- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

SpectacuaLR Raises More than $433,000 for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student-Athletes in Record-Setting Night

John Hill — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:25:10 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock raised more than $433,000 to support the university’s over 270 Trojan student-athletes during a record-setting night for on Oct. 7. The 13th annual SpectacuaLR event honored Cindy and Warren Simpson, long-time supporters of Trojan Athletics and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Warren Simpson currently serves on the Trojan Athletic Council, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors, and is a past president of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation Board. “We are so grateful and appreciative of everything Cindy and Warren have done for our department and their support of our Little Rock student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics George Lee. “It’s only fitting that with everything they’ve done that this year’s event set the record for money raised. It certainly would not have possible without their continued help and support.” This year, The Massey Family Charitable Foundation, Harriet A. and Warren C. Stephens, Dillard’s, and Becky and Gus Blass served as presenting sponsors for the event, which brought in more than 600 attendees that had the opportunity to meet and talk with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student-athletes for whom these funds will directly benefit. This year’s event also featured a casino theme, with Fisher Court transforming into a SpectacuaLR casino with attendees able to redeem their chips for raffle tickets. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock serves as a strong economic engine for our local economy and what is best for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and Little Rock Athletics is best for our city,” Warren Simpson said. Over the past 13 years, SpectacuaLR��has raised nearly $3 million since its inaugural event in 2009. Those generous donations are used to help fund the 15 Trojan athletic programs, benefiting more than 270 student-athletes that represent Little Rock’s Team.

Trojan Baseball To Hold Walk-On Tryouts Friday, August 28

John Hill — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:02:54 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold a walk-on tryout for the baseball team Friday, August 28, at 1 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field. In order to participate in the tryout, participants must: Be a full-time ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student and bring with them a print out of their fall 2020 schedule (12 hours minimum) and their T number, proof of physical exam within the last six months, proof of sickle cell test within the last six months, proof of a negative COVID test taken between Aug. 21-28, copy of their insurance card, must be enrolled with the NCAA Eligibility Center, and a completed Little Rock Tryout and Walk-On Clearance Form, available Additionally, participants will need to bring with them all their own gear to participate in the tryout, which will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Masks will be required to be worn throughout the facility. For more information, contact assistant coach R.D. Spiehs at rdspiehs@ualr.edu.

Former Trojan signs deal with NBA’s Utah Jazz

John Hill — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 18:43:46 +0000

A former Trojan basketball player, Rayjon Tucker, has been signed to the Utah Jazz. Tucker signed with the Jazz after spending the first part of the season with the Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. He started 16 games for the Herd, averaging 23.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 33.8 minutes per game. Tucker was shooting 49.4 percent from the floor and had eclipsed the 30-point mark in each of his last three games. Tucker put together one of the best seasons in program history in 2018-19, ranking fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring average at 20.3 points per game while becoming just the fifth player in program history to score 600 points in a season. Tucker finished with 610, ranking fourth all-time, while sitting fifth in the league in field goal percentage (49.1%). The Charlotte, North Carolina native was a mainstay on the court for Little Rock last season, ranking 34th��nationally in minutes per game at 36:32, playing 35 or more minutes in 23 of his 30 games. Tucker closed the regular season ranked 26th��nationally in free throws made at 164 (ranking fourth in program history) and connected on 77.7% of his free throw attempts, ranking eighth in the Sun Belt Conference. A scoring threat all over the court, Tucker finished with 72 three-pointers made in 2018-19, ranking sixth in the league and 12th for a single season in program history, while ranking 10th in the Sun Belt in rebounding (6.7), and third in defensive rebounds (6.0). He also finished the year with 27 dunks and six double-doubles, scoring in double figures in 29 of his 30 games while scoring 20 or more points on 15 occasions. Tucker was named second team All-Sun Belt Conference, as well as a second team NABC All-District 24 selection. He finished his collegiate career with 1,061 career points, including the 471 he scored in two seasons while at Florida Gulf Coast. He is the ninth player in program history to sign a deal with an NBA franchise and the first since Shane Edwards signed a mid-season deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 season.

Little Rock’s Team will face Little Rock firefighters to help battle hunger in Arkansas

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:37:03 +0000

A battle royal between Little Rock’s Team and Little Rock’s bravest will help fight hunger in Arkansas.�� The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock baseball team will take on firefighters from the city of Little Rock during a charity softball match that will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at Gary Hogan Field in Curran Conway Park. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock head baseball coach Chris Curry said his team is looking forward to the challenge of playing the firefighters for a good cause. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner for the first time with the Little Rock Fire Department Local #34 Station,” Curry said. “Matthew Stallings (a firefighter) and I have been working to try to put this charity softball game together for a couple years. We were finally able to make it work and to partner with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the Trojan Food Pantry at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.”�� Tickets are $5 per person or a donation of canned food items. All proceeds will go to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Trojan Food Pantry and the.�� “I hope it will be a fun night with a lot of laughs. It will be a good fun competition game between the baseball team and the Little Rock firefighters,” Curry said. “I hope that folks will come out. You can bring $5 or canned food to get in free. We’re expecting great weather. I hope the community will support us.”

Lee to Lead ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Athletic Department

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:10:09 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Christy Drale has named George Lee, current senior associate athletic director and CFO, as the new athletic director for the . Lee, who joined the Athletics Department 23 years ago as business manager, assumes the position Nov. 1. He replaces Chasse Conque, who left the university in August to become vice chancellor and AD at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “George Lee’s experience with our Trojan Athletics program, along with his thorough understanding of every aspect of NCAA Division I collegiate athletics, make him highly qualified for the position,” said Drale. “He is well respected by his colleagues and is dedicated to the success of our student athletes. This two-year appointment will give us the opportunity to review and strengthen our program under the leadership of someone who knows the program well, understands our mission, and has critical institutional insight.” Lee thanked Dr. Drale for the opportunity. “We have an outstanding program of coaches and staff who will help me continue to move ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Athletics forward,” he said. “Our student-athletes are talented not only in their respective sports but also in the classroom. Last year our athletes’ GPA average was one of the highest percentages in program history.” The new athletic director pointed out that this is the university’s inaugural year of men’s wrestling, and many fans are enthusiastic about starting the state’s only Division I wrestling program. Lee commended the members of the Trojan Athletic Foundation for their support and assistance in raising funds for the program and helping raise the profile of the Trojans. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without them and all of our fans and supporters over the years,” he said. “We will continue to lean on them and the community to back Little Rock’s Team and generate enthusiasm for the program.” Lee urged central Arkansans to come out to beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the Jack Stephens Center. Men’s and women’s basketball coaches, players, and the Trojans Dance Team will be introduced during an evening of activities and refreshments. Season ticket holders can pick up their tickets and schedules for the 2019-20 season. A 1987 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he is married to Joni Lee, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock vice chancellor of University Affairs. They have two children.

DeGray named Sun Belt Athlete of the Year

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 13:25:11 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock forward Ronjanae DeGray, a two-time first team all-conference honoree, was named the Sun Belt Conference’s 2018-19 Athlete of the Year Oct. 7 as part of the league’s annual honors celebration event in New Orleans. The Sun Belt Athlete of the Year award, which annually recognizes one female and one male student-athlete, is the highest individual honor given and based on athletic performance, academic success, outstanding leadership, and character. DeGray is the third female student-athlete from Little Rock to earn the honor and fifth overall, joining Rashad Jones-Jennings (2006-07), Chastity Reed (2010-11), Solomon Bozeman (2010-11), and Edina Begic (2014-15). She was honored alongside Georgia Southern men’s golfer Steven Fisk. “On behalf of the conference, I want to congratulate Ronjanae and Steven on receiving this honor. They epitomize what being a Sun Belt student-athlete is all about,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill. DeGray led Little Rock to a share of the 2018-19 Sun Belt regular-season title and conference tournament title. The two-time, All-Sun Belt first-team selection averaged a team-leading 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. DeGray capped her career as a member of the school’s 1,000-point club (1,234 points) and all-time leader in field goal percentage (.485) and free throw percentage (.775). “I am very proud of the accomplishments Ronjanae has earned and this is certainly a great accomplishment for her and her team,” said Little Rock women’s basketball head coach��Joe Foley. “Ronjanae stood out as an enthusiastic, goal-oriented basketball player who was dedicated to the game and always remained very positive. It was through that hard work and dedication that she improved and rose to the top of the Sun Belt. This is a great honor for her and her teammates who helped her achieve so much. She was and continues to be a great ambassador for our program and our school.” In her four years playing for the Trojans, the Odessa, Texas, native was a part of four postseason tournament appearances – two NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship and two Postseason WNIT. Little Rock was also recognized during the festivities as part of the Graduation Achievement Awards as an athletic department that achieved a student-athlete graduation rate higher than the general body.

Outstanding Women of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock: Ronjanae and Raeyana DeGray

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 19:45:05 +0000

In honor of Women’s History Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is featuring stories about the “Outstanding Women of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” faculty, staff, students, and alumni who are serving as leaders and making a difference for the university and their communities. �� Twin sisters and have made a name for themselves as star players on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s basketball team.�� After finishing their fourth and final season at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, the student-athletes are set to graduate in May and ready to take the next step in life. Not only is Ronjanae the Sun Belt Conference’s Co-Player of the Year, the senior forward is also a future educator who interns as a special-education teacher at Bale Elementary School. “Special education has been a passion of mine since high school. I enjoy helping students that have difficulties that most students have not had,” she said. “I’m reminded every day that life is precious.” Some of Ronjanae’s students saw her in action in March when they took a school field trip to the Jack Stephens Center to watch the Trojans play. “The students came to the locker room and took pictures and got to meet the other players,” she said. “The next day in school, they were all excited and talking about the game.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock women’s basketball player Ronjanae DeGray (right) battles against South Alabama. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

Raeyana will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and minor in marketing. After graduation, she plans to stay in the sports world by working as a sports analyst. “I’ve always been into sports, and I love to talk about sports and watch sports,” she said. “Being a student-athlete, I thought it would be fun to stay involved in sports in a different way.” The DeGrays are finishing their basketball careers on an incredible season. The Trojans ended the season as Sun Belt Conference champions, finishing atop the conference and making an NCAA Tournament appearance for the second straight season. The sisters are the only two of the Trojans’ four seniors who played during all four seasons at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “During my freshman year, I saw the boys go to the NCAA tournament and saw how fun it was for them,” Raeyana said. “Being able to experience how they felt when they went to the NCAA tournament as a junior and senior was the most memorable experience for me at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The DeGrays are the daughters of Ronald DeGray and Donelle Harris and have a younger brother, Ronald, and a younger sister,��Ramiyah. Since their mother worked in corrections, the family often traveled for her work, and the sisters lived in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Colorado, and Tennessee while growing up. Both sisters identify their mother and grandmothers as the women they look up to the most. “My mom and my grandmothers have shown me that no matter what your circumstances are, it’s always your job as a woman to get the job done without making any excuses,” Raeyana said. “A lot of the women in my family are very strong, especially my mother and grandmothers,” Ronjanae added. “They are in the church constantly. When the odds are stacked against you, they always lean on God, and I do that because of the example they have given me all my life.” The DeGrays have been playing basketball with their family since they were kids and said a love of basketball runs in their blood. “We started playing basketball competitively when we were in the fourth grade,” Ronjanae said. “Basketball is in my family. Our parents played basketball at the community college where they met, and our mother played at the University of Texas at San Antonio.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock forward Raeyana DeGray is surrounded by Texas State defenders during the Trojan’s game at the Jack Stephens Center. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

While some people find the idea of playing basketball at the college level with your twin sister interesting, the sisters say it’s not as exciting as people might think. “We’ve been playing together pretty much all our lives,” Raeyana said. “It’s cool to have someone to share your experiences with, but it’s like having another teammate you go home to.” As student-athletes, the DeGrays and their teammates are active volunteers who give back to the community that supports Little Rock’s Team. “We do a lot of volunteering with children,” Raeyana said. “We play basketball with children with special needs. We’ve visited the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Giving back to our community lets people know that we appreciate their support and that we are not just people with jerseys running up and down the court. We appreciate the community!”

Page promoted to assistant athletic director for ticketing

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 14:55:29 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics��Chasse Conque��has announced the promotion of��Casey Page��to assistant athletic director for ticketing. Page has previously served as the Trojans’ director of ricketing since August of 2016.�� “We are grateful to Casey Page��for her hard work and dedication to Little Rock Athletics over the past two years,” Conque said. “Casey has brought to our team a high level of professionalism and has helped our external team grow while stabilizing our ticket operation. Casey has a bright future in this industry and we look forward to working with her in this elevated role.” In her role as director of ticketing, Page has overseen the ticketing efforts for Trojan Athletics, working extensively with season and individual tickets for men’s and women’s basketball. She has been a key figure in aiding with ticket operations for Trojan postseason events, including the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament and the Sun Belt Conference Tournaments the past two years. Page has also coordinated Little Rock ticketing efforts for baseball and volleyball, as well as assisting in the execution of a number of department events such as Spectac��Vlog��ýLR, Lettermens’ Weekend and the Little Rock Golf Shamble. Page’s experience in ticketing encompasses time spent with the athletic department at ��Vlog��ýB, along with working ticket operations for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and the Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball team.

Trojans will take on Razorbacks for first time in program history

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 19:39:46 +0000

For the first time in program history, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas teams will face each other during the upcoming season. The Trojans will battle the Razorbacks on April 2, 2019, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. This will be the first time the Razorbacks will host a fellow University of Arkansas system school in baseball. The Razorbacks will also host the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions on April 16. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is coming off a 28-win season in 2018, its best record since 2013. The team advanced to the second round of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference tournament after spending the majority of the regular season in first place in the Sun Belt West Division. Nearly the entire Little Rock roster will remain intact heading into 2019, losing just three seniors from the 2018 squad. Little Rock head coach Chris Curry is a former assistant under Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn. Van Horn enters his 17th season at the helm of the ��Vlog��ý baseball team and is coming off his best season as head coach. He guided the Razorbacks to their ninth College World Series and a national runner-up finish for the second time in school history. Arkansas finished 2018 with 48 wins. The Razorbacks hosted its seventh NCAA Regional and third Super Regional tournament in school history at Baum Stadium. “It’s exciting to have Little Rock and Arkansas-Pine Bluff as part of our 2019 non-conference schedule,” Van Horn said. “It’s going to be great for the game of baseball in our state. Baseball has improved so much at the high school level in the state of Arkansas. I continue to see it every year when we’re recruiting. We see more Arkansas kids coming out of the state, and they’re a big part of our program. I think this will help grow baseball. The fan interest is there, and it’ll be big. I know after talking to Coach Curry and Coach (Carlos) James, they’re both very excited to have the opportunity to play at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. We’ll have a really good crowd. It’ll be good for all our teams to play in that type of environment.”

Trojans take part in summer baseball leagues

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:20:20 +0000

As the hot summer months begin, a number of Trojan baseball players are keeping busy playing in summer leagues across the country. These leagues have served as a crucial part of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s player development.�� “Summer ball is very important to us and is key to our player development,” said head coach . “We’re fortunate to have three guys in the most elite summer league in the country (Cape Cod), as well as guys playing in Florida and in the north, and our team is committed to getting better this summer.” Three Trojans are playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League in Massachusetts with pitcher and catcher teaming up together, playing for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. They’ll face a familiar face when they take on the Wareham Gateman as pitcher will suit up for the Gatemen. Three Trojans are also competing in the Northwoods League, located throughout the upper Midwest. Utility player made his debut for the Bismarck (North Dakota) Larks Tuesday evening, driving in a bases clearing three-run double in his first at-bat. He’ll see a pair of his Trojan teammates during the season as pitcher is playing for the Fon Du Lac Dock (Wisconsin) Spiders, already notching a save with six strikeouts in four appearances. Outfielder�� will be suiting up for the Kalamazoo (Michigan) Growlers once he is cleared to play as well. Infielder is spending the summer in Florida, playing for the Sanford Monarchs of the Florida Futures League and registering a pair of hits in his first two appearances to date. “We’ve got a bunch of guys who have made it a priority to accept their summer assignments and go out and get better,” Curry said. “Summer has been the difference between some guys playing and some guys not and we’re excited to see how these players respond.”

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

SpectacuaLR Raises More than $433,000 for ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Student-Athletes in Record-Setting Night