With the 2022 season completed, it is time for Black College Nines to showcase HBCU baseball’s top outfields who have turned the impossible into routine catches, bring some of the best speed in all of HBCU baseball and have proven themselves on the field.
Which players stood out?
Black College Nines (BCN) continues its end of season look at the best fleet footed “No Fly Zone” outfielders in HBCU baseball. Our list follows statistical information and head coach input of the speedsters reaching balls hit in the gaps and turning would be hits into routine outs.
BCN evaluated players by arm strength, fielding range, speed, and hitting for power and average.
The phrase “No Fly Zone” was used by former Texas College head coach and current Prairie View A&M pitching coach Anthony “Happy” Macon to describe his Texas Steers 2018 outfielders who turned balls driven into the gap that appeared to be a hit, but were caught as outs.
No. 1 Steven Joyner Claflin University
The Hartsville, South Carolina native hit .360 (4th in the Peach Belt Conference), Started in 23 games for the Panthers, 27 total hits with 20 runs scored, 17 runs batted in, four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 8-for-8 on stolen bases. A gifted center fielder makes him one of the top HBCU outfielders in the country. (Third appearance in our “No Fly Zone” Fleet Footed Outfielders list 2020-2022). Had a 1.000 fielding percentage with 67 putouts and three assists in 70 total chances and a double play. Second Team All-Peach Belt Conference. Based on 2022 Statistics:| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Steven Joyner | 70 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 100 |
No. 2 Kobe Miller Claflin University
Miller has power on the offensive side with a .379 batting average (2nd in the Peach Belt Conference), started in all 33 games for the Panthers, 44 hits in 116 at-bats with 10 doubles and three triples, 30 runs scored, 23 runs batted in, 18-of-22 on stolen bases, second team All-Peach Belt. 1.000 fielding percentage with 68 putouts in 68 total chances. Based on 2022 Statistics:| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Kobe Miller | 68 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 99.9 |
No. 3 Rickey Jones Virginia State University
Jones was big time at the plate and in the outfield during the 2022 season. Jones had 95 putouts, and 1 assist, with a fielding pct. of 1.000. At the plate, Jones batted .364, with 47 hits, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, and 34 runs batted in which includes 7-of-8 stolen bases. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Rickey Jones | 96 | 95 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 99.8 |
No. 4 Tremaine Callaway Rust College
Callaway patrolled centered field this past 2022 season. His fielding percentage was 1,000 with 32 TC and 32 putouts in 25 games. The Decatur, GA native batted .329 with 10 stolen bases and graduated with his Degree in Mass Communications. His reads of balls off the bat made him a “Gold Glove” defensive player. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Tremaine Callaway | 32 | 32 | 1 | 0 | .1000 | 99.2 |
No. 5 Cameron Diaz Savannah State University
Diaz, a redshirt sophomore, played a good outfield and tracks down balls well in both gaps. This season had a 1.000 fielding percentage with 66 putouts. He was also stellar on the offensive side with the Tigers, .337 batting average, 55 hits, 8 doubles, 41 runs batted in, and 14-of-17 stolen bases. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Cameron Diaz | 71 | 66 | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 99.0 |
No. 6 Lavoisier Fisher Albany State University
Fisher was one of the best fastball hitters in all of Division II baseball. One of the nation’s and HBCU baseball premier sluggers, but he is also known for his stellar defensive work with speed and standout tools who moves well to the ball in the outfield. At the plate a .384 batting average this past season. Hit 11 doubles, 3 triples, belted 11 home runs, and drove home 56 runners while swiping going 11-of-15 in the stolen base department. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Lavoisier Fisher | 97 | 95 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 98.7 |
No. 7 Cameron Brantley North Carolina A&T University
Brantley, has quick instincts and can track down a lot of would-be hits in the gap. According to head coach Ben Hall, Brantley had good individual statistical years for them. Batted .260, 11 doubles, 8 home runs, 24 runs batted in, and 8-of-10 stolen bases. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Cameron Brantley | 120 | 117 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 98.5 |
No. 8 Tremaine Spears Southern University
Spears recorded a .990 fielding percentage this season with 94 putouts and three assists where he played and started in all of Southern’s 53 games. Spears recorded one error, but his bat spoke loud and clear with a .337 batting average, banged out 61 hits, 16 doubles, 5 triples, 10 home runs, and 57 runners were driven in. Also 11-of-15 stolen bases. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Tremaine Spears | 98 | 94 | 3 | 1 | .990 | 98.3 |
No. 9 Antonio Chambers Kentucky State University
Chambers recorded a .984 fielding percentage this season with 62 putouts and two assists in 42 starts. Any ball hit in the gaps or to the warning track, he is under or arm extended making the catch for an out. This past season season as a freshman he batted .290 including 10 double, 3 triples, 5 home runs and 54 run batted in. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Antonio Chambers | 63 | 62 | 0 | 1 | .984 | 98.0 |
No. 10 Johnathon Thomas Texas Southern University
Thomas, led all of NCAA Division I in stolen bases this past season with 67-of-70 steals. In the batter’s box, Thomas has a .345 batting average to go along with 16 doubles, 5 triples, belted 9 home runs, and 42 runs batted in. He is also known for his stellar defensive work with speed and standout tools who moves well to the ball in the outfield. Thomas has shown the ability to be a well above average defender with his plus range and covers ground very quickly. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Johnathon Thomas | 135 | 128 | 4 | 3 | .978 | 97.9 |
No. 11 Cole Cote Bluefield State College
Cote absolutely gets after any balls hit in the outfield and tracks down balls well in the gaps. Recorded 115 putouts in the outfield with five assists. In the batter box batted .342, which includes 55 hits, 10 home runs, and 41 runs batted in. Based on 2022 Statistics:
| Outfielder | C | PO | A | E | Fielding Percentage % | BCN Overall Rating |
| Cole Cote | 124 | 115 | 5 | 4 | .968 | 97.5 |
Honorable Mention:
Jaylon Burrell – Wiley College
Timmie Russell – Wiley College
Rufus Hurdler Claflin University
Chase Moore – Virginia State University
David Johnson Virginia State University
Tyrese Clybourne – Texas Southern University
Jeremy Gaines – Texas Southern University
DeAnthony Baker – Lemoyne Owens College
Jose Santiago – Talladega College
Rafael Dial – Talladega College
Collier Higgs – Kentucky State University
Kelton Sayor – Kentucky State University
Jamel Mitchell – Benedict College
Ryan Chesney – Benedict College
Bradon Oconnor – Benedict College
Narvin Booker – Mississippi Valley State University
Demarie Smith – Prairie View A & M University
Brayden Johnson – Prairie View A & M University
Carlos Rodriguez-Velez – University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
Kacy Higgins – University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
Kelvin Reese – Stillman College
Jordan Smith – Lane College
Jordan Varela-Payne – Bluefield State College
CoCo Simoneaux – Xavier University of Louisiana (Second appearance “No Fly Zone” Fleet Footed Outfielders list 2021-2022)
Courtland Posey – Xavier University of Louisiana
La’Nas Torrey – Tougaloo College (Third appearance “No Fly Zone” Fleet Footed Outfielders list 2020-2022)
Cameron Johnese – Texas College
JJ Rollon – Southern University
Jaylen Armstrong – Southern University
Jatavis Melton – Jackson State University
Caleb Evans – Jackson State University
Dionte Brown – Norfolk State University (Second appearance “No Fly Zone” Fleet Footed Outfielders list 2021-2022)
Tanner Brandon – Norfolk State University