Paul to produce HBCU docuseries
The revolution will be televised.
Chris Paul is producing a docuseries around Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) over the course of a season.
Specifically, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard is highlighting the plight of HBCU basketball programs in competing against bigger, predominantly white institutions in recruiting top-level high school basketball prospects.
“HBCUs historically have been at a competitive disadvantage with their basketball programs facing many challenges with funding, recruitment, misperceptions, and exposure,” Paul said in a statement. “With the current racial awakening in our country prompting young athletes to look at where they play, it’s now more important than ever to shine a light on HBCUs and showcase their value in sports and society.”
Paul’s project comes as tension between the Black community and the police has been under a microscope after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was arrested, then killed by a Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 second.
HBCUs have historically failed to recruit top-level basketball prospects. The only current NBA players out of these schools are 76ers forward Kyle O’Quinn (Norfolk State) and Rockets forward Robert Covington (Tennessee State). Others in recent classes have gone undrafted, and those who were signed after the draft did not stick for longer than one season.
Detroit Pistons legend Ben Wallace out of Virginia Union University was the last HBCU product to make an All-Star team. Wallace made four consecutive All-Star appearances from 2003-2006. Other semirecent All-Stars out of HBCUs include the late, great Knicks legend Anthony Mason, who made his lone appearance in 2001 after attending Tennessee State University. Another Knicks legend Charles Oakley made his lone appearance in 1994 after attending Virginia Union University.
Aside from those three, the only other HBCU products made All-Star appearances in or before 1973. The NBA didn’t even add a three-point line until 1979.
“HBCUs have long been a passion for Chris and he has demonstrated a willingness and commitment to help these schools overcome the obstacles they face in funding and national awareness,” said Roadside Entertainment founding partner Ron Yassen. “As young athletes in high school and at the college level are considering taking their talents to HBCUs, it’s important to document this and share their stories with a wide audience.”
Paul partnered with professor Anita Elberse from Harvard Business School earlier this year to bring her Entertainment, Media and Sports course to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University to create a pipeline for careers in the industry. The course will expand to additional HBCUs in 2021.