HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 25, 2026) … Injuries are a part of life in sports. From serious wounds to bumps and bruises, it's something that can't be avoided and must be dealt with.

Hampton's leading scorer senior guard Michael Eley (12.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) missed nine of Hampton's 28 games with injury. He was out of action for six straight games before returning on Feb. 21 at Stony Brook. After scoring jst two points in the first half, he shook off the rust and tallied 15 in the second stanza to finish the Hampton's leading scorer with 17 points on the night.

Top playmaker, junior guard Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt (11.7 ppg, 78 asts.) was injured at Hofstra on Feb. 19.

Senior forward Christian Watson (6.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) missed seven of eight games between Jan. 10 and Feb. 19 due to injury.

Senior guard Elijah Kennedy (4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg) has missed five games including the last two.

After playing short-handed, Coach Ivan Thomas's team is getting healthy in time for season's end and the CAA Tournament.

The Game
It's Kid's Day at the Convocation Center. Area elementary school students will visit the Hampton University campus and take in the Charleston-Hampton men's basketball game. Hundreds of excited school-aged children not only will miss class for the day but will have the opportunity to cheer on the local team as the Pirates take on Charleston, one of the premier basketball team in the conference.

The two teams met earlier this season on Jan. 10 and the game went down to the wire with Charleston making 8-of-9 free throws in the final 2:22 to beat Hampton 74-70 in a nail-biter. In the final 10 minutes, the Cougars led by no more than four as the game went down to thew final seconds.

Michael Eley came off the bench to score 14 points with three rebounds in the first meeting between the two teams. Hampton's leading scorer, Eley 12.9 ppg) had a 43-point outburst at Campbell on Jan. 8. But the senior missed five straight games before coming off the bench at Stony Brook on Feb. 21. After scoring just two points in the first half, Eley finished with 17 points to lead the Pirates.
 
Forwards Xavier Long (9.8 ppg) and Daniel Johnson (9.4 ppg) are scoring threats. Long leads the CAA in rebounding with 9.7 rpg.

But Etienne Strothers has picked up the slack. Averaging 5.6 ppg on the season, Strothers but is averaging 12.6 ppg in five February games. reaching double figures four times.