Top college freshman basketball players to watch ahead of March Madness
As March Madness approaches, an outstanding freshman class is already shaping the picture for the tournament. Meet four rising stars ready to make an impact on the national stage.
After the Division II HBCU game on Saturday, Jan. 31, police handcuffed Tuskegee basketball coach Benji Taylor and escorted him off the court following the team’s loss to Morehouse.
According to HBCU GameDay, after Morehouse’s 77-69 win over the Golden Tigers in Atlanta, Taylor was working to ensure security protocols set by the conference were followed. Morehouse football players mingled with players during postgame handshakes, which is not allowed.
Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin said Taylor asked security to enforce conference rules and remove football players from the handshake line.
“We have safety measures in place to protect our officials, student-athlete coaches and spectators,” Ruffin told HBCU Gameday. He said these measures follow protocols “mandated by the conference secretariat” and are used “at all levels of member institutions.”
But the officers instead handcuffed Taylor, claiming he was “extremely aggressive,” a claim Ruffin disputed.
“I am speechless and outraged by how I was assaulted and treated today,” Taylor told Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman in a statement. “It was heartbreaking for me for the players, their families and the people of Tuskegee to see that. The football team was right behind me and they were just trying to get me out of the handshake line, screaming obscenities! It was a very dangerous situation.”
When contacted by USA TODAY Sports about the incident, Taylor released a statement saying, “I am in shock and will not be commenting further at this time.”
Shortly after being handcuffed, Taylor was released and allowed to travel with the team. He has been the head coach of the Golden Tigers since 2019, according to the school’s website.
This story has been updated with new information.
