VU’s Travelle Bryson to play next season at Howard University

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University Men's Basketball standout Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.) announced late last week his commitment to play next season for NCAA Division I Howard University in Washington, D.C.

"Everything really," Bryson said about what led him to choose to commit to Howard University. "The campus is crazy and it's a good environment. I feel like I'm at home when I'm there. The coaches all are very high level and are really focused on the players developing and they all have a lot of connections that can help me take my game all the way to the next level and get me where I need to be."

"Coach Blakeney is a winner and was great at Duke where he was a guard like me," Bryson added. "So him not only being a high level coach but him also playing at a top tier school is beneficial to me in every way as I feel like I can soak up all the information and coaching I need for my career."

Bryson's Trailblazer career got off to a slow start after Bryson battled injuries in late November that forced him to miss seven games.

When Bryson returned from this injury in January, he came firing out of the gates, quickly picking up his best offensive game of the season to that point when he scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in VU's win over Lake Land College.

Bryson's strong play in January earned him a spot in the starting lineup, which he would hold for the final 10 games of the season.

Bryson rewarded this decision to move him into the starting lineup by scoring in double figures in eight out of nine games down the stretch of the season, including three double doubles, two in back to back games.

Bryson's best game during this stretch came when he scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in VU's road win at Lake Land College.

Bryson capped off the VU regular season with another strong offensive game, scoring 26 points as the Trailblazers closed out a perfect 16-0 Region 24 regular season schedule with a big win over Kaskaskia College.

Bryson continued to be a key contributor in the Vincennes offense as the Blazers headed to the NJCAA National Tournament, closing out his VU career strong with 17 points in the National Quarterfinals, including hitting five of seven shots from three point range.

Bryson helped guide the Trailblazers to a 28-5 record this past season by averaging 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while finishing the season shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and an outstanding 44 percent from three-point range.

"My favorite memory with the Trailblazers this season was going undefeated in Region in the regular season on sophomore night," Bryson said. "So just going undefeated for our sophomores and seeing everybody have fun and have a good time after winning that game was very special for me and I was very happy that I could be a part of that."

Bryson is the third Trailblazer so far to commit to an NCAA Division I program, joining teammates Bryan Akanmu (Paris, France) and Michael Cooper (Minneapolis, Minn.) who announced their plans to play at Wagner College earlier this month.

Bryson is joining a Howard University squad coming off of a 12-20 record this past season, including a 7-7 record in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play under Bison Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney.

"Vincennes University helped me grow athletically and be stronger mentally because if you are going to play for Coach Franklin and represent Vincennes, where every game everybody is coming to beat you, you have to be able to handle not only the pressure but the standard," Bryson said. "What It takes to win and be who we are never changes and you have to be that good and that sharp every practice and game. Coach tells us all the time "I can't change the standard or how hard it is, it's whether you get it done or you don't" and he's going to hold you to that standard because that's who Vincennes has always been."

"Coach built us up with tough practices and preseason workouts so we could be ready and have us meet the standard and this year we continued to meet that standard, leading us to another winning season," Bryson added. "Also, shout out to Coach Davis and Coach Kingsley. They always gave me great advice and great coaching when they see I'm not who I'm supposed to be as a player. I couldn't thank them enough either."

"Academically, Vincennes University helped me out a ton," Bryson said. "You have got to be locked in every class period because if you don't, it's going to keep building up and you are just going to put yourself in a hole. You have got to be locked in mentally and t's also taught me time is valuable and it goes by fast so you have got to do your work when you know you are supposed to and don't wait until the last minute."

"All of my teachers have been great and I think we have all built a bond outside of them just teaching me," Bryson added. "Thank you Mr. Held, Ms. Haag, Mrs. Laye, Ms. Singleton and Ms. Gaye."

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Travelle Bryson on his commitment to continuing his education at Howard University and wishes him good luck as he continues his basketball career next season.