ATLANTA —
Tuskegee senior forward
Kusamae Draper will represent the Golden Tigers one final time on a national stage, competing in the fifth annual HBCU All-Star Game on Sunday, April 5, at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Draper was selected as one of the nation’s top 24 HBCU men’s basketball players from four premier Division I and II conferences, competing on teams paying homage to NBA and HBCU legends Bob Dandridge and Sam Jones.
The selection places Draper among the top players in HBCU basketball and comes at the culmination of a career defined by production, leadership and legacy.
“This is a blessing!” Draper said. “I’m extremely excited to be participating and to be among other top HBCU athletes, coaches and staff.”
Tuskegee head men’s basketball coach Benjy Taylor, who previously served as a coach for Team Dick Barnett, reflected on Draper’s selection.
“This is amazing for him,” Taylor said. “Kusamae doesn’t show a lot of emotion, but I know he is fired up. It’s another once-in-a-lifetime experience for him and another reward for his diligence and for being a warrior for Tuskegee.”
Following a standout 2025-26 campaign, Draper did not have to wait for history to recognize him. The recognition came in March, before the final chapter was complete.
On senior night, an evening built to celebrate the end of a career, Tuskegee did something far more uncommon. It honored a legacy still unfolding.
Draper became the only Tuskegee men’s basketball player to have his jersey retired while still active, a rare distinction that speaks louder than any stat line ever could. It was a decision rooted not just in production, but in impact.
“It wasn’t a hard decision, really,” Taylor said. “Approximately 1,499
points and 710 rebounds for Tuskegee University. Two SIAC West Division titles and numerous awards. Why would I wait for another coach 20 years from now to do what’s right? He deserves his flowers now. It wasn’t a popular decision, but it was the right decision.”
For Draper, the moment carried a different kind of weight.
“That moment was everything for me,” Draper said. “I was most happy that it was on senior night, and I was able to experience it with my family. That night was truly a blessing.”
The honor came on the heels of a season that further defined Draper’s legacy. He was named the 2025-26 SIAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year after leading the Golden Tigers in both scoring and rebounding, averaging more than 16 points per game over the past two seasons.
His production tells part of the story, but his journey tells the rest.
Draper’s path to Tuskegee began at Southwest DeKalb High School before transitioning to The Skill Factory, where an enhanced training environment accelerated his development during an uncertain time in high school athletics.
“My decision to attend The Skill Factory was based on the possibility of us not being able to play due to COVID,” Draper said. “TSF was great preparation before college because our lifestyle and training were more like college athletes. We had all online classes and practiced and lifted at a much higher level.”
Draper’s first season at Tuskegee was defined by adjustment. The pace of the game required growth, and that growth came quickly.
“My first season at Tuskegee was really just adjusting to college physicality and coaching,” Draper said. “There were a lot of things that I had to learn at this level, and it was never really a skill issue, more so strength and experience. My teammates and coaches helped me adjust quickly, and I started to see success after winter break.”
By his second season, development gave way to ownership.
“Coach Taylor allowed me to play through mistakes after I earned his trust, and I think that took my game to a whole other level,” Draper said. “My freshman year, he coached me pretty hard, but he always made sure to tell me what I was doing wrong. I took what he was saying and tried to apply it immediately. Over time, our bond grew to the point where at times he already knew that I was aware of something I needed to adjust in game situations. This style of coaching allowed me to thrive because I was not only confident in myself, but I knew he was too.”
Draper’s decision to remain at Tuskegee throughout his career stands out in today’s collegiate landscape. His primary focus was development and building his legacy as a Golden Tiger.
“Kusamae should be the example, the standard for what student-athletes should be at Tuskegee and around the world,” Taylor said. “He has excelled on and off the court and has gotten the maximum out of his collegiate experience. He never took a day off. Ever. KD’s story is who Tuskegee is, loyal, resilient and faithful.”
Draper is on track to graduate with a 3.4 GPA in construction science, and his future remains open, with opportunities in both professional basketball and his academic field.
“I’m not yet 100 percent sure of which path I’ll take, but I’m confident in both,” Draper said. “The work I’ve put in at Tuskegee as a student and athlete allows me to pursue paths in both. I’ve received job offers from some of the top construction companies in the U.S., and I’m currently in the process of sorting through professional basketball opportunities. Ultimately, I will make whatever decision I feel is best for my future and will make me happy.”
This weekend, Draper will suit up alongside JerMontae Hill (
Morehouse) and
Najashi Tolefree (
Miles) as a member of Team Bob Dandridge. The team will be coached by Tennessee State’s Nolan Smith and Morehouse head coach
Larry Dixon.
The contest, scheduled for 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET, will stream live on YouTube at @HBCUAll-StarGame and will be broadcast on the WISH Television Network, Channel 8 in Indianapolis.
Draper’s HBCU All-Star Game debut adds to Tuskegee’s presence in the event’s history. Former Golden Tigers Kevin Sesberry (2025) and
Gregg Boyd (2023) previously competed in the men’s game, while
Hilani Cantone appeared in the inaugural women’s game in 2025.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.