ATLANTA, Georgia - HBCU All-Stars LLC has announced the second annual ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge featuring the nation's top HBCU student-athletes and coaches from the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC, and Atlanta Public Schools. "We are making history once again in Atlanta and look forward to another first-class event with some outstanding teams, players, and coaches who have demonstrated a high level of talent, hard work, commitment, coaching, and winning in Black College Basketball," said Travis L. Williams, HBCU All-Stars, LLC Founder/CEO and former HBCU Head Men's Basketball Coach at Tennessee State and Fort Valley State Universities. "This is another great opportunity and platform to tip-off the 2023-24 basketball season on a global stage in the great city of Atlanta, and magnify community outreach and initiatives, financial commitment, resources, and love for HBCUs, students, student-athletes, and academic scholarships, and celebrate Black History, Black Excellence, and Black Cultural Experiences. We will continue raising national awareness of our prestigious HBCUs and long legacy of academic and athletic achievement."
The ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge will be in the heart of Atlanta and played on the beautiful campus of Morehouse College at Forbes Arena. Atlanta, a true sports town, basketball hotbed, and among the most diverse cities in the world, is among the best places to live, work, and make a difference in communities. Atlanta is home to some of the most distinguished and exclusive HBCUs, influencers, alumni, ambassadors, faculty, staff, boosters, key stake-holders, and fans. The event already has the unwavering support from the local sports community, government, business, civic, church, community leaders, parks and recreation organizations, high schools, colleges, universities, alumni, fans, professional teams, radio and television stations, personalities, musicians, celebrities, and entertainers. In its inaugural year of 2022, more than 3,000 fans attended these very high level and competitive ATL HBCU All-Stars Challenge games over a two-day period. The same is expected for 2023 with Morehouse College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Talladega College representing the SIAC and competing against Fayetteville State University, Shaw University, and Livingstone College, from the CIAA. SWAC Regular Season Co-Champions Grambling State University will play the night cap game on Friday, November 17 versus Delaware State University from the MEAC, along with Atlanta Public Schools rivalry games between Mays High School and Therrell High School.
The ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge experience is not just about basketball, but also the many cultural experiences surrounding the game. Leading up to the event, there will be a Welcome Reception, College Admissions Fair, and Student-Athlete Empowerment Seminar for middle and high school students, and student-athletes. Community Outreach, Initiatives, Civil Rights Panel Discussion, and much more. The ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge Game Day Experience Festival will have a big-time game atmosphere and include live music, DJ's, vendors, battle of the bands, dance and cheer competition, Divine 9, Greeks competition and stroll-offs, activities, games, and much more. The 2023 ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge is a premier black college basketball sports event highlighting the best HBCU players and coaches in the country and will be held at Morehouse College in Forbes Arena in Atlanta on Friday, November 17 with four games, starting at 2 p.m., EST and Saturday, November 18, with four games starting at 12 p.m., EST, and the Atlanta Public Schools game starting at 10 a.m., EST. Tickets for the games are available on Eventbrite.com https://www.eventbrite.com/o/hbcu-all-stars-llc-29589131129 The ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge will feature the best talent from the four esteemed Historically Black Athletic Conferences, and many of the "Watch List" players for the third annual HBCU All-Star Game on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, during the Final Four Weekend.
