The last time a player from a historically black college made the NBA was in 2010. Work is underway to open up the pathway to the prosIn the coming weeks, tens of thousands of people will attend the Final Four of the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments. They’ll pack into raucous arenas and argue with strangers about the merits of college basketball stars – and then celebrate victory or mourn defeat with those same strangers hours later. At the center of the commotion and excitement will be eight teams, young men and women who are among the best in their sport.But there will be another group of athletes in San Antonio at the same time as the men’s Final Four is played there, and it will include the best basketball players from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The 48 players – 24 men and 24 women – are not going to be in Texas for the Final Four, but instead will compete in the 2025 HBCU All-Star Game & Experience, a six-day event that culminates in back-to-bac...
HBCU basketball players face challenges in reaching professional leagues due to systemic issues like underfunding and difficulty attracting top talent compared to larger programs. While HBCUs have had players drafted into the NBA and WNBA, representation is low, potentially discouraging future athletes. Events like the HBCU All-Star Game aim to increase exposure, but structural inequalities rooted in historical factors continue to hinder HBCU programs and players.
