North Carolina Central guards Victoria Morris and Eboni Clay earned spots on the MEAC women’s basketball preseason watch list, putting both Eagles in the conference’s early spotlight. NCCU was picked to finish sixth in the league, while first-year coach Olivia Gaines will join Morris and Clay at Media Day in Baltimore.

By the Numbers
  • 15 players were named to the preseason watch list.
  • NCCU was picked sixth among 8 MEAC teams, receiving 36 points.
  • Howard led the poll with 86 points, including 10 first-place votes.
Yes, But

The preseason ranking puts NCCU in the lower half of the conference, but the watch-list recognition for two guards signals expectations that the Eagles could outperform that projection.

State of Play
  • Morris enters her junior season after two years at NCCU; Gaines is anticipating a breakout year.
  • Clay, also a junior, transfers from Allen, where she earned SIAC Freshman of the Year and All-SIAC honors.
  • The trio is set to represent NCCU at MEAC Basketball Media Day on Oct. 23 in Baltimore.
What's Next

The Eagles begin the season with a sixth-place forecast to challenge. Morris and Clay’s roles—and how quickly Gaines’s first team comes together—will help determine whether NCCU can climb the standings.

Bottom Line

NCCU has two guards to watch and a clear opportunity: turn preseason recognition into results that exceed the coaches’ and sports information directors’ expectations.