Tavon Mealy excels at most aspects of basketball, especially the winning part.

You can say the same about Walter Williams.

Virginia Union University’s Mealy and Virginia State University’s Williams both have danced to a steady drum beat of team success throughout their young careers.

Both will try and add to their legacy of victory in the 22nd Annual Freedom Classic Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Richmond Coliseum.

Under Coach Lonnie Blow Jr., defending CIAA champion VSU entered the week 11-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play after last Sunday’s victory over Livingstone College.

VUU, much improved under second-year Coach Jay Butler, began the week 12-4 overall and 4-0 in the CIAA with an 83-75 win Monday over visiting St. Augustine’s University.

Both squads have their sights set on a CIAA title and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

While VUU and VSU recruit nationally, it’s always a blessing to land quality local players such as Mealy and Williams. 

Consider their glossy credentials:

Mealy, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior, looks more suited to the gridiron than the basketball court. But don’t let his appearance fool you. As a senior at Richmond’s Armstrong High School, Mealy earned All-Region honors in helping Coach Darryl Watts’ Wildcats to a 24-4 record, arguably the best in school history.

Moving to Richard Bland College in Petersburg, Mealy was a ringleader in the Statesmen’s drive to the National Junior College Division II crown.

In the two seasons prior to Mealy arriving at VUU, the Panthers were 15-38. With Mealy, VUU has gone 26-18 over two seasons. He has been a catalyst with his powerful inside play. He averages 11.3 points per game and six rebounds while hitting .547 from the field.

“Tavon is so strong and he has great footwork,” said Coach Butler. “He played a lot of soccer when he was younger and it shows in how swiftly he moves his feet.”

Williams is another inspiring success story.

As a junior at Henrico High School, he spurred the Warriors to a runner-up finish in the state 5A Division. During his senior year, Henrico High won the title, routing Norfolk’s Norview High School 78-64 in the state final to finish 28-1.

“Walter is a talent, that is for sure,” said VSU Coach Blow. “He’s the kind of guy we like to bring in. He understands the sacrifice, what it takes to win.”

Coach Blow said either he or one of his assistants attended “almost every game” Williams played for Henrico during its glory run to the state title.

Landing Williams helped jump-start a VSU program long overdue for a first-place trophy.

When Williams arrived at VSU in the fall of 2015, VSU hadn’t won a CIAA title since 1988. With his help, the Trojans won the CIAA and advanced to the NCAA playoffs.

As a sophomore, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound wing is averaging eight points and three rebounds per game, with 15 3-point hits.

When it comes to spectacular dunks, few are more entertaining than the high flyer from Henrico.

“I just try and get better every day, to be a good teammate,” said Williams. “If you put the time in during practice, it becomes muscle memory in games.”

This will be the first of two VUU-VSU matchups this winter that will go a long way in determining the CIAA Northern Division champ.

The backyard rivals will meet again at 4 p.m. Feb. 4, at VUU’s Barco-Stevens Hall. It marks first time VSU will have traveled to VUU’s gymnasium in some time.

Last year, VSU played VUU at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center in Richmond. For several years previously, the Trojans and the Panthers met at Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center as part of the Big Apple Classic.

One person who might be riding the fence for this year’s Freedom Classic is Vance Harmon.

VUU alumnus Harmon was a member of the Panthers’ 1992 NCAA Division II national championship team. But more recently, he was Williams’ coach at Henrico High School.