ATLANTA — Alabama State guard CJ Hines faucets the inexperienced message icon on his telephone and scrolls to his father’s identify for a quick motivational assertion every morning on recreation days. It’s a pregame ritual that the HBCU hoops star and his father, Corey, have shared with one another effectively earlier than Hines donned a black and outdated gold Hornets’ uniform within the 2025 SWAC Match.
The routine message dates again to Hines’ tenure as a standout guard at close by Archer Excessive College in Lawrenceville, Ga., and his days as a NAIA first-team All-American at Faulkner College, a non-public Christian college in Montgomery, Alabama. When Hines awakened Saturday in preparation for No. 5 seed Alabama State’s matchup towards No. 2 seed Jackson State within the 2025 Southwestern Athletic Convention championship recreation, the elder Hines’ textual content message to his son was easy but private.
“It was an important message at the moment,” Hines instructed HBCU Gameday with fun. “He [Corey] principally tells me that I’m that dude. … I do know I’m that dude, however it’s at all times totally different when you possibly can hear it out of your pops.”
Gas for the hearth
Regardless of Hines’ confidence in his expertise, the SWAC basketball coaches and sports activities info administrators felt barely totally different. The Hornets’ guard did not earn a spot on the record of gamers who earned All-SWAC males’s basketball recognition launched on Monday earlier than the convention match. Hines was one among three gamers — Amarr Knox and TJ Madlock — who averaged double-digit level totals (14.2 factors per recreation) for the Hornets this season.
His denial from the league’s coveted docket of HBCU basketball gamers activated a burning want within him to show that he belonged among the many SWAC’s prime echelon. The rejection labored. Hines completed with a team-high 20 factors — his sixth recreation of 20 or extra factors this season — three rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Alabama State (19-15) upset Jackson State (16-18) 60-56 in entrance of three,154 energized followers inside Gateway Middle Enviornment at School Park.
After we [Alabama State] had our movie [session], and we talked about [the list], I mentioned I would like you [CJ] to have a chip in your shoulder,” mentioned Hornets head coach Tony Madlock. “…They left him off [the list] and he did so many issues for this crew.”
For Hines, it was a second of redemption and reminiscence that his father will cherish eternally. With the victory, the Hornets captured their fifth SWAC match title since 2001 and this system‘s first since 2011.
Phrases from a father
“As a father … I [Corey] gave him the most important hug as soon as [the game] was over with and instructed him effectively deserved,” the elder Hines instructed HBCU Gameday. “This complete match has been private. … He knew he deserved to be on a kind of [All-SWAC] [postseason] groups. … On the finish of the day, he got here right here and he confirmed why he ought to have been on the crew. …He has the opposite awards now, those he’s actually going to carry on to. …It’s an attractive factor while you see your children obtain their objectives.”
Not solely did Hines discover his rhythm and clean stroke to steer the Hornets in scoring. However the males’s SWAC match MVP was additionally essentially the most environment friendly, changing 8-of-15 pictures from the ground that included 4-of-6 from past the arc. Hines delivered down the stretch of a decent recreation towards JSU, scoring six — two of his 4 three pointers — throughout the remaining 7:30 of the competition.
Throughout the Jan. 11 conflict between the 2 groups, the Tigers bested the Hornets on the street 77-70. Nonetheless, Hines completed with 14 factors.
Though Hines began his profession at Faulkner College (FU), he dreamed of taking part in Division I basketball. When James Jackson left FU after two seasons to turn into the Hornets director of recruiting, participant relations, and group engagement. He guided Hines via his transition from NAIA to the SWAC, serving to the Hornets’ guard fulfill his D-I dream. Hines’ first yr at Alabama State was not excellent.
Nevertheless, with Jackson and Madlock’s perception within the 6’2” guard, that was all Hines wanted.
Phrases from coach
“Whenever you come from NAIA to Division I, it takes you just a little time to get adjusted,” Madlock mentioned. “He [CJ Hines] began each recreation [last season]. I simply believed in him [Hines]. This yr, he performed his butt off. He’s already graduated, he’s engaged on a MBA. I’m simply so happy with him.”
Alabama State’s victory on Saturday — a crew that was predicted to complete eighth within the SWAC’s preseason ballot — marked solely the second time within the final seven seasons that the Hornets performed within the SWAC match. The 2023-24 season marked the primary time this system competed for the league’s crown since 2019.
Hines helped the Hornets win 9 of their final 10 HBCU basketball video games main as much as Saturday’s SWAC title recreation. Now, he and his teammates will discover out which crew Alabama State will face within the males’s NCAA match when the complete 68-team bracket is introduced throughout Choice Sunday on March 16.
“… That is what he wished … to play D-I ball and to play to get to March Insanity,” Hines’ father mentioned. “He did it. …I’m in all probability extra excited than they [Alabama State players] are.”
Hines agreed. “I needed to let all them coaches know what they missed out on,” he added… “I used to be upset that I wasn’t on the [postseason All-SWAC team] record. However, it simply fueled me for these three video games and I’m glad we obtained the ring.”
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