Every week and a half earlier than the SLAM Summer season Traditional Vol. 6 shut down Rucker Park, the legendary Harlem playground hosted one other particular occasion that’s change into a New York basketball summer time staple: the HBCU All-Star Dream Traditional. 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 Traditional. 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 once we have been searching for a location [for the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic], there was no second selection as a result of we needed to do issues exterior of sports activities to encourage children as effectively.”
This 12 months’s Traditional had all of it: an HBCU useful resource heart; meals from Charles Pan-Fried Rooster on the adjoining handball courts; AKAs strolling by, and a youth marching band enjoying throughout recreation breaks. There have been boosters chanting from the baseline; basic Marvin Gaye blasting from the audio system. And even Harlem’s personal Pee Wee Kirkland. For those who didn’t know any higher, you’d assume you have been on the Biggest Homecoming on Earth.
Nonetheless, the principle motive that a whole lot of individuals gathered on at the present time was to look at 40 of one of the best HBCU hoopers within the nation placed on a present. After a tightly contested and action-packed women’ recreation that set the tone, the boys’ recreation that adopted was simply as thrilling. Each video games have been crammed with highlights galore, prime examples of the overshadowed but high-level expertise that floods the HBCU basketball neighborhood and the way they’ll compete with one of the best of ’em.
HBCU basketball has traditionally lacked advertising and promotion in comparison with its PWI counterparts, however that tide is popping slowly however absolutely. They might by no means be capable of cope with high- majors with regards to sources, however the HBCU hoops expertise is second to none, and the HBCU All-Star Dream Traditional exhibits it on full show, making a loud and strong narrative about HBCUs, HBCU conferences and the HBCU way of life.
“For us, the scoreboard isn’t vital,” says Darryl. “Our mission assertion is to supply alternative, entry and sources to assist individuals make higher life selections.”
Typically, that “higher life selection” means sticking to your roots and etching your identify within the stunning cloth of HBCU tradition.
Pictures by Curtis Rowser III.