POWERED BY THE NATIONAL SCOUTING BUREAU
Fifty-three ballplayers from 21 different Historically Black College and Universities make up Black College Nines’ 2026 Small School Elites representing institutions within the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, National Christian College Athletic Association and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
Additional recognition is given to our Player, Pitcher, Freshman, Coach and SID of the Year.
Selections were made based upon statistical information and research provided by Black College Nines, analytics* provided by A. Rod White of the National Scouting Bureau and input from coaching staffs and their sports information departments.
Of the 53 honored, both Edward Waters University and Albany State University were represented by seven each, followed by Talladega College with six and both Wilberforce University and Wiley University with four each. Savannah State University and Benedict College each garnered three spots on the three Elite teams.
Among the individual honorees, Diego Duque of Talladega College has been named small school Pitcher of the Year and moves up from being named a second-team All-Elite in 2025 to first team in 2026. Marcos Dominguez of Talladega College and Reginald Johnson of Edward Waters University share the title of Coach of the Year. Dominguez was awarded Coach of the Year last in 2025 and Johnson last claimed the title in 2016. In his second year at Morehouse College, Ako (AD) Drew claims his first Sports Information Director of the Year honor.
Luke Addison of Albany State (also in 2024, and 2025), Armando Jackson of Talladega College (also in 2024, and 2025) and Jaden Greenidge of Lincoln (PA) University (also in 2023 and 2024) are all making their third appearances on All-Elite teams.
Other previous years’ All-Elites named this year include Johan Sandoval of Savannah State University, Christopher Alcantara-Diaz of Wilberforce University, Ivan Del Villar of Wiley University, Kyrent Cole of Rust College, Emory Stephens of Albany State University and Victor Rivera of Talladega College.
The 2026 HBCU National Baseball Player, Pitcher, Freshman, Coach and SID of the Year:
Donaldson-Fountain
Duque
Braswell
Veras-Vasquez
Dominguez
Johnson
Drew
Player of the Year – Daniel Donaldson-Fountain (Edward Waters University)
Pitcher of the Year – Diego Duque (Talladega College)
Co-Freshman of the Year – Tripp Braswell (Morehouse College)
Co-Freshman of the Year – Junior Veras-Vasquez (Wilberforce University)
Co-Coach of the Year – Marcos Dominguez (Talladega College)
Co-Coach of the Year – Reginald Johnson (Edward Waters University)
Sports Information Director of the Year – Ako Drew (Morehouse College)
Small School Division (NCAA Division II, NAIA, NCCAA, USCAA)
♦First Team♦
INF Ty Grover (Albany State University)
INF Johan Sandoval (Savannah State University)
INF Dannon Smith (Edward Waters University)
INF Elijah Pinckney (Morehouse College)
INF Luke Addison (Albany State University)
UTL Jordan Smith (Edward Waters University)
DH Robert Robinson Jr. (Morehouse College)
OF Daniel Donaldson-Fountain (Edward Waters University)
OF Ryan Campbell (Kentucky State University)
OF Christopher Alcantara-Diaz (Wilberforce University)
C Armando Jackson (Talladega College)
SP Diego Duque (Talladega College)
SP Samuel Crew (Albany State University)
SP Weston Bailey (Huston-Tillotson University)
SP Tyler Pfirrmann (Edward Waters University)
RP Ty Mitzel (Edward Waters University)
♦Second Team♦
INF Ivan Del Villar (Wiley University)
INF Jaylon Johnson (Clark Atlanta University)
INF Joe Mendy (Wilberforce University)
INF Kyrent Cole (Rust College)
INF Emory Stephens (Albany State University)
INF Robert Gage (Stillman University)
UTL Jaden Greenidge (Lincoln University of Pennsylvania)
DH Cameron Haley (Benedict College)
OF Arin Chevers (Albany State University)
OF Joshua Catala Santos (Talladega College)
OF Jaquez Akins (Benedict College)
C Tyler Turner (Albany State University)
SP Jamal Johnson (Florida Memorial University)
SP Christopher Nunez (Southern University at New Orleans)
SP Ethan Walker (Huston-Tillotson University)
SP Austin McCormack (Savannah State University)
RP Juan Pena (Wiley University)
♦Third Team♦
INF Joshua Medina (Benedict College)
INF Teagan Davies (Lane College)
INF Edwin Hernandez (Bluefield State University)
INF Ryan Morrow (Tuskegee University)
INF Victor Rivera (Talladega College)
INF Junior Veras-Vasquez (Wilberforce University)
UTL Bobby Torres (Edward Waters University)
DH Narrada Smith (LeMoyne-Owen College)
OF Don McKnight III (Florida Memorial University)
OF Cohen Boyd (Xavier University of Louisiana)
OF Darius Woodson (Wilberforce University)
OF Andrew Leonard (Clark Atlanta University)
C Joseph Di Cesare (Edward Waters University)
SP Estevan Baca (Wiley University)
SP Luis Perdomo (Talladega College)
SP Gregorio Gonzalez (Savannah State University)
SP Nick Rodriguez (Wiley University)
RP Dewinel Vazquez (Talladega College)
RP Dereck Foster (Albany State University)
*Analytic methodology includes, but not limited to, a weighted ranking system with six different metrics for position players, five different metrics for starting pitchers and another set of five metrics for relief pitchers with team and conference strength multipliers when necessary.
