Busting Brackets
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MEAC Basketball: 2020-21 preseason outlook for the conference

By Herbert Seward III

Mar 16, 2019; Norfolk, VA, USA; North Carolina Central Eagles guard Jordan Perkins (4) drives to the basket against Norfolk State Spartans guard Steven Whitley (34) during the first half in the MEAC Tournament Final at The Scope. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2019; Norfolk, VA, USA; North Carolina Central Eagles guard Jordan Perkins (4) drives to the basket against Norfolk State Spartans guard Steven Whitley (34) during the first half in the MEAC Tournament Final at The Scope. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – MARCH 07: Nojel Eastern #20 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Players to watch in the MEAC

It’s safe to say that the influx of talent coming into the conference this season is something that fans of the conference haven’t seen in a long time.

Nobody in the league arguably had a better off-season run than coach Kenny Blakeney’s Howard Bison. The recruiting Midas touch started with a solid 9-man class that has a great mix of transfer, junior college, and freshmen talent.

Then 5-star big man Makur Maker commits to Howard and solidifies the paradigm shift in how HBCU programs are being viewed by high-level high school talent. Add former Purdue standout and one of the Big Ten’s best defensive players in Nojel Eastern and you’ve got not only a transformed roster but one that’s capable of winning a MEAC championship and going to the tourney.

As monumental as HU’s off-season was, they weren’t the only program in the conference making moves. Morgan State quietly augmented their roster with timely freshman recruiting and power 5 talent, highlighted by Wake Forest transfer guard Sharone Wright Jr.

NJIT transfer Anthony Tarke joins Koby Thomas and a tough returning roster over at Coppin State. North Carolina A&T added an ACC transfer of their own in Blake Harris to join an already loaded backcourt rotation with the likes of Kameron Langley and Kwe Parker.

Former ESPN 4-star recruit Nate Tabor joins the fold for Robert Jones over on the peninsula at Norfolk State, giving them their own dynamic backcourt boost. Delaware State got in on the fun as well with the acquisition of SEC transfer Zach Kent. Del State has a sneaky good returning cast to put around Kent, namely the likes of D’marco Bacum, John Stansbury, and Ameer Bennett.

Finally, North Carolina Central started life without Jibril Blount by picking up two electric backcourt talents in transfers Alex Caldwell and Jamir Moultrie. Both of those guys will make life after Jibril Blount a bit easier to manage for the Eagles. CJ Keyser also returns, along with an experienced core of players that are battle-tested. FAMU, BCU, Maryland-Eastern Shore, and South Carolina State are all relying on more returning talent.

Ultimately, there are going to be some intriguing match-ups to be had along the length of the MEAC league roster. The influx of talent into the conference pretty much ensures that no squad will be able to take the proverbial game off.