The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball (CIAA) tournament returns to Baltimore this week with conference titles and automatic bids to the NCAA Division II tournament at stake.

Experience and leadership have been pivotal to many CIAA basketball programs. Here are eight senior student-athletes to follow during the tournament.

Women 

D’Ayzha Atkinson, forward, Shaw

In her second season with Shaw’s women’s basketball program, D’Ayzha Atkinson is averaging 15.0 points per game, making her the conference’s second-highest scorer. Her season-high scoring performance came on Nov. 25, when she had 27 points in Shaw’s win against out-of-conference opponent Virginia-Lynchburg. Since then, she has led her team in multiple offensive categories, including field goals made (122), steals (38) and free-throw percentage (.781), the latter ranking first in the conference.

Atkinson is a creative scorer who finds ways to get to the free-throw line. And her presence on defense makes her one of the Bears’ most well-rounded players.

Jasmine Jenkins, guard, Bluefield State

Jasmine Jenkins, in her second season with Bluefield State, is the CIAA’s leading scorer, averaging 15.4 points per game. She is also the program’s top rebounder (5.0 per game). Jenkins, who has helped Bluefield State become the CIAA’s top scoring offense, is also one of the conference’s best defenders. She ranks first in the conference in steals, averaging 3.5 per game, and recorded a career-high nine steals earlier this month against Bowie State.

Jenkins, who was named to the 2026 All-CIAA first team on Sunday, had a double-double in January in a win against Virginia State, contributing 19 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, and four steals in the game.

Ashari Lewis, guard, Claflin

Ashari Lewis, a 2026 All-CIAA first-team selection, is having her best season yet, coming off a junior campaign in which she started only two games. As Claflin’s top scorer this season and the conference’s fourth-highest scorer, she averages 13.5 points. Lewis had a career-high 32 points against North Greenville in January. With 50 steals and 21 blocks this season, she helped Claflin become the conference’s top-ranked defense. Lewis, who has played for Claflin during her entire college career, has the chance to lead Claflin to its first CIAA title.

Talia Trotter, forward, Fayetteville State

Maryland native Talia Trotter will return to Baltimore this year as a two-time CIAA champion. As a member of the 2026 All-CIAA first team and last season’s all-conference backcourt, Trotter has been a consistent threat throughout her four seasons at Fayetteville State.

She is the Broncos’ leading scorer, averaging 10.6 points per game. She leads the conference in assists, averaging 4.9 a game, and has a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, making her one of the CIAA’s most efficient guards. She was named CIAA Player of the Week on Feb. 17 after totaling 44 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists the previous week. Her experience as a conference champion will be essential to the Broncos, who look to defend their title.

Makayla Waleed, guard, Winston-Salem State

Winston-Salem State’s women’s basketball program (23-3 overall, 14-2 CIAA) is on a historic run, earning a program-record 23 wins in a single season. That’s due in part to senior guard Makayla Waleed, a 2026 all-conference selection.

She is effective on both sides of the ball, ranking third on the team in scoring (10.5 points per game) while tying for first in steals (72). Her best game this season came in January against Shaw, as she scored 23 points and had nine rebounds.

Men

Ezekiel Cannedy, guard, Fayetteville State

Ezekiel Cannedy, the CIAA’s 2026 Sixth Man of the Year, has an accomplished history in the conference. Before spending the past two seasons with Fayetteville State’s men’s basketball program, he played for Johnson C. Smith University, where he was named 2022-23 CIAA Freshman of the Year and earned All-CIAA honors.

This season, he is the conference’s No. 3 scorer, averaging 18.1 points per game. He is the team’s second-highest scorer, trailing teammate Larry Howell. Last week, Cannedy earned conference player of the week honors after two 23-point performances. As a threat from the perimeter, he leads his team in 3-pointers (84). With Howell in the interior, these two make a dangerous duo for the Broncos.

Jacob Cooper, guard, Virginia State

Jacob Cooper, a member of the 2025 CIAA tournament championship team, recorded a team-high 16 points in last year’s conference title game. He was named a Boxtorow All-American last season and also was selected to the 2025 All-CIAA backcourt.

This season, the All-CIAA first-team selection leads Virginia State in scoring, averaging 14.3 points. While it is his second consecutive year as the Trojans’ leading scorer, there is a depth to his game that makes him a well-rounded point guard outside of getting to the basket. He averages a team-high 5.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game, earning the team’s best assist-to-turnover ratio as well.

Larry Howell, guard/forward, Fayetteville State

Larry Howell, who on Sunday was named the 2026 CIAA Player of the Year, started his career at a junior college — Richard Bland College. He then transferred to Bluefield State, where he was named a Boxtorow All-American and a member of the All-CIAA frontcourt last season.

Now with Fayetteville State, Howell is the conference’s leading scorer this season, averaging 21.1 points per game. His 85.0 free-throw percentage also ranks first in the conference. He had a season-high 32 points against Lincoln in January, going 7-of-10 from the 3-point line. His scoring prowess has helped Fayetteville State become the conference’s top-ranked offense.

Myles Pierre, guard, Bluefield State

Myles Pierre spent the past two seasons at Fayetteville State before joining Bluefield State for his senior season. He left Fayetteville State after averaging 9.3 points per game last season.

This season, Pierre is having his best season in the CIAA, averaging 18.8 points and ranking No. 2 in the conference in scoring. He was named CIAA Player of the Week twice this season, once in December after scoring 26 points against Claflin and again in January after recording 26 points, including seven 3-pointers, against Virginia Union. On Sunday, he was named to the 2026 All-CIAA first team.

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