Michael B. Jordan launches “Hoop Dreams Classic” to showcase HBCU athletes

Written for The Link Entertainment by

Kiara Desirai, Author at The Link Entertainment

Actor Michael B. Jordan is working to promote HBCUs around the country with the student-athletes benefits from them. The “Hoop Dreams Classic” will be a basketball showcase featuring the nation’s top Division 1 HBCU men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Jordan plans to launch the program December 18th in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center. A portion of the earnings from the event will be donated to groups in the Newark region that support HBCUs.

“As a Newark native, I am committed to bringing change to the community and am honored to be able to present The Hoop Dreams Classic as a way to celebrate the value of community, education, and Black college experiences. Through our shared love of basketball, I look forward to bringing the communal spirit of HBCUs to the city that helped shape me into the man I am today.” Jordan stated.

To amplify HBCUs and their student-athletes, Jordan will produce a one-day event where a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to organizations working to advance HBCUs in the Newark area.

HBCU Gameday reported that the event will include two games featuring two of the biggest rivalries in HBCU basketball: North Carolina A&T versus Howard, and North Carolina Central versus Hampton.

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Jackson State Coach Deion Sanders blasts NFL for overlooking HBCU players in 2021 draft

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Kiara Desirai, Author at The Link Entertainment

Coach Deion Sanders was disappointed that not one player from an Historically Black College or University (HBCU) qualified for the 2021 NFL Draft.

“Our kids are being neglected and rejected” expressed Sanders through an Instagram post.

Sanders tagged the NFL and its network, along with CBS Sports, NBC, ABC, TV One, the NBA on TNT, Fox Sports, and others.

Sanders also retweeted The Undefeated’s tweet to show his disappointment in this year’s draft stating, “There were 259 picks in the 2021 #NFLDraft – not a single draft pick featured a player from an HBCU.”

“We should be right there,” the Jackson State University coach said, USA Today reported. “We shouldn’t have a separate combine. That doesn’t make sense to have a separate combine. I was just trying to get us in, but now that I’m involved, and I’m in it, we don’t want separate. We want together.”

Some fans expressed that the NFL picks based on stats and performance where HBCU colleges aren’t in any of the big conferences and it’s ultimately hard to judge performance when someone is playing for a team such as Alabama vs a HBCU.

But then again, there have been plenty of NFL great pro bowlers and even hall of famers who played at a HBCU making it so there shouldn’t be an excuse for the NFL not to draft from HBCUs.

Although zero HBCU players were drafted in the NFL this year, some have signed with teams as UDFAs, according to The Undefeated.

“HBCUs are a bridge to equality,” said Pro Bowl MVP James “Shack” Harris in the past.

Recently, the NFL officially announced the HBCU Legacy Bowl that will debut February 2022. The HBCU Legacy Bowl is said to give better opportunity and exposure for HBCU players and coaches. This will hopefully increase the chances of more HBCU players to be a part of future NFL Drafts.

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“College Hill” reboot is coming to Jackson State University

BET’s hit reality show, College Hill, is making its way back to television soon and filming a brand new season at Jackson State University. The cast will include celebrities that are pursuing a higher education.

TheJasmineBRAND exclusively reported that the non-scripted series will be returning in 2021. There will be a diverse audience including reality stars, artists and influencers pursuing an education. Viewers will now have something to look forward to and live in these nostalgic moments.

The BET reality show ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009 and documented the lives of Black college students at historically Black colleges.

In a past interview, Deion Sanders stated that the show may be on its way back, sort of. Deion Sanders is the head coach of Jackson State University’s football team and Tracey Edmonds, who is his fiancé, was the executive producer of the show.

College Hill showcased many HBCUs such as Southern University, Langston University and Virginia State University.

Supporters have been living their nostalgia through BET Her on demand and Netflix to see the classic show.