This weekend, the HBCU Hoops Invitational takes over the Walt Disney World Resort to bring together men’s and women’s basketball teams from across the HBCU landscape.
But the tournament, run by HBCU Hoops Global, Inc., is about much more than basketball.
“The HBCU Hoops Invitational is far more than a basketball tournament—it’s a powerful celebration of heritage, excellence and the limitless future of HBCU athletics,’’ said HBCU Hoops Global vice president Haywoode Workman, who is a former NBA player, NBA referee and HBCU athlete. “We are building a legacy that extends well beyond the court to open doors to academic achievement, career readiness and financial opportunity for our scholar-athletes.”
I spoke with Workman about the tournament and its importance both on and off the court.
“It all began as a 19-year-old kid playing in the CIAA in the conference championship in football….and I was the starting point guard,” said Workman.
It was his experience as a two-sport athlete at Winston-Salem State University where he first honed his experience and love for HBCUs, and as time passed and he played in the NBA and then refereed in the league, he began to realize that HBCUs were overlooked by college basketball tournament organizers.
“Hold up. There’s never been an HBCU at the Maui Invitational?” he questioned many, many years ago.
That realization shifted his focus back to college basketball and HBCUs specifically, and became the first step in creating and launching the HBCU Hoops Invitational.
“Around 2015, 2016, I decided that after I finish reffing, this is what I was going to retire to do- the HBCU Hoops Invitational.”
So almost a decade later, that vision has finally come to reality in Florida.
Taking to the court are Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Florida Memorial University and Barber-Scotia College on the men’s side, and Bethune-Cookman University, Hampton University, Edward Waters University and Cheyney University on the women’s side.
For Haywoode, this is a dream come true, but it’s not something completely new to him for not only did he have decades of experience in the sport, but he also ran his own Pro-Am, so he learned how to organize and structure tournaments and how to bring people together.
That understanding included recognizing the need to work with people who understood the HBCU culture and the communities they resided in, which then helped him to identify and contact the right teams and partners.
But the next step is what makes this tournament unique.
Workman didn’t want the tournament to just be about basketball. He understood the importance of education, so he ensured the players and schools had the necessary educational tools, resources and support to continue their studies while both in playing in Orlando and when they returned to campus.
“We earmarked certain resources out of their guarantee,” Haywoode told me, referring to the $10,000 they funnel directly to each school’s academic/educational support services.
It was something he felt he lacked when he was in college, and he wanted to ensure that that type of support wasn’t missing for the players or schools participating in the tournament.
“It helps them graduate. It helps bring in scholarships, or tutors or mentorships,” he said.
The other aspect that Workman wanted to ensure was included was the brotherhood of HBCUs, regardless of school, location or notoriety, which is why he selected schools such as Barber-Scotia College and Edward Waters University, for if you attend an HBCU, you’re part of the larger HBCU family.
“This tournament is based on the brotherhood and sisterhood of HBCUs,” he told me. “HBCUs is like playing against your cousin, and it doesn’t matter what division it is. It was just the community of HBCUs is what I saw was an open tournament.”
So once he secured the schools, educational support and HBCU cultural connection, he wanted to include individuals whose names are well known and respected in the space. Those names include legendary basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer and former Cheney basketball stars Yolanda Laney and Debra Walker.
The players and teams will compete in the tournament, but its the individuals, access, support and essence of the overall HBCU community that will make this event special.
The HBCU Hoops Invitational runs December 4th – 7th at the Walt Disney World Resort.
For tournament information, tickets and how to support the event and students, visit www.hbcuhoops.org.
