The first HBCU All-Star game took place on Sunday, April 3 in New Orleans. Two teams, representing the nation’s top players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, showcased their talent in front of millions watching on CBS Sports.
The two teams were named after a pair of HBCU coaching legends, John McLendon and Clarence “Big House” Gaines.
Team Gaines, coached by Landon Bussie from Alcorn State and Corey Lowery from Lincoln University, featured SWAC and CIAA all-stars, while Team McLendon, coached by Robert Jones from Norfolk State and Fred Watson from Miles College featured all-stars from the MEAC and SIAC conferences.
Two graduate students from Howard, Randall Brumant and Kyle Foster were selected among 24 drafted eligible players from the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, CIAA, OVC and Big South Conferences.
“It was such a fun experience,” Brumant said in an interview with Bison athletics. “From teaming up with the people I competed against all year, to meeting celebrities who love the HBCU movement like Magic Johnson and Jamie Foxx, it felt great to be a part of this historic event.”
Brumant made some noise this past season at Howard. He is a transfer from Columbia University and averaged 6.9 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game and shot over 62% from the field during his first year as a Bison. This season, he started in all 28 games, recorded double figures 12 times and had a season high of 22 points on the road at Morgan State. Brumant was an anchor on the defensive end earning the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Honors on Nov. 16 and MEAC All-Defensive Team Honors in the postseason.
Foster was lights out during his final season at the Mecca. Until the end of the season, Foster led the country in three-point field goal percentage, shooting over 46% from deep. Foster joined the 1,000-point club during their win over Morgan State at the inaugural NBA HBCU Classic game. Foster received the HBCU All-Stars Willis Reed NCAA Division I National Player of the Year award for his performance throughout the season.
Both Bison contributed to the win over Team Gaines, 79-75. Brumant was fierce, chipping in nine points off the bench.
“We felt a lot of love from tons of people we came across in New Orleans,” Brumant continued. “I’m excited to see the future of this event moving forward.
Travis L. Williams is the founder and executive director of HBCU All-Stars LLC, a Black-owned sports marketing and events company focused on advocating, educating, exposing, mentoring and investing in HBCUs, student-athletes and coaches across the country.
Their showcase showed the best in Black collegiate basketball, extending exposure, visibility and recognition to outstanding, talented and hard-working HBCU student-athletes and brilliant coaches.
For more information, visit HBCU All-Stars, LLC at www.HBCUAllStarGame.com
Copy edited by Lauryn Wilson
