COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College athletic department honored its student-athletes at its annual athletic awards banquet on Monday evening.
 
A pair of standout athletes received the John E. Brown Award, Benedict's top student-athlete award. The award is named after the former legendary coach and athletic director who spent 32 years serving Benedict College, where he coached football, baseball and basketball for the Tigers. This award is given to the most outstanding student-athlete.
 
Kanesha Moses from women's track and field, and men's football player Loobert Denelus were this year's recipients. Denelus won the award for the second year in a row.
 
Denelus was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row, anchoring a Tiger defense that ranked among the best in the nation most of the season, and was named to multiple All-American teams. Not only was he a standout on the football field, he was named an Academic All-American, and was one of 16 national finalists for the Campbell Trophy, presented to the nation's premier football scholar-athlete, and received his finalist award at the National Football Foundation's banquet in Las Vegas.
 
Moses helped Benedict win the 2023 SIAC Championship by winning the 400-meters and was a member of the winning 4 by 100-meter relay team. This season, she ranks fifth in the SIAC in the 400-meters, and ninth in the 200-meters. Last season she was named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators and an All-Academic Athlete by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
The Lucius F. Clark Champion of Character Award was presented to a pair of men's basketball standouts – Tim Moore Jr. and Asanti Price, as well as T'yannah Lake, a two-sport star with women's volleyball and softball. The award is named after the former coach who resurrected the Benedict golf program and is given to any student-athlete who has shown outstanding character and has brought national exposure to the college and athletic program. The recipient also has provided leadership within their sport area, and has shown dedication to help other student-athletes grow.
 
Moore was named first-team All-SIAC and was named an HBCU All-American. He also was nominated to participate in the Dark Horse Dunker contest. Price was a second-team All-SIAC selection and participated in the HBCU All-Star Game, which was nationally televised.
 
Lake was the MVP of the HBCU All-Star Softball Game last spring. Last season, she led the nation in runs batted in per game. This season, she is currently sixth in the SIAC in home runs and has been invited to participate again in the HBCU All-Star Softball Game. She is also one of Benedict's top volleyball players.
 
The winner of the Jimmy Green Memorial Inspiration Award was men's track and field standout Javel Best. The award is named in honor of one of Benedict's outstanding football alumni, and is presented to a student-athlete who has been confronted with life-altering experiences and has utilized perseverance, dedication, and determination to overcome the event. This award is presented in recognition of Mr. Green's dedication and commitment to Benedict College.
 
After missing most of the 2023 season with injuries, Best came back strong and is one of the top sprinters in the SIAC this season. He has been named the SIAC Track Athlete of the Week on three occasions. He currently has the second-fastest time in the SIAC in the 400-meters, and the fourth-fastest in the 100-meters.
 
The Dr. David H. Swinton Power For Good Award, presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates leadership, hard work and determination, community service, and academic achievement, was presented to men's volleyball player Clint Forbes.
 
Forbes consistently ranks as one of the top liberos in the SIAC. This season, he currently ranks first in the SIAC and second in the nation in digs per set. In the classroom, Clint has a perfect 4.0 GPA, and was recognized as the SIAC's Elite 14 Award winner in 2022.
 
The department also recognized 15 student-athletes with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA, as well as 166 student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher. GPAs are through the fall 2023 term.
 
The Athletic Booster Club presented its special award to Benedict cross country and track & field coach Danny Brooks.
 
The Benedict Booster Club Family of the Year Award went to Melvin and Sophie Miller. 
 
Cheereleading / Poms
Dedicated Team Leader: Alaysia Davis
Most Valuable Senior: Dedrionna Wilson
Outstanding Tumbler: Janelle Burgess
Dedicated Newcomer: Nathaniel Dickens
Poms Positive Developer: Autumn Tisdale
Dedicated Poms: Janiya Tate
A Moving Up Newcomer: Joyce Johnson
A Creative Force: Saniya Franklin
 
Baseball
MVP: Taj Bates
Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Jamell Mitchell Jr.
Most Outstanding Freshman Pitcher: Nicholas Gioia 
Most Outstanding Freshman Hitter: Frankey Moree
 
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Taylor Christmas
Defender of the Year: Raven Johnson
Freshman of the Year: Alaysia Nash
Coach Work Ethics Award: Kaya Evans
 
Men's Volleyball
Newcomer: Camron Petillo
MVP: Clint Forbes
Coaches Award: Jaiden Romes-Crawley
Most Energetic: Jomari Jacobs
 
Women's Volleyball
Most Vocal Player: Jadyn Murry
Most Improved: Jordan Williams
Rookie: Desire' Young
Coaches Award: Kaiah Green
 
Softball
Offensive Player: Olivia Townsend
Defensive Player: Tre'sor Eady
Best All Around: T'yannah Lake
Pitcher Award: Savanna Marshall
 
Men's Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Mark Chigaazira
Most Improved: Anesu Kwirirai
Best All-Around: Jason Chigaazira
Coaches Award: Divgurjot Singh
 
Women's Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Valerie Essome
Coaches Award: Patricia Wamba
Most Improved: Tanatswa Musabaeka
 
Men's Basketball
Offensive Player of the Year: Asanti Price
Defensive Player of the Year: Brandon Beidleman
Most Improved: Tim Moore, Jr.
Leadership Team Award: Malachi McCoy
 
Men's Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner: Nelson Kipkemboi
Coaches Award: Braylen Brooks
Eye of the Tiger: Sadiki Marsh
Most Improved: Javel Best
 
Women's Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner: Megan Thompson
Coaches Award: Jane Kiborus
Eye of the Tiger: Torriann Noad
Most Improved: Cavel Barnett
 
Women's Track & Field
Most Valuable Indoor Runner: Kaciann Cowan
Most Valuable Inoor Field: Yassmine Chambers
Coaches Indoor Award: Kanesha Moses
Eye of the Tiger Indoor Award: Santiona Freeman
Most Improved Indoor: Torriann Noad
Most Valuable Outdoor Runner: Kanesha Moses
Most Valuable Outdoor Field: Jada David
Coaches Outdoor Award: Santiona Freeman
Eye of the TIGER Outdoor Award: Megan Thompson
Most Improved Outdoor: Torriann Noad
 
Men's Track & Field
Most Valuable Indoor Runner: Javel Best
Most Valuable Indoor Field:  Shun Taylor
Coaches Indoor Award: Kevin Francis
Eye of the TIGER Indoor Award: Braylen Brooks
Most Improved Indoor: Matthew Paul
Most Valuable Outdoor Runner: Javel Best
Most Valuable Outdoor Field:  Rajaun Ricketts
Coaches Outdoor Award: Matthew Paul
Eye of the TIGER Outdoor Award: Sadiki Marsh
Most Improved Outdoor:  Jesaiah Jones
 
Football
Defensive MVP: Aaron Miller
Offensive MVP: LaJuan Pauling
Academic MVP Defense: Marion Nelson
Academic MVP Offense: Marcus French
Most Improved Offense: Sakharis Smalls
Most Improved Defense: Nolan Jones
Iron Tiger Offense: Thomas Morgan
Iron Tiger Defense: Matthew Draper
 
4.0 GPAs
Kent Johnson, Baseball
Shane Williams, Baseball
Malachi McCoy, Men's Basketball
Jaden Smith, Men's Basketball
Tristan Stowe, Men's Track & Field
Jalen Jones, Football
Tom Piccirillo, Football
Mitchell Romig, Football
Clint Forbes, Men's Volleyball
Daneika Williamson, Women's Track & Field
Taylor Gilbert, Softball
Aliyah Jones, Women's Volleyball
Dedrionna Wilson, Cheerleading
Autumn Tisdale, Poms
Maleah Screen, Poms
 
3.0 – 3.99 GPA
Baseball
Ri'shon Pearl
Donnie Weston
Kaden Hindman
Isaiah Canty
Jalen McDuffie
Jayden Jones
Justin Murray
Carson Fellows
Taj Bates
Tony Ruiz
Gerson Vidal Cordero
Oziel Azcona-Gomez
Jalen Hudson
Jayden Jordan
Nicholas Gioia
Jamell Mitchell Jr.
Bobby Kelly

Men's Basketball
Simari Murray
Brandon Beidleman
Gob Gabriel
Brandon Smith
Marshaun West
Cedric Shelby
Tim Moore
Marcus Anderson

Men's Cross Country / Track & Field
Javel Best
Matthew Paul
Sadiki Marsh
Quincy Harris
Nelson Kipkemboi
Andy Ferguson
David Epps
Andy Ferguson
Kevin Francis
Chase Ransom
Rajaun Ricketts
Jacobie Sims
JaQuon Tinch
Morris Walker
 
Football
Marcelous Livingston
Steven Campbell
Zyricq Rufus
Loobert Denelus
Mathew Ihemesie
Nigel Summerville
Aeneas Dennis
Ja'ron Kilpatrick
Ja'Varrius Wilson
Kasey Bolton
Marcus French
Caden High
A'chean Durant
Zavien Foster
Bryce Bowens
LaJuan Pauling
Marcus Davis
Dylan Geese
Nolan Jones
Eliyah El
Dominic Mathis
David Smith
Matthew Draper
Jalen Hercules
Lucas Wynn
Daryl Dunifer
Theodore Blackburn
Jayden Broughton
Cameron Daniels
Aaron Miller
Curtis Smiley
Jaylen Taylor
Christopher Williams II
Fred Twitty
Jordan Black
Charlie Cooper
Jameer Reed
Israel Nwokocha
Ja'Voni Melidor
Tyler Kind
Orlando Dean
John Hannibal
Johnnel "CJ" Swan
Tabyron Willis
Torey Morrison
Anderson Kyle Aldridge
Carvon Gurley
Nyzier Alston-Daniels
Joshua Barker
Sterling Goodwin
Keveione Zanders
 
Men's Tennis
Jaylon Bokknight
Jason Chigaazira
Mark Chigaazira
Anesu Kwirirai
Richard Ngwarwi
Divgurjot Singh
 
Men's Volleyball
Jared Brown
Jackson Fehring-Terrell
Jomari Jacobs
Kendersley Marcellin
Camron Petillo
Malachi Surney
 
Women's Basketball
Katherine Robinson
Nyree Bell
Taiyee Treasure
Kyla Daniels
Karrington Sutton
Amaya Ashby
Taylor Christmas
Aaliyah Lawrence
Jemila Bennett
Courtney McClaney
Dasia Harden
Alaysia Nash
Ghylissa Knowles
Bre'Asia Lester
 
Women's Cross Country / Track & Field
Santiona Freeman
Kanesha Moses
Yassmine Chambers
Kaciann Cowan
Elaine Robinson
Jamescenia Favor
Jada David
Adrienne Daniels
Xaria Bascombe
Jane Kiborus
Paris Stanton
Megan Thompson
 
Softball
Jamaiyah Howard
Kierra Evans
Savanna Marshall
Jasmine Cadore
Daneshia Wooten
Briana Curney
Chelsey Gotel
Tanijah Washington
T'yannah Lake
Taylor Wilson
Camillia Crooks

Women's Tennis
Kennedy Vincent
Valerie Essome
Emi Smith
Tanatswa Musabaeka
Patricia Wamba

Women's Volleyball
La'Jai Wilson
Desire' Young
Jadyn Murry
Willow Alls
Brandi Seaborn
Mya Dixon
Kennede Thomas
Kylie Jackson
Cana Smith
Kaiah Green
Jordan Gilbert
Armoni Harris
Chynna Spears
Jordan Williams
 
Cheer / Poms
Marissa Tisdale
Grace Smith
Makiyah Hails
Lameysia Wade
Carleese Black
Janiya Taylor
Cardeshia Taylor
Saniya Frankli