CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team was picked to finish eighth, while the men's basketball team was selected seventh in the 2026-27 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Preseason Poll, as announced by the conference.
In addition to the preseason team selections, three Golden Bulls earned individual recognition, with
Salote Franklin, La'Niya Sims and
Jared Davis named to the CIAA Preseason Team.
The preseason polls and team selections are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Franklin and Sims represent Johnson C. Smith on the women's preseason team, while Davis earned preseason recognition on the men's side.
Reigning CIAA Women's Basketball Champion Winston-Salem State University was selected as the women's preseason favorite, while reigning CIAA Men's Basketball Champion Fayetteville State University earned the top spot on the men's side.
The preseason selections set the stage for another highly anticipated CIAA basketball season and the road to Baltimore for the 81st CIAA Men's and 52nd CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament, February 23–27, 2027, at CFG Bank Arena.
2026–27 CIAA Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
Winston-Salem State University
Fayetteville State University
Bowie State University
Virginia State University
Claflin University
Virginia Union University
Livingstone College
Johnson C. Smith University
Bluefield State University
Shaw University
Elizabeth City State University
Lincoln University (Pa.)
2026–27 CIAA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Ka'Nyah O'Neal, Fayetteville State University*
Kendahl Spearman, Virginia State University*
Maia Charles, Winston-Salem State University*
Nevaeh Farmer, Winston-Salem State University*
Breonna Roaf, Winston-Salem State University*
Azahreya Drayton-Gill, Bluefield State University
Ah'Kiyah Pye, Winston-Salem State University
Malaka Cobb, Bowie State University
Nielle Reaves, Livingstone College
Salote Franklin, Johnson C. Smith University
La'Niya Sims, Johnson C. Smith University
Laniya Scales, Fayetteville State University
* Indicates a student-athlete who earned All-CIAA honors last season.
2026–27 CIAA Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
- Fayetteville State University
- Bluefield State University
- Virginia State University
- Claflin University
- Virginia Union University
- Winston-Salem State University
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Lincoln University (Pa.)
- Bowie State University
- Livingstone College
- Shaw University
- Elizabeth City State University
2026–27 CIAA Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Malachi Dark, Virginia Union University*
Jaiden McGhee, Bowie State University*
James Nipper, Livingstone College*
Ellija Preddy, Bluefield State University
Jared Davis, Johnson C. Smith University
Anthony Davenport, Bluefield State University
Travon Cooper II, Fayetteville State University
Joseph Allen III, Fayetteville State University
Davian Coleman, Virginia State University
Julius Olanrewaju, Lincoln University (Pa.)
Ronald Bridges, Jr., Winston-Salem State University
* Indicates a student-athlete who earned All-CIAA honors last season.
