Chris Paul has advocated for HBCU schools and universities over the last few seasons. He’s worn HBCU apparel and added HBCU messaging to his sneakers.
Yesterday he announced another building block to his foundation of HBCU support.
The Phoenix Suns guard will host the inaugural Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge on Nov. 28-29 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ.
“I’m so excited for the chance to give these players the opportunity to experience something not usually available to HBCU student-athletes and compete on a national stage,” said Paul in a news release.
The doubleheader features Norfolk State, Morgan State, Hampton, and Grambling State and it will be broadcast by ESPN networks.
This is another major opportunity for HBCUs to showcase their programs to a national audience, something they lacked over the last few years.
“My time in college is something I’ll never forget, and I hope these events give these players something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” said Paul. “I sincerely appreciate the collaboration of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Phoenix Suns to bring this to life, and I can’t thank the team over at Boost Mobile enough for their support of this event.”
The event will be operated by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, which positions it as part of the Hall of Fame’s “series of collegiate events with the mission to continue to grow, celebrate, and promote the game at all levels.”
The HBCU Challenge is the second HBCU basketball event Paul is organizing with these partners.
On November 22nd and 23rd, they will be sponsoring and hosting the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Those games will feature Morehouse College, Virginia Union University, West Virginia State University, and Winston-Salem State University.
“Chris Paul has shown unwavering support for HBCUs and brought an awareness to creating opportunities for the student-athletes at these institutions,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in a news release. “The Hall of Fame is proud to share in Chris’s vision and bring this event to life alongside Boost Mobile and the Phoenix Suns.”
Thanks to Chris Paul, Boost Mobile, and the Basketball Hall of Fame, everyone will have the opportunity to appreciate the talents of HBCU basketball programs.
