COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Kempsville High quarterback Josh Hawley has committed to Hampton University, the Pirates announced Wednesday.
The 6-2, 185-pound Hawley completed 70 of 143 passes for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior this season. He was a two-year captain who made the National Honor Society.
Hawley is part of a seven-member recruiting class for the Pirates. The other signees include Hampton High running back Amari Pryear, Manchester High defensive back Antonio Turner, Huguenot High linebacker/wide receiver Malik Porter, Gonzaga College High offensive lineman Gavin Bennett, Pallotti High (Maryland) quarterback Xavier Brookins and Indian Land High (South Carolina) cornerback Brysen Conner.
Four W&M stars pick up accolades
Four William & Mary football players have earned Stats Perform All-America honors.
Linebacker Luke Banbury made the first team, while cornerback Jalen Jones and offensive lineman Ryan McKenna were on the second team. Defensive lineman Justin Krueger earned a spot on the freshman team.
Banbury, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, ranked fourth nationally in tackles per game (11.4) and finished this season with 137 tackles. It was the most by a Tribe player since 1988.
Jones, a former Deep Creek High star from Chesapeake, ranked second in the CAA and 14th nationally with 1.09 passes defended per game this season. It was his second All-America honor this season.
UVA’s Taylor makes Senior Bowl
Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, which will be held on Jan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama.
Taylor, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native, is the fourth UVA player in the past three seasons to be invited to the game. He led the ACC in rushing with 1,062 yards and rushing touchdowns with 14 while adding 253 receiving yards and another score.
He’s a big reason the Cavaliers posted their second 10-win season in program history and reached the ACC championship game. UVA will play Missouri in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Virginia Tech quarterback Garret Rangel is entering the transfer portal, On3 Sports reported. He didn’t play for the Hokies this season, but passed for a combined 1,075 yards and eight touchdowns in the previous three seasons at Oklahoma State.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ODU adds 2 guards from Texas
Guards Ar’jayla Elder and Journee Hampton are the first two 2026 commitments for the Old Dominion women’s basketball program.
Both players are from Texas, where Hampton is ranked 30th and Elder is 38th.
Hampton, 5-7, from Lancaster High, is averaging 15.6 points, 4.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 steals this season.
Elder, 5-10, from Lincoln High, is averaging 9.1 points per game this season after scoring at a 13.7 clip last season.
“Elder and Hampton are two of the best high school guards in the highly coveted state of Texas girls high school basketball,” said ODU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Roland Jones Jr.
Briefly
Hampton University will take on Jackson State at 5 p.m. and Norfolk State will face Grambling at 7:30 Thursday as part of the Chris Paul HBCU Classic men’s basketball tournament in Atlanta. Both teams will play again on Friday, with HU meeting Grambling and NSU playing Jackson State.
Christopher Newport women’s soccer player Hanna Heaton has been named an Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators. It is her third Academic All-America honor. The Gloucester native was the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
University of Virginia men’s soccer player Nick Simmonds has signed a Generation adidas contract and is now eligible for the MLS SuperDraft, which will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday. The freshman forward is the second UVA player to sign a Generation adidas contract in past three seasons. He collected 10 goals and five assists this season.
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/12/17/kempsville-high-qb-josh-hawley-commits-to-hampton-u/
