“I will be attending…”: Why all Black hoopers should consider an HBCU
Five-Star basketball recruit Mikey Williams released his top 10 schools list in July. Five of the Ten schools on the list are Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCU): Alabama State (Southwestern Athletic Conference), Texas Southern (SWAC), North Carolina Central (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), Hampton (Big South Conference), and Tennessee State (Ohio Valley Conference) universities.
“Going to an HBCU wouldn’t be too bad…” Williams wrote via Twitter.
He is arguably one of the best High School players in the class of 2023. His talents and superb athleticism would instantly bring the “hype” to any college team he chooses to play for.
So, the question is: Should Williams consider an HBCU?
Hell yes! Here’s why.
The Past: Change the narrative
Most of my life, predominantly white institutions (PWI) have made most of their money from the success of their black athletes:
Anthony Davis c/o 2011
Kentucky
Nerlens Noel c/o 2012
Kentucky
Jabari Parker c/o 2013
Duke
Karl-Anthony Towns c/o 2014
Kentucky
Harry Giles c/o 2016
Duke
Marvin Bagley c/o 2017
Duke
Rj Barret c/o 2018
Duke
James Wiseman c/o 2019
Memphis
The chart above shows what schools the top high school basketball recruits have signed to from 2011-2019. Makur Maker became the first five-star recruit to sign to an HBCU. He was ranked No. 16 in the ESPN top-100 list.
I have no issue with the Dukes and Kentuckys of this world, but why ride the same classic wave when you can start a new trend and leave a legacy?
“Honestly, all that it would take is one top-25 kid coming to an HBCU, being successful and going on to play in the NBA, then a lot of other kids would follow. It would change everything,” Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones told Yahoo Sports.
Why an HBCU?
Going into my junior year of college, I can say that choosing an HBCU has been an experience.
Yeah, partying, tailgating, pledging, etc., it’s all cool, but you can find that at any school. When you’re surrounded by motivated individuals who share the same skin color as you and are flourishing in their respective avenues, it gives you a sense of pride about yourself. Over half of all African-American professionals are graduates of HBCUs.
HBCUs are responsible for 25% of all African-American science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. Apart from this, 50% of Black lawyers and doctors were educated at HBCUs.
“A campus of 14 thousand students can produce just as many CEOs as a campus of 30 thousand students.” A professor at North Carolina A&T told me during my campus tour.
Not only will you have the community support system behind you but you will leave a lasting impact on that school for generations to come. Not to mention, the revenue generated while attending an HBCU all stays in the black community.
“The Present”: Change the culture
In recent weeks, the Black Lives Matter movement has come back in the limelight after the recent deaths of three unarmed Black individuals: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Their passings have drawn public attention and widespread outcries.
The nationwide protest is inspiring black teens to show more pride in their culture and strengthen their communities. Former Wake Forest guard Sharone Wright Jr. announced he is transferring schools and will be playing ball at Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore.
“I’ve been thinking about this sometime now and it has been a difficult time for many people, but mainly us as African-Americans,” Wright tweeted. “It’s saddening to me to know the world will always be this way towards us whether we play a sport or not. It doesn’t matter.”
Retired NBA point guard Mo Williams was named the head men’s basketball coach for Alabama State earlier this year. He’s a huge advocate for players attending HBCUs and has been in the mix of possibly landing Mikey Williams in two years.
Following the murder of Breonna Taylor, the Alabama State Coach tweeted on June 1: “Silent protest, pull your kids out of these D1 schools and enroll them in an HBCU. We talked about change. Don’t talk about it, be about it. I’m at Alabama State and can do exactly what they can and more for your son. Point blank period.... #changethegame.”
The Future: So what’s it going to be, Mikey?
Mikey has a little while before he has to choose what he wants to do post-high school. The way the NBA is changing now, by then, he might be able to go straight to the draft — we really don’t know.
But if not straight to the league, he could do something for his people.
“Why does it always have to be the big names?” he wrote on Instagram. “Have you ever thought about helping your own people out?? WE ARE THE REASON THAT THESE SCHOOLS HAVE SUCH BIG NAMES AND SUCH GOOD HISTORY...But in the end what do we get out of it??”
He has a chance to make history and switch up the modern-day recruiting in college basketball. With his mother being a Hampton Alum, the chances of this prospering may be greater than we think.
