The NBA season might be over, but inside the Philadelphia 76ers’ Chase Fieldhouse, on a warm weekend in May, you could still hear the sounds of newly-gifted kicks squeaking on the hardwood floor, the satisfying sound of hitting nothing but net and good hoops being played.

Organized by One Goal One Youth, an organization that’s dedicated to empowering youth athletes and provide educational opportunities, founder Rachel Naughton led the helm of putting together the first “Ballin’ HBCU” High School Basketball Showcase. They teamed up with AND1 to host an invitation-only tournament that featured over 40 of New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland’s best high school athletes. The goal? To be the bridge that connects these players with the academic and athletic programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

On the sidelines: Hall of Famer Ben Wallace—a long-time supporter of AND1—signed autographs for the fans in attendance, posed for pictures with the players and staff before tip-off while sharing pre-game words of encouragement to all the aspiring players.

“It’s important to me to come back and support events like these because I was in the same spot, playing on the same stage and it worked for me,” he said.

And it’s true. Before stifling the NBA’s best scorers with his near-unparalleled defensive tenacity and shot-blocking, Wallace made a name for himself through these basketball camps, where he got the attention of former All-Star Charles Oakley. From there, he transferred to and became an HBCU-alum at Virginia Union, and the rest is history. “It’s important to come back, show support, and let these players know anything is possible,” Wallace added.

Alongside the former four-time Defensive Player of the Year were various AND1 Mixtape Legends—including Shane “The Dribble Machine” Woney, Duke Tango, Leaky Roof and The Pharmacist—who were taking the sights and sounds while signing autographs for attendees with Big Ben. While all that transpired, the showcase incorporated a youth band performance and several giveaways to punctuate the day with more energy.

All this culminated in the showcase’s competitive girls’ and boys’ games on May 11th. The girls’ game tipped-off first, as the MEAC “Rise” overcame a ten-point deficit and outscored the SIAC “Overrides” 67-53, with guard Alyssa Febres winning Game MVP. In celebration of their achievements, five women from the showcase received full scholarships to Benedict College. The boys game closed out the double-header, where the SWAC “Attacks” outlasted the CIAA “Chosen Ones” 86-78, with guard D’Andre Gibbs awarded Game MVP.

But even as the buzzer sounds in the 76ers’ Chase Fieldhouse, with the first Ballin’ Showcase drawing to a close, the show goes on. To kick off the summer season, AND1 resumed their Open Run Tour at Coney Island, New York, on June 23rd, as their neverending mission of spotlighting the next generation of players and uniting individuals through the game continues.

Photos by Anthony Geathers.

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