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 grow to be a New York basketball summer time staple: the HBCU All-Star Dream Traditional. After a profitable inaugural occasion in 2023, it returned this yr larger 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 taking part in 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 on the lookout 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 youngsters as nicely.”
This yr’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 taking part in throughout sport 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. If you happen to didn’t know any higher, you’d suppose you have been on the Best Homecoming on Earth.
Nonetheless, the primary cause that lots of of individuals gathered on this present day was to observe 40 of one of the best 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 crammed with highlights galore, prime examples of the overshadowed but high-level expertise that floods the HBCU basketball group 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 certainly. They could by no means be capable of take care of high-majors on the subject of sources, however the HBCU hoops expertise is second to none, and the HBCU All-Star Dream Traditional reveals it on full show, making a loud and strong narrative about HBCUs, HBCU conferences and the HBCU way of life.
“For us, the scoreboard will not be vital,” says Darryl. “Our mission assertion is to offer alternative, entry and sources to assist folks make higher life selections.”
Typically, that “higher life selection” means sticking to your roots and etching your identify within the stunning material of HBCU tradition.
Photographs by Curtis Rowser III.