Last Thursday was a dream come true for 58 young hoopers who took a chance by placing their name into the 2022 NBA Draft, hoping to get their names called, even guys from HBCUs.
The Orlando Magic selected Paolo Banchero, the one-and-done power forward from Duke, as the number one pick in the draft. From the first pick to the last selection, the trend continued for another year, with no HBCU players getting drafted into the NBA.
Some notable players had a great potential of getting their name called in the draft, such as Texas Southern’s Brison Gresham, Florida A&M’s MJ Randolph, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Shawn Williams, and Howard’s Kyle Foster.
Gresham, Randolph, and Foster were among three individuals who would get a call to attend the NBA G-League Elite Camp in Chicago for a chance to put their skillset on display in front of dozens of G-League and NBA scouts and earn an invite to the Draft Combine. None of the three HBCU representatives would earn an invite, however.
Over the past year, many opportunities have been created for HBCU basketball to help athletes get better exposure through television and all-star games.
Travis L. Williams, the founder of HBCU All-Stars LLC, created the first-ever HBCU All-Star game that was hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana, during NCAA Final Four weekend as a celebration of our HBCUs, our athletes, and black excellence with a taste of the pro-experience with appearances by former Los Angeles Laker star Earvin “Magic” Johnson and singer Jamie Foxx.
NBA-TV has also played a massive role in giving HBCU basketball the exposure needed to reach the next level of basketball. In 2021 after the passing of NBA reporter Sekou Smith, an alumnus of Jackson State University, NBA-TV made a deal with the Southwestern Athletic Conference to broadcast the SWAC doubleheader between Grambling State and Jackson State at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center.
Tristian Jarrett of Jackson State scored 26 points on the first-ever NBA-TV broadcast.
NBA-TV would return to the SWAC in 2022 to broadcast two Texas Southern basketball games – one against Florida A&M and the other against Grambling State.
Gresham and Randolph would compete against each other on a national basketball platform, with Texas Southern claiming the victory. However, Randolph made a name for himself after dropping 22 points and ten rebounds for FAMU. Gresham finished with six points and six rebounds for TxSU.
Texas Southern snagged another dub on national television, this time against Grambling State with a 68-65 win, with Gresham able to demonstrate his consistency in protecting the rim with six rejections and eight rebounds.
No draft prospect from an HBCU did not get their name called on draft night. However, opportunities did present themselves to some.
“It’s sad,” said UAPB basketball’s Director of Player Development Christian Robertson about HBCU athletes not getting picked in the draft.
Gresham would agree to represent the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League, and Foster, the 46-percent three-point shooter, will play for the Detroit Pistons, whom he worked out for during the pre-draft season.
In 2013, Tennessee State’s Robert Covington had the same experience of going undrafted. However, Covington took the opportunity when it presented itself and ran with it ever since to be known as one of the toughest defenders to play the game today.
The undrafted small forward ran with the Houston Rockets in the 2013 NBA Summer League before signing a deal to play with the Philadelphia 76ers a year later.
During his time as a Sixer, Covington was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in the 2017-18 season, recording 1.7 steals per game. The small forward currently represents the Los Angeles Clippers.
Gresham and Foster are following Covington’s footsteps, hoping to land their first contract but must produce in big Vegas.
Comments