Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, and Tuskegee universities are among the prominent programs participating in a new college basketball tournament Dec. 4-7 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; Format involves four men’s teams and four women’s teams; Tickets on sale now at HBCUhoops.org.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla – Several marquee Black college basketball programs are taking part in the first-ever HBCU Hoops Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort this winter. The men’s field for the Dec. 4-7 tourney features Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Florida Memorial University, and Barber-Scotia College, while the women’s bracket includes Bethune-Cookman University, Hampton University, Edward Waters University, and Cheyney University. The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) men’s and women’s teams will compete inside the State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in a single-elimination format with the chance to claim the inaugural HBCU Hoops Invitational titles. Florida A&M, which recently hired former Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as head coach, headlines the men’s field, having reached the NCAA Division I Tournament three times, while Cheyney University’s women’s team is the only HBCU school to ever reach the NCAA Division I Tournament Final Four (1982).

Beyond the court, the HBCU Hoops Invitational, which is run by HBCU Hoops Global, Inc., plans to support HBCU players, schools, and students by hosting a college admissions fair at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, creating scholarships, providing academic assistance, and identifying career development opportunities throughout the year. “The HBCU Hoops Invitational is far more than a basketball tournament—it’s a powerful celebration of heritage, excellence, and the limitless future of HBCU athletics,’’ said HBCU Hoops Global vice president Haywoode Workman, who spent nearly a decade playing in the NBA before becoming an NBA referee. “We are building a legacy that extends well beyond the court to open doors to academic achievement, career readiness, and financial opportunity for our scholar-athletes.”

The new hoops tourney adds to an already bustling college basketball calendar at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which hosts the WBCA Showcase (Nov. 20-23) and the ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 24-28) during the Thanksgiving holiday week, as well as several AAU boys’ and girls’ national basketball championships.  “We are excited about the opportunities to bring thrilling, family-friendly events to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and this HBCU Hoops Invitational adds to our lineup of high-caliber youth and college events,’’ said Jorge Senior, Disney’s Director of Sports Planning and Development. “If you’re a college basketball fan, there’s no better place to be during the holidays than at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.’’

Tickets for the HBCU Hoops Invitational are on sale now at http://www.hbcuhoops.org.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is the home of Disney Soccer and Disney Spring Training and one of the premier sites for amateur sports in the nation. Designed to provide professional, amateur, and youth athletes with championship-level experiences, the complex has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. The 220-acre facility features a 9,500-seat stadium; a state-of-the-art indoor arena in addition to two field houses for competitive cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, basketball, volleyball, eSports, and other indoor sports; plus 12 baseball/softball fields and 17multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football, and field hockey. An on-site professional production center also produces content for the Disney family of networks for global distribution. For more information, visit http://www.disneysportsnews.com for news releases, photos, and videos, and http://www.espnwwos.com for upcoming events.

HBCU Hoops Global, Inc.

HBCU Hoops Global Inc. (HBCU HG) is a Tampa, Florida-based 501(c)(3) that serves as an educational and philanthropic arm of the HBCU Hoops Invitational Tournament. The organization is committed to the elevation of HBCU sports, fostering educational aspirations through scholarships, student achievement, career development, and success.

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