NEW YORK — AT&T will be the presenting partner of the NBA HBCU Classic for the third consecutive year the NBA announced today. Classic participants Virginia Union University (VUU) and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) each will receive $100,000 from the NBA and AT&T as part of their ongoing commitment and support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Foot Locker, Google Pixel, STARRY and Under Armour will serve as associate partners of the HBCU Classic. Additionally, HBCUs will be showcased throughout the weekend through various activations and celebrations.
On Saturday, Feb. 17, coverage of the 2024 NBA HBCU Classic Presented by AT&T will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET and be simulcast on TNT, NBA TV and ESPN2, with Grant Hill, Chris Haynes and Brian Custer serving as the on-air broadcast team. ESPN hosts and HBCU alumni Stephen A. Smith (WSSU) and Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State University) will appear on telecast to discuss their HBCU experiences. SiriusXM NBA Radio will also carry an original broadcast of the game featuring play-by-play announcer Jason Jackson. As an associate partner of the NBA HBCU Classic, Under Armour will outfit both universities in custom HBCU jerseys and sneakers from its Black History Month collection.
Also taking place during NBA All-Star 2024 will be additional opportunities for the student athletes and a broader range of HBCU students focused on professional development. Other HBCU student activities and partner activations includes:
AT&T HBCU Career Development Session
In partnership with AT&T, the NBA and NBA Foundation will host a career development session for students from Winston-Salem State University, Virginia Union University, local HBCUs and AT&T Rising Future Makers. Featured guests will include NBA and AT&T executives, corporate partners and NBA staff from various departments.
NBA HBCU Classic Pep Rally at Google Pixel Combine
The Winston-Salem State University ‘Red Sea of Sound’ and Virginia Union University ‘Ambassadors of Sound’ marching bands, and each university’s cheer teams, will perform at a pep rally that’s open to fans and hosted by Google in its interactive Pixel Combine experience at Crane Bay Event Center.
NBA HBCU Classic Pre-Game Celebration
As an associate partner of the NBA HBCU Classic, STARRY will host an NBA HBCU Classic Pre-Game Celebration for fans to attend in anticipation of the Classic matchup. The brand will bring some of its NBA All-Star activations to fans with STARRY Fizz Fest, featuring hoops competitions, prizes and more. The experience will also feature DJs, Black fraternity and sorority performances, educational resources from HBCU organizations and a voter engagement activation from the NBA’s civic engagement partner, Vote.org.
NBA All-Star x HBCU Student Art Design Showcase
The NBA’s Creative Services group will host the 4th annual Student Art showcase, which aims to inspire the next generation of emerging artists and designers by providing them with mentorship, career opportunities, and increased visibility. The showcase will select six artists whose art will be featured throughout All-Star venues.
All-Star HBCU Event Intern Program
For the third year, the NBA will identify 11 HBCU students from across the country to serve as Event Interns for multiple departments within the league office while receiving hands-on career development training. The students will have the opportunity to see behind the scenes of NBA All-Star 2024 and serve in a variety of roles across various NBA league office departments.
The Virginia Union University Panthers and Winston-Salem State Rams men’s basketball programs faced off earlier this season on Nov. 19 in the Chris Paul Classic. Tickets for the 2024 NBA HBCU Classic are currently available online at https://nbaevents.nba.com/hbcu and through the NBA Events App.
