HBCU notebook: Bond between Mihjae Hayes and Tiyanna James can elevate Morgan State

There was an ease to them, a rhythm that didn’t require music. They moved in sync, as if some invisible thread had been tying their hearts together long before basketball stitched their paths. They laughed together with an unspoken understanding.

The inseparable duo shares more than just minutes on the court. They torched opponents at Virginia State the past two seasons and now continue their journey at Morgan State under first-year head coach Nadine Domond, who coached them both in Petersburg.

But their story runs deeper than stats or highlights. It’s one of late-night talks, silent prayers, and shared dreams during long bus rides on the darkened highways of Interstates 85 and 95. Through highs, lows, injuries and adversity, Hayes and James have held each other up and offered steady encouragement when it mattered most.

Founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute, Morgan State is affectionately known as “The National Treasure,” and fittingly so. In James and Hayes, the Bears have two hidden gems burning with the kind of hunger that can’t be taught. As smoldering flames ready to ignite into a bonfire, they arrive with chips on their shoulders and something to prove, eager to shake the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and shine on their terms.

Beneath their smiles is a bond forged in faith, fire, and the sacred sisterhood of resilience. There’s been pain, but also persistence and purpose; heartbreak, but also humility and humor. Each brings her own story. But together, they’re living a dream that once felt distant: playing Division I basketball.

“Yes, I love Mihjae,” James excitedly said to The Next following a recent early-morning practice. “That’s my forever. I need to be invited to her wedding. I love Mihjae for real, though. I’m happy she’s here with me because we have a lot of fun playing together. She knows what I like, and I know what she likes. … Being here at Morgan State means a lot because playing Division I was a goal. My career was different, so this is a full circle moment.”

James traveled the scenic route here. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament in high school. She missed her senior year and played at Montgomery County (Md.) Community College before shining the last two years at Virginia State. Her painful odyssey has been anything but easy, but it’s always been rooted in belief and strength.

“Most of my family plays basketball,” said James, whose first cousin is rookie guard Aziaha James of the Dallas Wings. “So that was really what pushed me to keep playing in high school … Coach Nadine recruited me at Virginia State, and then I had a great two years there, and she’s here at Morgan State. So, everything just taught me to keep going, no matter what, especially with my ACL injury, because I had to push and fight and get back to where I was.”

Meanwhile, Hayes was overlooked coming out of high school and has endured more heartache in her 21 years than anyone should have to bear, including tearing her ACL just a week before her freshman season at Virginia State.

Now, the two join a talented Morgan State nucleus, eager to make noise in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and evict four-time champion Norfolk State from its winners’ suite. On this July afternoon, they were embracing the opportunity as old-school R&B songs of Sunshine Anderson, Mary J. Blige, and Chris Brown blared from a portable black speaker sitting on the sidelines.

“I’m super appreciative that [Tiyanna] is here because that’s my baddie twin,” Hayes said with a smile. “We call each other baddie twins, and we’re ready to turn Baltimore up. She’s been there with me for the last year and through tough times. Her family always supports me. My family always supports her. We’re like real-life sisters, and it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Playing through the pain

Hayes and James met not at the height of their games, but in the middle of their rebuilding. That could be a reason why their bond blossomed; sometimes, your truest friends find you when things are far from perfect. They appear during storms so you can weather them together.

To Hayes, who has played with a heavy heart throughout her collegiate career, James has been more than a teammate and friend — she’s been a sister. They do plenty together off the court, like going out to eat, shopping, and indulging in self-care activities like manicures

James entered Hayes’ life at the exact moment she needed someone most. Her presence has been a quiet blessing, a steady hand, and a panacea in the wake of unimaginable grief.

In 2021, Hayes lost both her older sister, Ojanae Tamia Thompson, and her brother, Jose, during a tragic six-month span. Her brother died from a fentanyl overdose. Her sister was riding in a car when gunfire erupted on the streets of Philadelphia. She was struck in the head, arms and chest, and died two weeks later from her wounds.

The bullet may not have touched Hayes herself, but it tore through her with the same force.

She carries her sister and brother with her, always. There are three Arabic symbols tattooed on her spine that mean “sisters forever.” The names of her brother and sister, along with dates that were significant to their lives, are tattooed on her arms — a tribute, a reminder and a promise. Hayes takes the floor with a deeper purpose each time she glances at her inked inspiration.

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Every basket, accolade, moment, and smile lift their legacy and honors their memory.

“They are living through me,” Hayes said. “Anytime I play, I just think of them and think of how proud they would be for me to be doing what [we] are doing at this stage. That’s another reason why I play. I’m nice off the court, but on the court, I’m a little feisty. …. it’s for them. I’m doing everything for them. They didn’t get to live their life to the fullest, so they’re going to live through me.”

In the emptiness that followed, James became a light for Hayes once their lives neatly intersected at Virginia State in 2023. James became laughter. James became family.

“She’s older than me as well,” Hayes said about James. “Nobody can ever have that same type of like relationship with me. It’s good to have sister figures and people that’s just there to support me and be there with me when I go low, even though I feel like I’ve been doing a good job holding my composure and smiling. … If you see me, you probably wouldn’t know what I’ve been through … because I don’t want to walk around like that. But just having people in my corner, like Tiyanna, is great, and I appreciate that every day.”

Domond has been both proud of Hayes’s growth and inspired by her indomitable spirit. The coach first noticed the 5’5 dynamo during a Christmas tournament in Washington, D.C., where Hayes willed her Neumann-Goretti team to a hard-fought victory. Her toughness, heart, and command of the game left a lasting impression. And when Domond later learned about Hayes’ story, her admiration only deepened.

She knew Hayes was a player she had to recruit, especially after she learned Hayes led her high school team to a state championship in 2022 with a brilliant 32-point performance.

“When I think about Mihjae, she’s everything I can relate to, connect with,” Domond said. “She’s just Philly tough. It’s something about a kid that comes from Philly. They’re just tough, and her resilience, her determination, her focus, and the ability to still find love and happiness and do what she does every day is a blessing. That’s hard. I don’t think that was easy for what she’s been through. It’s a makeup, something in her fabric that shows the kind of kid she is and how she’s just resilient. She’s figured out another way to find joy, happiness, and channel all that into something that she loves to do.”

Laying the foundation

As Domond paves the foundation for a new era at Morgan State, she’s creating a culture that is rooted in resilience, discipline, excellence, growth, opportunity, and belief. Taking over for longtime coach Ed Davis, who retired in March, Domond brings a championship mindset and a reputation for developing talent.

This was evident at a recent practice, in the way she consistently told her players that she wanted energy, effort, talking, and pace. Domond stopped practice to emphasize the points she wanted to make clear. Her voice rose above the music late in practice. “You can’t play pickup all day and not do the work here,” Domond told her team in a stern tone. “Don’t cheat yourself. It’s hard.”

In three seasons at Virginia State, Domond won 58 games, leading the Trojans to two CIAA semifinal appearances, a 2025 finals berth, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. VSU also posted back-to-back 20-win seasons and earned a national ranking.

A former Second Team All-Big Ten guard at Iowa, Domond learned under Hall of Fame coaches C. Vivian Stringer and Patricia Cage-Bibbs. Her coaching accolades include CIAA Coach of the Year, HBCU All-Stars Division II Coach of the Year, and 2015 SWAC Coach of the Year.

“I’m a players’ coach, so I understand what they’re going through,” Domond said. “I also know I’m a skill coach — I love developing players. Coach Stringer taught us that everything we do is transferable to life. You play whatever hand you’re dealt, and you play to win. No excuses.”

Hayes and James were a massive part of Domond’s recent successes. A sports management major, Hayes earned recognition as a member of the 2024 CIAA All-tournament team and 2024 CIAA All-backcourt team.

James, meanwhile, was named a College Sports Communications All-District Academic selection after compiling a 4.0 grade point average. James graduated from Virginia State this past spring with a degree in individual studies with a concentration in health science. Now, she’s pursuing her master’s degree in business administration at Morgan State. James, who has a passion for helping others, hopes to pursue a career in health science once her playing days are done.

But she’s not done contributing on the court just yet. James and Hayes combined to average 17.7 points and dish 143 assists last season for Virginia State.

“I think they’re just special young individuals,” Domond said of Hayes and James. “They said they wanted an opportunity to play on the Division I level. I think they were skilled enough to do that coming out of high school. They have developed and gotten better every day. And to see them come here and have the opportunity to do what they have a chance to showcase those skills and talents, I’m excited for them. The opportunity is there for them to grow, develop, and play at the highest level.”

James and Hayes fill out an already-talented roster

The Bears return eight players from last season, including exciting guard Ja’la Bannerman, a senior from Baltimore, who was a transfer from Maryland-Eastern Shore the previous season. She is Morgan State’s returning leading scorer at 8.5 points per contest. Bannerman played at Saint Frances Academy, the same school where Angel Reese and Angel McCoughtry played.

Senior guard Gabrielle Johnson, also from Baltimore, contributed 8.0 points per contest, and senior center Jael Butler scored 7.8 points per game last season. Junior guard Dakota Alston and sophomore guard Michaela Bogans played in all 30 of Morgan State’s games last season, while senior forward Success Prysock saw action in 29 contests. Maya Woodson averaged at least 10 minutes per game in the 27 games she played. They will all provide experience and stability for the Bears this upcoming season.

Johnson and Bannerman combined to make 47 3-pointers last season. They could get a few more open looks with James’ and Hayes’ playmaking ability. Bannerman is excited to play with James and Hayes.

“I’ve noticed that they are hustlers,” Bannerman said of James and Hayes. “They know a lot about the game, and I can’t wait to play with them. Mihjae is a great point guard, and I’m looking forward to playing with her. … You wouldn’t even think that they’re newcomers, especially with the way we’ve gelled. It’s like we’ve known each other for a while. And I like that. You don’t get that from a team often. It takes a long time for a team to gel together, so I feel like it’s coming along well.”

Signs of togetherness were evident during practice. Prysock and James competed in a fierce boxing-out drill underneath the basket, trading nods afterwards. They all encouraged a teammate who endured a challenging practice by fist-bumping her and whispering quiet affirmations into her ear. Players who weren’t practicing were engaged as they clapped after watching their teammates complete high-energy drills with precision.

As practice ended, the Bears gathered at center court — each player and coach sharing a personal highlight, reinforcing that this was more than just a workout. It was a step toward becoming something real. The 2025-26 Bears are excited to honor the past, embrace the present, and help build something lasting at Morgan State — together.

“It’s been great,” Hayes said of her short time at Morgan State. “I’m excited. … Just meeting new people is always good, and now I am looking forward to a new sisterhood here with our team. Playing on the Division I level, that’s going to be very exciting. So, yeah, it’s been good. I’ve been enjoying myself so far.”

Dreams not denied

Even though Domond, James, and Hayes are adjusting to their new surroundings, they know they are home. They have each other, but they also have a new set of teammates who are just as motivated to enjoy a season to remember. For the Bears, and specifically Hayes and James, this season is more than a new chapter — it’s a mission, as everything is layered with deeper meaning.

And considering the winding paths traveled, James and Hayes’ dreams may have been delayed, but not denied.

“I learned not to take anything for granted,” Hayes said. “Cherish the time you have, because you never know. Their deaths were unexpected. Tomorrow isn’t promised. I use that as a reminder not to let time slip away — to take advantage of every opportunity I get. Of course, you never want to lose your siblings, and it still hurts my heart. But that pain pushes me to go harder. For them.”

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For the life they deserved. For the little girl Hayes still is when she thinks of them. For the woman she’s becoming — because of them.

And beside her, always, is James — her “baddie twin,” her calm, her constant. Carrying each other through the hard days, celebrating the small wins.

Now, together, they’re ready to transform their shared scars into something lasting for Morgan State.

HBCU Dream Classic 2025

The rosters for the 2025 HBCU Dream Classic on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at Harlem’s famed Rucker Park were announced recently.

Division I players scheduled to compete include Taylor Williams and Soniyah Reed (Southern), Cheyenne Talbot (Hampton), Chanel Wilson and Kayla White (Bethune Cookman), SWAC Player of the Year Taleah Dilworth and Andriana Avent (Jackson State), and Danaijah Williams (Norfolk State).

Also selected to compete in the annual showcase was Destiny Ryles (Bowie State), Nytasia Braxton (Cheyney), Naja Fenelon and Gracen Kerr (Kentucky State), Anii Harris and Amesha Miller (Virginia State), Ciani Montgomery and Anyssa Fields (Lincoln, Pa.), Joy Campbell (Xavier, La.), Ciara Hardy (Benedict), Brittney Bolin (Tuskegee), and Keayna McLaughlin (Fayetteville State).

Overall, between the men’s and women’s classic, there are 28 HBCUs represented. The team names for the women are the Laney Leapers and the Vivian Stringers. The one-day event merges HBCU sports, education and traditions with urban streetball culture. 

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