Former Lady Tiger Amari Heard Named to HBCU All-Star Dream Classic

Amari Heard (#23) pictured in a game against Benedict College in 2023.

Former Lady Tiger Amari Heard Named to HBCU All-Star Dream Classic

Amari Heard, a 2023 SSU graduate and former Lady Tigers basketball standout, has been selected to participate in the HBCU Allstar Dream Classic, Aug. 10, 2024 at historic Rucker Park in Harlem, New York. Designed to promote HBCU players, the event will feature men’s and women’s Allstar games showcasing the best HBCU players from across the nation.

Heard earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and blossomed as a student-athlete on and off the court. Her wingspan and athletic 6’1 frame gave her an edge on defense even as her offensive play was developing.

“I was grateful and honored to be selected [to] play amongst some of the best HBCU female athletes,” said Heard. “I’m forever grateful for Savannah State as it has molded me into the young woman/athlete I am today.”

The forward from West Point, Mississippi clinched the 2020 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Freshman of the Year and 2023 First-Team All-SIAC Representative honors and led the Tigers to their 2023 Eastern Division title.

Long-time SSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Cedric Baker vividly remembers Heard’s journey at SSU.

“Coming to Savannah State University, she was academically prepared and initially very subtle in her own ways,” said Baker. “As time progressed, she embraced the community and the responsibilities that come with being a college athlete.”

One memorable game for coach Baker came last season when Heard scored 25 points and tallied six steals in a home game against Miles College. “She did her thing and flourished in the open court,” said Baker.

And he added, “Today I would best describe her as being loyal, competitive and one who exemplifies a great deal of pride. She sacrificed a lot both personally and professionally to be a student-athlete at Savannah State University. I'm a better coach and we're a better program because of her tenure and her commitment to winning games and graduating.”

The HBCU Allstar Dream Classic brings together players from 40 HBCUs and selected Northeastern colleges who are eligible to play for NBA, WNBA, ABA, Big 3, European and other professional leagues. The HBCU Allstar Dream Classic is part of the HBCU Allstar Dream Classic Week.

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