Hostos Community College graduate and men’s basketball player Tionne Palmer, ’23, is headed to Lincoln University, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in Pennsylvania, on a full scholarship!
The 6-foot-7 power forward was joined by his sister and surrounded by his Hostos coaches and teammates on Wednesday, July 12 as he signed a letter of intent to attend the university and play for their NCAA Division II basketball team.
“Today I feel good,” shared Palmer. “It’s a really big deal, and not just for me but for my family because I’m a first-generation college grad.”
The 23-year-old received offers to play at multiple schools but decided to commit to Lincoln because he was familiar with the coach and some of the players, and the school felt like “a second home.”
Palmer started playing basketball competitively as a senior in high school and received a lot of encouragement from his loved ones throughout his journey as a student-athlete. “My family is more excited than me,” he said. “They were the ones telling me to go to school and pursue basketball, so the fact that what they were telling me to do is paying off, it means a lot to me.”
As he celebrated his next chapter, Palmer also reflected on how his experiences at Hostos have impacted him. “My time at Hostos taught me to become more disciplined in all aspects of my life,” he shared. “Being in an environment where everyone around you wants to see you succeed, it gives me the motivation that I need to be a better student-athlete.”
He went on to say his coaches and Rocio Rayo, Director of Transfer Services, were especially influential during his time at the College. “As a collective they were like my home away from home,” he said. “There was never a time where I felt that I wasn't able to talk to them about anything or even ask them for help.”
Marquee Poole, Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletics Director, praised Palmer’s dedication to his sport, team and education while at Hostos and reflected on how it has all paid off. “Hostos has given him an opportunity to achieve his dream, continuing on to a four-year college, where he can go and play at a high level but also earn an opportunity to receive his bachelor’s degree,” he shared.
He later added: “Having a student-athlete like Tionne Palmer is what every coach would want.”
Palmer will enter Lincoln University as a Junior this fall and plans on majoring in Physical Education, with a concentration in Exercise Science. Looking ahead, he has his sights set on a career in physical therapy. We wish him the best of luck in all he does!