February 24, 2026
NEW ORLEANS – Southern University at New Orleans outfielder Kyler Shepherd wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Player of the Week. Stillman College John Roland Jr. garners Pitcher of the Week. Emile Butler claims Freshman of the Week. Wiley University Pitcher Estevan Baca earns Newcomer of the Week. The athletes were recognized for their performance between February 16-22, the conference announced Tuesday.
Shepherd turned in a dominant all-around performance at the plate this week, batting an impressive .500 (6-for-12) with seven RBIs and five runs scored across four games. He reached base at a .647 clip, drew five walks, and struck out just once in 17 plate appearances, showcasing elite discipline and consistency. Shepherd also applied constant pressure on the bases, swiping five bags, while remaining flawless defensively.
Roland, Jr., recorded the first NAIA no-hitter of the 2026 season. The sophomore struck out 9 in a 92-pitch, 9-inning complete game no-hitter to open HBCUAC action Thursday, Feb. 19 with a 10-1 victory over Oakwood University. It was Stillman College’s first no-hitter since a combined no-hitter against Oakwood in 2023 and the first solo no-hitter by a Stillman pitcher since 2013. Stillman went on to sweep the series, 3-0, to sit atop the HBCUAC East Division standings after Week One.
Starting both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, Butler hit .500 with 5 runs scored and 5 RBI against Oakwood University to help Stillman sweep its conference opener.
Baca picked up his first win of the season and threw a nine-inning complete game to help the Wildcats clinch the series against Huston-Tillotson University. He struck out five batters. He retired the side in the second and fourth innings.
Additional baseball weekly nominees: Caleb Carter (Tougaloo), Reyli Escobedo (Wiley), Robert Gage (Stillman), Trey Garza (Huston-Tillotson), Jamison Green (Oakwood), Tristen Henry (Stillman), Danny Hernandez (Huston-Tillotson), Donovan Hill (SUNO), Ethan Jones (Wiley), Darrin Magee (SUNO), Amir Mason (Wiley), Christopher Nunez (SUNO), Robert Powe (Tougaloo), Graelan Shaffer (Tougaloo), Lekeidric Sutton (Tougaloo), Ethan Walker (Huston-Tillotson)
2026 HBCUAC Baseball Players of the Week
| Date | Player | Pitcher | Freshman | Newcomer |
| Jan. 22-Feb. 1 | Jose Villalobos, Wiley | Ethan Walker, Huston-Tillotson | Daniel de los Rios, Wiley | Evan Mendoza, Huston-Tillotson |
| Feb. 2-8 | Jhemmal Geraldo, SUNO | Diego Duque, Talladega | Jason Matthews, SUNO | Jhemmal Geraldo, SUNO |
| Feb. 9-15 | Ivan Del Villar, Wiley | Nick Rodriguez, Wiley | Adam Mendoza, Wilberforce | John Barajas, Wiley |
| Feb. 16-22 | Kyler Shepherd, SUNO | John Roland Jr., Stillman | Emile Butler, Stillman | Estevan Baca, Wiley |
About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.
Source: HBCU Athletics Conference Communications Department