After an exciting season for the Bison basketball program, renovations on Burr Gymnasium have begun in partnership with Nuna Baby Essentials Inc., who pledged $1 million in 2022 to remodel the gym so that the space complements the nature of the teams’ recent accomplishments.
The new look on the court will include both the Jumpman logo, marking the university’s deal with Jordan Brand, and the Nuna Baby Essentials logo. The donation has been earmarked to ensure that renovations will also be made to the coaches’ offices and locker rooms.
“Nuna Baby Essentials is an important partner of Howard Athletics,” Kery Davis, director of intercollegiate athletics told The Dig. “Nuna’s core values, standards and commitment to excellence align with those of Howard Athletics. I would like to thank Nuna and its leadership, Kenny Cheng and Brad Bickley, for their continued commitment to our program. Their generous contributions have contributed to the overall success and welfare of our student-athletes.”
Nuna Global President Brad Bickley commented on the new gym and the partnership with HBCU Gameday. “Nuna is so excited to be a part of the great basketball and golf future of Howard University! From the time we first met with the administration and coaches of Howard, I felt an exciting win-win partnership could be established with Howard University and Nuna Baby. Howard family and alumni can continue to learn more about our wonderful products, and we will watch the success of Howard basketball and golf,” Bickley said.
Even with the renovations, Burr would be incomplete without the herd of Bison filling the seats, cheering for their sports teams. One fan, Julius Shanks, a sophomore acting major from Birmingham, Alabama, is especially excited for the new renovations to Burr. “As a Howard student and basketball fan I think I would like the ambiance of the new court, it would definitely bring a more lively feel to all the basketball games and when they reveal it for the first time I’m going to make sure I don’t miss that game,” Shanks remarked.
Kamryn Monroe, a sophomore marketing major from Windsor, Connecticut, also expressed her excitement for the new addition to campus.“ I think that the renovations will allow the student body to come together in an improved gymnasium for events like pep rallies, blood drives and Resfest with a more comfortable and safe environment to support our sports teams,” Monroe said.
The new court marks a new era for Howard basketball as a whole. The new beginning is a testament to the work put in by men’s MEAC Coach of the Year, Kenneth Blakeney, and former women’s MEAC Coach of the Year, Ty Grace. The performances by both sides of the program, who have both held the MEAC title in recent years, shine light on a bright future for all Bison hoop fans, old and new.
Copy edited by Chanice McClover-Lee
