Founder Travis Williams’ public relations team, Mahogany Xan Communications,  didn’t have an HBCU school in Arizona to market the event’s third installment. Still, his people produced a masterclass in community engagement and strategic marketing efforts. They worked tirelessly to engage local businesses, universities, and city officials well ahead of the event.

Here are three critical takeaways for how inclusive engagement leads to overwhelming success:

Strategic Partnerships 

The PR team understood the importance of developing early and strong community ties in Phoenix. They partnered with local businesses, civic leaders, city officials, and significant sponsors, even in an area with no HBCU presence.

Inclusive Marketing 

The inclusive marketing efforts beyond HBCUs to the local and surrounding universities, Greek organizations, and social clubs demonstrate the unifying power of sports and community.

Diversified Outreach  

The approach included not just HBCU fans but also broader demographics, suggesting integration with local culture and businesses as a key to replicating this success in future events.

Special thanks to our Founding Sponsor @aflacduck on their generous donation to continue supporting our HBCU student-athletes. #hbcuallstargame #thebestinblackcollegebasketball pic.twitter.com/iOiTIRiByJ

— HBCU All-Star Game (@HBCUAllStarGame) April 8, 2024

In Phoenix, Black business leaders were pivotal in promoting the event and actively partaking in its planning. The synergy between the event and black entrepreneurs is a blueprint worth replicating.  

The HBCU All-Star Game’s foray into Phoenix has laid down a marker on how to engage and excite a regional audience, demonstrating that the appeal of HBCU sports transcends geographical and institutional boundaries.

Year 3⃣ Sold out arena pic.twitter.com/8QOTqdh9Vl

— HBCU All-Star Game (@HBCUAllStarGame) April 8, 2024

As the fourth annual HBCU All-Star Game heads to San Antonio, partnerships with Black and Hispanic businesses could be formed, offering access to a diverse economic and cultural pool.

Founder Travis Williams will introduce 24 of the best and brightest HBCU basketball all-stars who hope to take their careers to the next level. Today’s game aims to help advance their career options as professionals in the NBA, G League, Europe, or China.

“This is history in the making once again to host the first-ever HBCU All-Star Game in the Valley of the Sun and in a part of the country where HBCUs do not exist,” said Williams. “As always, I am just being obedient to this God-driven vision that was founded in 2019, and it has been a long journey and dream come true to get to this point in year #3. We will continue honoring and celebrating the rich history, tradition, and contributions of HBCUs to the sport of college basketball. I am truly excited in year #3 with our founding partner Aflac and expect to put on another great event in Phoenix. This year, Aflac will be returning as the official sponsor of the HBCU All-Star game.”

“At Aflac, we have a long history of recognizing and supporting historically black colleges and universities. The HBCU All-Star Game is a wonderful expression of the HBCU experience and does a tremendous job in shining the spotlight on these highly talented players,” said Garth Knutson, Chief Marketing Officer of Aflac. “We know that there continues to be a gap in recognizing and celebrating the talent these students offer, and we are excited to deepen once again our commitment to closing this gap for HBCU students, on and off the court, as an official sponsor of the HBCU All-Star basketball game.”

THE 3RD ANNUAL HBCU ALL-STAR GAME TEAM ROSTERS

Team Rick Mahorn (MEAC, SIAC, Independents All-Stars)

1. Fred Cleveland Jr, North Carolina Central University (MEAC) PG 5’9
2. Chris Martin, Clark Atlanta University (SIAC) PG 6’2
3. Raquan Brown, South Carolina State University (MEAC) SG 6’3
4. Ja’Darius Harris, North Carolina Central University (MEAC) SG 6’3
5. Christian Brown, Tennessee State University (INDEP) SG 6’6
6. Allen Betrand, Norfolk State University (MEAC) SG 6’5
7. Asanti Price, Benedict College (SIAC) SG 6’5
8. Christian Wells, LeMoyne-Owen College (SIAC) SF 6’5
9. Tedrick Wilcox Jr., Hampton University (INDEP) SF 6’6
10.  Seth Towns, Howard University (MEAC) SF/PF 6’9
11. Jordan Simpson, Albany State University (SIAC) PF/C 6’9
12. Jason Jitoboh, Tennessee State University (INDEP) C 6’11

Coaches: Levelle Moton – Head Men’s Basketball Coach at North Carolina Central University; Alfred Jordan – Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Clark Atlanta University

Game faces on! Tune in to the HBCU All-Star Game tomorrow! Sunday, April 7 at 4 p.m. ET on CBS. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET pic.twitter.com/mBjXlGZv3I

— HBCU All-Star Game (@HBCUAllStarGame) April 7, 2024

Team Ben Wallace (SWAC & CIAA HBCU All-Stars)

1. PJ Henry, Texas Southern University (SWAC) PG 5’10
2. Dhashon Dyson, Bethune-Cookman University (SWAC) CG 6’1
3. Brandon Davis, Southern University (SWAC) CG 6’1
4. Rashad Williams, Univ. Arkansas at Pine Bluff (SWAC) SG 6’2
5. Tra’Michael Moton, Grambling State University (SWAC) SG 6’2
6. Jaylen Alston, Winston-Salem State University (CIAA) SF 6’4
7. Tre Richardson, Elizabeth City State University (CIAA) SF 6’4
8. Charles Smith, Prairie View A&M University (SWAC) SG 6’5
9. Rayquan Brown, Mississippi Valley State University (SWAC) SG 6’6
10. Jordan O’Neal, Jackson State University (SWAC) PF 6’7
11. Jeremiah Kendall, Alcorn State University (SWAC) PF 6’7
12. Jourdan Smith, Grambling State University (SWAC) PF 6’7

Coaches: Johnny Jones, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Texas Southern University; Jason Armstrong, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Lincoln University (PA)

2024 HBCU ALL-STARS HONOREES

HBCU ALL-STARS National Coaches & Players of the Year for NCAA Division I & II

• HBCU All-Stars John McLendon NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year
• Donte’ Jackson – Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Grambling State University

HBCU All-Stars Art McAfee NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year

• Alfred Jordan – Head Men’s Basketball Coach Clark Atlanta University

HBCU All-Stars Sam Jones NCAA Division I National Player of the Year

• Fred Cleveland Jr. – North Carolina Central University

HBCU All-Stars Earl “the Pearl” Monroe NCAA Division II National Player of the Year

• Chris Martin – Clark Atlanta University

* Article initially posted on HBCU Legends

After leading Grambling to a historic season, Donte Jackson became the first coach to win the Jobe Award twice, having previously won the award in 2018.

Grambling won the SWAC regular season championship for the second consecutive season, finishing with a 24-9 record and defeated nemesis Texas Southern in the SWAC conference tournament title game.

Jackson has a 120-102 record in seven seasons at Grambling, including an 80-42 mark in SWAC games.

“Donte Jackson has rewritten the narrative about Grambling basketball in the Division I era,” Angela Lento, Vice President of CollegeInsider.com said. Prior to his arrival, the program struggled for decades, finishing above .500 in conference play just eight times in 40 years. He has taken Grambling from second-division status to the top of the SWAC. Donte Jackson is the best coach in Grambling’s Division I history.”

The Ben Jobe Award is named in honor of one of the most iconic coaches in the history of basketball at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (HBCUs). He is best known as the head coach of Southern University, a position he held for 12 seasons. He was also head coach at Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Talladega, Tuskegee, and South Carolina State.

His record at Southern was 209-141, including four NCAA Tournament appearances. He coached the Jaguars to one NIT appearance, five SIAC championships, 11 SWAC titles, and two NAIA Tournament Championships. Perhaps his most memorable moment as a coach was
leading No. 15 seed Southern to a 93-78 win over No. 2 Georgia Tech in the first round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. It stands as one of the great upsets in the event’s history.

Coach Jobe passed away on March 10, 2017.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches and two senior staff members of Collegeinsider.com.

JACKSON STATE AND TOMEKIA REED’S APPEAL

The illuminating star power of Tomekia Reed, Miya Crump, and Angel Jackson competing against Geno Auriemma, Alliyah Edwards, and Paige Bueckers was enough to attract 1.1 million viewers. Sponsors must have been elated with the numbers.

Fans tuned in to First Round #NCAAWBB #MarchMadness on ESPN platforms

Most-consumed First Rd on record (1.5B total mins)
Iowa/Holy Cross: 3.2M viewers, most-viewed First Rd game on record
UConn/Jackson State: 1.1M viewers, 3rd most-viewed First Rd game on record pic.twitter.com/QpBqg7oNkC

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) March 26, 2024

Considering the competition began at 1:00 PM Eastern on a Saturday afternoon, the appeal of attracting a nationwide audience was a bold strategic move, and it paid off for ABC and ESPN.

This spring, students across four HBCUs — Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Jackson State University and Morgan State University — will have a shot at more than $333,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a chance to secure an NIL deal traditionally reserved for student-athletes, giving a student a first-of-its-kind opportunity to become one of the new faces of STARRY.   The winner will get an all-expenses paid trip to Kia NBA Tip-Off later this year. And like a true star with an NIL deal, their name, image and likeness will be featured on promotional materials for STARRY FIZZ FEST 2.0.  

No stranger to holding his own in an arena, Lil Durk is showing students how any fan can have the skills to win and will be making a surprise campus appearance to check out the competition.

“Being competitive doesn’t just apply to sport, life itself is about hunger, drive and teamwork.  This initiative is about rewarding students for their grind on and off the court, showing love and supporting our people while chasing their dreams,” Lil Durk said.   For the stars off the court, STARRY is also partnering with the PepsiCo Foundation to unlock $80,000 in scholarships across the four universities.   The PepsiCo Foundation will award $20,000 to one student at each university to go towards their education to help foster their long-term educational and professional growth.  Eligible students can apply online.

“Our mission with STARRY FIZZ FEST is to bring the excitement to basketball fans that the brand is known for while rewarding HBCU students for their passion, amplifying their talent, and offering opportunities that positively impact these universities, their students and their communities,” Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations and Multicultural Development, PepsiCo said.

STARRY FIZZ FEST will tip off at Norfolk State University on March 29, followed by Hampton University on April 1, Jackson State University on April 20 and Morgan State University on April 26. Participating students will get the chance to play S-T-A-R-R-Y (a spin on the popular game of H-O-R-S-E), 3PT Knockout (a three-point shootout contest reflective of the STARRY NBA All-Star and HBCU Classic tailgate footprint), and Shaky Shot (inspired by the classic arcade game, with a moving backboard) to claim prizes like STARRY merch and gift cards. For the game of S-T-A-R-R-Y, students will have three minutes to earn six letters by successfully scoring specified shots around the court until a participant spells out S-T-A-R-R-Y where the fastest time on campus wins. One winner from each school will represent their campus at a final competition to showcase their skills and earn major bragging rights.

The SWAC’s Grambling State defeated Montana State, 88-81 in the “First Four” tournament game.   Howard University represented the MEAC in the tournament’s first round. Although both teams lost their first-round contests, the conferences will still receive the payments.   

The distribution will be in six payments, starting at $342,000 in 2025 and rising approximately 3% annually.

Black Sports Insiders contacted the SWAC and MEAC to determine how the conferences distributed the performance fund but haven’t received confirmation from their representatives.  

Cortez Mosley sealed the win with a breakaway dunk, increasing the lead to 56-52 with 10.4 seconds remaining in the semifinal. He led the Lions with 16 points and added four rebounds. D’Monte Brown ended the match, making his five final shots while giving the Lions 12 points and four rebounds. Anthony Roy scored nine points, cleared seven rebounds, and posted five assists in the victory.