WASHINGTON (November 3, 2024) - Expectations are high for the Howard University men's basketball program as the 2024-25 season gets underway and well, they should be. Over the past two years, the program has established itself among the best in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), capturing back-to-back titles and berths to the NCAA Tournament.
 
This year's team has some outstanding returning talent and impact newcomers that has head coach Kenneth Blakeney excited. This season has potential to equal or surpass that.
 
"Winning in college basketball is hard, " declared Blakeney. "It can be a hard and long process. I like this group and am excited about the potential. This team is connected and has noticeable chemistry. We just have to stay in the moment and live in the past. I have been there before as an assistant to Mike Brey at Delaware. We won back-to-back America East tournament titles and then other factors set in with complacency. We have to avoid that."
 
Heading the way is All-American candidate Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.), who is one of the most versatile players in the country. The 6-foot-4 senior guard can impact the game in so many ways as evidenced by his phenomenal season a year ago.
 
Harris is what they call a "Swiss Knife" because of his versatility and ability to impact the game in so many ways. En route to having one of the best seasons in school history, he put up impressive numbers, night in and night out: 16.6 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, a league-leading 55-percent shooting from the field and 41-percent from the three-point line.  And oh, by the way, he led the team in total steals (38) and blocked shots (37) to go along with a career-high 64 assists.
 
"Bryce has been the most significant recruits in the history of Howard basketball," proclaimed Blakeney. "He's embodied everything about our culture. He set the tone for our culture with his year-by-year progression."
 
"We have a lot of high expectations for this program," said Harris, the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year. "We must focus on details and what we do best. The nonconference schedule will go a long way to helping us achieve our goals."
 
Another key component to the Bison' success is senior Marcus Dockery (Washington), who had his best season last year. One of the top shooters in the country, Dockery has shown marked progress in all phases of his game over the past two seasons. Last season, he averaged 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, shooting 41-percent from beyond the arc and a career-best 64 total assists. His shooting percentage from three-point and three pointers made per game (2.5) ranked among the best in Division I.
 
"Dockery has worked his butt off to become the player he has become," Blakeney explained of his southpaw sharpshooting guard. "Even though he had a great year for us, he is going to be even better this season. He trusted and believed in the process. He has worked to become a really good player. His role will grow even more this season."
 
Blakeney offered his thoughts on the duo's contribution to the success of the program the past two years.
 
"Bryce's and Dockery's jerseys should be hung from the rafters for what they have done for this program."
 
Yet, another returning player who figures to play a huge role is Dom Campbell (Scarborough, Maine). The 6-foot-9 junior averaged almost eight points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 50-percent from the floor to go along with 12 total blocks.
 
"Dom has to find a happy medium by being consistent every day as a facilitator, defender and rebounder," said Blakeney. "He can be our X factor."
 
Ose Okojie (Brampton, Canada) is yet another important piece to the Bison' success.
 
The 6-foot-5 junior guard played great in Brazil during the team's preseason exhibition there. He is arguably one of the best defenders in the MEAC. His length and length allow him to defense four different positions. 
 
Blakeney is especially high on two newcomers, Anwar Gill (Washington) and Blake Harper (Washington). Gill is an outstanding all-around player who transferred from LaSalle where he averaged almost 10 points and dealt out 80 total assists in one season.
 
"Anwar has a chance to one of the top players in the league," stated Blakeney. "He can become the heart and soul of our program. His overall competitiveness, how he plays the game and his toughness will give us to opportunity to compete for the MEAC title."
 
Harper could be one of the more intriguing freshmen to wear the Bison Blue. He was not the primary player at Gonzaga College High School last season. But he went through some significant transformations, including growing four inches to 6-foot-5 and he slimmed down.
 
On his expectations for Harper, Blakeney says without hesitation, " I'm going to let him play. He's that talented and that good."
 
Incidentally, Harper comes from a strong pedigree:  He; Gill and assistant coach Tyler Thornton all played at Gonzaga, regarded as one of the top high school programs in the country.
 
Blakeney added that Cameron Shockley-Okeke (Norwalk, Conn.), a 6-foot-6 shooter and Mounir Hima (Tillaberi, Niger), a 6-foot-11 transfer from Syracuse could add depth.
 
The Bison will be tested early as they kick off the season Monday, Nov. 4 with a game in Lawrence, Kan., against No. 1 Kansas. Four days later (Nov. 8), they get another strong early season test when the face the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Mo.
 
Other notable nonconference games include Tennessee State in HBCU Classic (Nov. 13) in Atlanta, at Cincinnati (Dec. 2), at Hampton (Dec. 28) in the Battle of the Real HU and Morehouse in the annual MLK Jr. Classic (Jan. 20) at Burr Gymnasium. On Jan. 4, MEAC play gets underway when Howard host Delaware State at The Burr.
 
And what is the key to threepeat?
 
"We have learned from experience to play with more energy and be more connected in practice," stated Blakeney.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.