NORFOLK, Va., — Howard University junior guard Destiny Howell was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, the conference office announced today. Jerni Kiaku of North Carolina Central was named Rookie of the Year, while Norfolk State senior guard Camille Downs earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Norfolk State's Larry Vickers was named Coach of the Year.
All awards were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors and announced Tuesday evening in the Attucks Theater during the inaugural MEAC BBT Awards.
Howell, the reigning MEAC Basketball Tournament Outstanding Performer, led the conference in scoring this season with an average of 16.5 points per game – and in MEAC play, she averaged 16.9 points a contest. Howell ranked second in the MEAC in 3-point percentage (.383) and third in field goal percentage (.443) in MEAC games. She had 10 20-point efforts on the season, as well as two 30-point games – including a career-high 35 at VCU on Dec. 28, 2022. This marks the second time in three seasons the Player of the Year has come from Howard (Jayla Thornton in 2020-21).
Joining Howell in post-conference honors are teammates Aziah Hudson, Brooklynn Fort-Davis, and newcomer Nile Miller.
Averaging 303 points across 24 starts including 18 double-digit games, grad guard Aziah Hudson was named All-MEAC second team. The New York native led the Bison in free throws and FT% (.743%). In conference, Hudson finished sixth in scoring as well as FG per game while placing seventh in both FT% and 3PT FG%.
Senior Brooklynn Fort-Davis was named All-MEAC Third Team after posting 134 boards. The Chicago-bred baller notched her 500th rebound earlier in the season, aided in 21 assists, grabbed 22 steals, and recorded 206 points by postseason nominations.
Finishing it out for the Bison was first-year Nile Miller. The newcomer stepped into her role as a starter, starting 12 of 21 games. Miller went .643% from the FT line, posted 72 rebounds, aided in 10 assists, recorded 11 blocks, and grabbed 25 steals for a place on the MEAC's All-Rookie Team.
See the full All-Conference list below.
2022-23 Women's Basketball All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the conference's head women's basketball coaches and sports information directors.
Player of the Year: Destiny Howell, Howard
Rookie of the Year: Jerni Kiaku, North Carolina Central
Defensive Player of the Year: Camille Downs, Norfolk State
Coach of the Year: Larry Vickers, Norfolk State
First Team
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Class
|
School
|
Hometown
|
|
Destiny Howell
|
G
|
6-0
|
Jr.
|
Howard
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
|
Ja'Niah Henson
|
G
|
5-3
|
Sr.
|
Morgan State
|
Baltimore, Md.
|
|
Charlene Shepherd
|
F
|
6-2
|
Gr.
|
Morgan State
|
Killeen, Texas
|
|
Camille Downs
|
G
|
5-10
|
Gr.
|
Norfolk State
|
Fredericksburg, Va.
|
|
Deja Francis
|
G
|
5-7
|
Gr.
|
Norfolk State
|
Queens, N.Y.
|
Second Team
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Class
|
School
|
Hometown
|
|
Mossi Staples
|
G
|
5-7
|
r-Jr.
|
Coppin State
|
Fort Washington, Md.
|
|
Jewel Watkins
|
G/F
|
5-11
|
So.
|
Coppin State
|
Whitehall, Ohio
|
|
Aziah Hudson
|
G
|
5-6
|
Gr.
|
Howard
|
Massapequa, N.Y.
|
|
Zamara Haynes
|
G
|
5-7
|
Jr.
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
Philadelphia, Pa.
|
|
Kimeira Burks
|
G
|
5-8
|
r-Jr.
|
North Carolina Central
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
Third Team
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Class
|
School
|
Hometown
|
|
Brooklynn Fort-Davis
|
F
|
6-0
|
Sr.
|
Howard
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
|
Taylor Addison
|
F
|
5-10
|
Fr.
|
Morgan State
|
Columbia, Md.
|
|
Kierra Wheeler
|
F
|
6-1
|
So.
|
Norfolk State
|
Minneapolis, Minn.
|
|
Jerni Kiaku
|
G
|
5-7
|
Fr.
|
North Carolina Central
|
Garner, N.C.
|
|
Nicole Gwynn
|
G
|
5-9
|
So.
|
South Carolina State
|
Wethersfield, Conn.
|
All-Rookie Team
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Class
|
School
|
Hometown
|
|
Savannah Brooks
|
G/F
|
5-9
|
Fr.
|
Delaware State
|
Taneytown, Md.
|
|
Nile Miller
|
F
|
6-1
|
Fr.
|
Howard
|
Haddonfield, N.J.
|
|
Ja'la Bannerman
|
G
|
5-6
|
Fr.
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
Baltimore, Md.
|
|
Gabrielle Johnson
|
G
|
5-8
|
Fr.
|
Morgan State
|
Baltimore, Md.
|
|
Jerni Kiaku
|
G
|
5-7
|
Fr.
|
North Carolina Central
|
Garner, S.C.
|
All-Defensive Team
|
Name
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Class
|
School
|
Hometown
|
|
Jewel Watkins*
|
G/F
|
5-11
|
So.
|
Coppin State
|
Whitehall, Ohio
|
|
Taylor Addison
|
F
|
5-10
|
Gr.
|
Morgan State
|
Columbia, Md
|
|
Charlene Shepherd
|
F
|
6-2
|
Gr.
|
Morgan State
|
Killeen, Texas
|
|
Camille Downs
|
G
|
5-10
|
Gr.
|
Norfolk State
|
Fredericksburg, Va.
|
|
Kierra Wheeler
|
F
|
6-1
|
So.
|
Norfolk State
|
Minneapolis, Minn.
|
|
Mahoganie Williams*
|
F
|
6-1
|
Jr.
|
Norfolk State
|
Monroe, La.
|
For more information, visit meacsports.com or the Bison Athletics website at www.hubison.com.
