Chris Paul teams with hoops hall of fame for HBCU double-header in Phoenix
Sep 23, 2021, 1:44 PM | Updated: Mar 31, 2022, 2:21 pm
Suns guard Chris Paul has partnered with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to plan a basketball series at Phoenix’s Footprint Center between two historically Black colleges and universities.
The inaugural Boost Mobile HBCU Challenge Hosted by Chris Paul includes a two-day double-header on Nov. 28-29 that will air on ESPN networks.
It will feature Norfolk State, Morgan State, Hampton and Grambling State. Times and matchups will be released at a later date.
“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,” Paul said in a press release. “My time in college is something I’ll never forget, and I hope these events gives these players something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
“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.”
Paul, who attended Wake Forest and played in the ACC during his college days in 2003-05, has supported and represented various HBCUs over the last several years.
“Chris Paul has shown unwavering support for HBCUs and brought an awareness to creating opportunities for the student-athletes at these institutions,” Naismith president and CEO John L. Doleva in a 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.”
In addition to the two games at Footprint Center, the Chris Paul HBCU Tip Off will take place Nov. 22-23 at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
This year, Morehouse College, Virginia Union, West Virginia State and Winston-Salem State will take part in that event.
