Per week and a half earlier than the SLAM Summer time Basic Vol. 6 shut down Rucker Park, the legendary Harlem playground hosted one other particular occasion that’s develop into a New York basketball summer time staple: the HBCU All-Star Dream Basic. After a profitable inaugural occasion in 2023, it returned this 12 months greater and higher.
Harlem native Darryl Roberts is the founding father of Bridging Structural Holes, a nonprofit that spearheads the HBCU All-Star Dream Basic. Like many younger hoopers, he dreamed of enjoying at a excessive main. As a substitute, his alternative got here at Lincoln College, the nation’s first degree-granting HBCU. “I fell in love with HBCU tradition. My HBCU basis is pure and genuine,” Darryl says. “And so are my Harlem roots.
“Anyone who hasn’t lived beneath a manhole cowl understands that Harlem is the epicenter of Black excellence, Black tradition and Black creativity,” he provides. “So after we have been searching for a location [for the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic], there was no second alternative as a result of we needed to do issues exterior of sports activities to encourage youngsters as effectively.”
This 12 months’s Basic had all of it: an HBCU useful resource heart; meals from Charles Pan-Fried Hen on the adjoining handball courts; AKAs strolling by, and a youth marching band enjoying throughout sport breaks. There have been boosters chanting from the baseline; traditional Marvin Gaye blasting from the audio system. And even Harlem’s personal Pee Wee Kirkland. If you happen to didn’t know any higher, you’d suppose you have been on the Biggest Homecoming on Earth.
Nonetheless, the principle cause that lots of of individuals gathered on this present day was to look at 40 of the most effective HBCU hoopers within the nation placed on a present. After a tightly contested and action-packed ladies’ sport that set the tone, the boys’ sport that adopted was simply as thrilling. Each video games have been full of highlights galore, prime examples of the overshadowed but high-level expertise that floods the HBCU basketball neighborhood and the way they will compete with the most effective of ’em.
HBCU basketball has traditionally lacked advertising and marketing and promotion in comparison with its PWI counterparts, however that tide is popping slowly however absolutely. They could by no means be capable to take care of high-majors in terms of sources, however the HBCU hoops expertise is second to none, and the HBCU All-Star Dream Basic exhibits it on full show, making a loud and strong narrative about HBCUs, HBCU conferences and the HBCU life-style.
“For us, the scoreboard isn’t essential,” says Darryl. “Our mission assertion is to offer alternative, entry and sources to assist folks make higher life selections.”
Generally, that “higher life alternative” means sticking to your roots and etching your title within the lovely material of HBCU tradition.
Images by Curtis Rowser III.
