WASHINGTON (March 13, 2025) - When the 2024-25 basketball season got underway five months ago, few expected two freshmen would have an immediate impact on the Howard University men's and women's basketball programs. Both teams returned key players, who played in the past two MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Tournament finals.
 
But as fate would have it, key injuries would change the narrative.
 
As a result, freshmen Saniyah King (Washington) and Blake Harper (Washington) not only capitalized on their opportunities, but they also combined to make history. Harper and King were named MEAC Men's & Women's Rookie of the Year in the same season, marking the first time that it has happened in the rich history of the respective programs.
 
Moreover, Harper's feat went even a step further in the history books as he captured the MEAC Player of the Year, making him the first player in conference history to achieve such a rare feat.
 
To understand this special season for the duo, we have to go back in time for a moment. They have known each other for some time and have very similar paths. Both played in the prestigious WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Association in the DMV area. King played at Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) and Harper at Gonzaga College High School (Washington), ranked as one of the top teams in the country annually.
 
The similarities do not stop there. Despite the success of their respective programs, neither player was widely recruited as they were not regarded as the second or third best player on their respective teams, which featured a McDonald's All American at Bishop Ireton and four Division I starters at Gonzaga.
 
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Howard women's basketball head coach Ty Grace offered King and Howard men's basketball head coach Kenneth Blakeney offered Harper. They both accepted and it turned out to a boon for both teams.
 
King, one of the best pure point guards in recent MEAC history, emerged as the consummate playmaker. She would go on to be named MEAC Rookie of the Week 11 times this season and, at the same time, leading the conference in assists.
 
Then, as if an unexpected light bulb went off, King began to showcase her scoring prowess, upping her average from single digits early in the season to 12 points and almost five assists per game. It has been one of the keys to the Bison's surge that helped them finish 19-10 overall during the regular season and earn a second seed in the MEAC Tournament.
 
Harper was in an awkward stage at Gonzaga. He was 6-foot-4 player with guard skills. But his weight kept him from being effective in using his exceptional basketball IQ. Then, an unexpected remarkable transformation took place. Harper hit a growth spurt over the summer to 6-foot-8 and he embarked on a rigorous conditioning regimen that allowed him to turn the fat into muscle.
 
An addition asset that adds to his effectiveness is that he is southpaw. His guard skills have allowed him to facilitate for his teammates. He also has excellent footwork in the post. And then, he is an effective three-point threat and one of the best free throw shooters in the MEAC.
 
Following his auspicious start at then No. 1 Kansas to open the season, Harper has continued to make his presence felt with the Bison, who have played all season with a combination of injuries and concussion protocol with three starters, including MEAC Preseason Player of the Year Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.), who accounted for almost 17 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.
 
In the absence of Harris as a team leader on the floor, Harper would go on to be named team co-captain and has displayed his outstanding leadership. He was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week all season and Player of the Week three times.
 
He has made up for the losses by leading the conference in scoring (19.3 points), second in rebounding (6.6) and top 5 in three-point shooting, assists, assists/turnover ratio and free throw shooting (82-percent). 
 
King and Harper have not only made their mark in the conference, but they are also ranked among the top players in the country.
 
King not only led the team and the MEAC in assists, but she also ranks second among all freshmen in assists per game. Her leadership from the point guard position has resulted in Howard having one of its best assist/turnover ratios in recent memory.
 
Both King and Harper rank nationally in several categories and Top 10 among all freshmen:
 
King

• 3^rd in the country in total assists per game among freshmen
• 2^nd among all freshmen behind Liv McGill of Florida
• Top 15 among all freshmen in free throws
• Top 15 among all freshmen in minutes played
• Top 20 among all freshmen in scoring average

Harper

• 1^st in free throws made and 2^nd in attempts among all players
• Top 20 among all freshmen in rebounding
• 11^th among all freshmen in field goal percentage
• 11^th in assists per game among all freshmen
• One of only a few freshmen who have recorded a triple double this season
• Top 20 in double-doubles among freshmen
• 3^rd among all freshmen in scoring

Harper could be among some of the top players to ever achieve dual honors: Cooper Flagg of Duke, Kevin Durant of Texas and Sharif Abdur Raheem of Cal Berkeley.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.