NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 9, 2021—The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has named Troy Baxter, Jr. from Morgan State University as the 2021 Male Student-Athlete of the Year, the conference office announced today.
“Congratulations to Troy Baxter, Jr.,” MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas said. “He’s had an absolutely phenomenal career at Morgan State University, not only as a student-athlete, but academically and in his extracurricular activities as well. I wish him continued success and I would like to thank his family and all the people who had a positive influence on him.”
A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Baxter graduated from Morgan State this past May with a degree in Applied Liberal Studies. He was a First Team All-MEAC selection and an All-Defensive Team honoree this past season for the Bears, and he was named NABC All-District Second Team and BoxToRow Second Team All-American.
A two-year starter for the Bears, Baxter was third in the MEAC in blocked shots in 2020-21, averaging 1.6 per game. He was also fourth in the conference in both scoring (15.5 ppg) and 3-pointers made per game (1.9) this past season, and he was ninth in free throw percentage (.744).
In conference play, Baxter was the league’s top scorer with 17.9 points per game and his 2.2 made threes per game in MEAC action were tied for third in the league. He was also third in the MEAC in blocked shots in MEAC play, swatting away an average of 1.9 shots per game.
Behind Baxter’s play, the Bears went 14-8 overall and made their first Air Force Reserve MEAC Basketball Tournament title game appearance since 2012.
Baxter also won the 2021 Great Clips College Slam Dunk championship back in April.
Over the summer, Baxter signed with the Chicago Bulls as an undrafted free agent.
Baxter was a three-time Morgan State AD Honor Roll honoree (Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2021), and he was an intern with both the Bears’ athletic communications and facilities offices this past academic year. He also participated in the MEAC/AllState financial literacy seminar and was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
In the community, Baxter has participated in elementary school reading programs and worked as a basketball camp counselor. In addition, he has worked in the Tallahassee community through his father’s construction business.
MEAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year Honorees
2012 -- Jared Baldwin, North Carolina A&T State (Track and Field)
2013 -- Joseph Hutchinson, North Carolina Central (Football)
2014 -- Nesly Marcellon, Bethune-Cookman (Football)
2015 -- Ishaq Pitt, Maryland Eastern Shore (Men’s Basketball)
2016 -- Reginald Johnson, Jr., Hampton (Men’s Basketball)
2017 -- Khalil Rmidi Kinini, Maryland Eastern Shore (Cross Country, Track and Field)
2018 -- Isaiah Chambers, Maryland Eastern Shore (Baseball)
2019 -- Julius Reynolds, North Carolina A&T State (Football)
2020 -- Ian McBorrough, Morgan State (football)
2021 -- Troy Baxter, Jr. Morgan State (men’s basketball)
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.