NORFOLK, Va. --- The Rice FAME Group honored five representatives from Norfolk State at the fourth annual HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards for the 2024-25 season.
The organization recognized women's basketball coach Larry Vickers as the Moolah Kicks Women's Basketball Coach of the Year, and director of track and field programs
Kenneth Giles as Men's Cross-Country Coach of the Year.
Three student-athletes also claimed top honors. Running back
Kevon King earned Football Athlete of the Year, distance runner
Brian Rotich won Men's Cross-Country Athlete of the Year, and guard
Diamond Johnson received Moolah Kicks Women's Basketball Athlete of the Year.
Vickers led the Spartans to a 30-5 overall record, including a perfect 14-0 mark in conference play. Norfolk State secured its highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed and completed its winningest season in the Division I era—second-most in school history overall.
Under Vickers, the Spartans earned road victories over two SEC programs, defeating Missouri 57-54 and Auburn 63-57. He also earned MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach accolades and the Kay Yow National Coach of the Year honor.
Giles led the NSU men's cross-country team to a fifth consecutive MEAC Cross Country Championship in 2024. The Spartans finished the 8k course with 27 points to capture the title. NSU placed four runners inside of the top five, led by Rotich in second place.
King earned All-MEAC Second Team honors last season after rushing for 944 yards and 10 touchdowns on 161 carries. He ranked third in the MEAC in both rushing yards and touchdowns.
Rotich finished runner up at the MEAC Cross Country Championships, running the 8k course in a personal best time of 23:34.60. He also was named MEAC Cross Country Runner of the week on Oct. 23, 2024.
Johnson powered the women's basketball program to back-to-back MEAC Tournament titles. The 2024-25 MEAC Player of the Year averaged 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists, while landing on the Dawn Staley Award and Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watchlists. She set single-season Division I program records in points (663) and 3-pointers made (70).
For complete coverage of Norfolk State athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @NSUSpartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
