of the Year.
Gonzalez earned the honor after a stellar performance during the 2022 season. Despite taking the reins of the program in the middle of the fall semester, Gonzalez led the Lady Panthers to a 17-13 overall record and a dominating 15-1 record in CIAA play, including going 9-1 in CIAA Southern Division play and claiming the 2022 CIAA Southern Division Championship. The team also dominated the post-season conference awards with seven Lady Panthers earning spots on the 2022 CIAA All-Conference team. Five Lady Panthers earned first team all-conference honors with two second team all-conference honorees. The honors also included senior Bre’Zhay Chambers who was named the 2022 CIAA Pitcher of the Year while freshman outfielder Kennedy Baskerville was also named to the 2022 CIAA All-Rookie Team.

**Tajh Green Named the MVP**

NEW ORLEANS -- Benedict College forward Tajh Green was named the MVP of the inaugural HBCU All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon, after making all three 3-point attempts, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
The first-ever HBCU All-Star Game delivered some drama on Sunday in New Orleans as two squads representing the nation's best players from historically black colleges and universities produced several highlight plays and a tight finish. In the end, Green's Team McLendon outlasted Team Gaines 79-75 in a game that came down to the wire.