MEAC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

1. Joe Bryant Jr.

Bryant is a 6’1 combo guard from Norfolk who truly made the most of his time in the MEAC. He stayed right in his hometown, starring for five seasons at Norfolk State, from 2018 up until this past basketball season. He saw minimal time as a freshman but developed into a major piece of the Spartans’ attack just a few seasons later.

After meager numbers early, he was up to 12.0 points a game as a sophomore, his first season in the starting lineup. As a junior, he had a 30-point performance in the MEAC Tournament and helped take the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament, with a decent effort in a First Four win over Appalachian State. His final two campaigns were filled with personal success, with Bryant averaging right around 17 points and 3 assists per game in those two years, with another trip to the Big Dance in 2022.

Those final two seasons were truly special, as Bryant was named MEAC Player of the Year at the end of both of them. He was one of the league’s best offensive players, becoming the top free throw shooter and an efficient presence in Norfolk State’s backcourt. Bryant was also MEAC Tournament MVP as both a junior and senior and was of vital importance for the Spartans’ recent breakthrough and return trips to the Big Dance.