{"id":2613,"date":"2024-02-22T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/?p=2613"},"modified":"2024-06-17T19:53:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T19:53:50","slug":"kevin-durant-and-donovan-mitchell-want-continued-growth-for-hbcu-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/22\/kevin-durant-and-donovan-mitchell-want-continued-growth-for-hbcu-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell Want Continued Growth for HBCU Classic \ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell have been strong proponents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). That is why both parties are big fans of the NBA hosting its third annual HBCU Classic during All-Star Weekend. The event took place at the Gainbridge Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday between Virginia Union University (VUU) and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to the matchup, Durant and Mitchell spoke to Double Take Sports Founder Carita Parks about their support for the NBA HBCU Classic and how it is increasing the visibility of HBCU talent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s huge, it\u2019s huge. Just an opportunity for people around the country to see the type of talent they have at HBCUs. It\u2019s a lot of hidden gems there, great coaching, great talent up and down the board. So if you can give them the platform to showcase their talents and skills, we need to do so,\u201d Durant said. \u201cI\u2019m excited for them.&nbsp; Hopefully this becomes an annual thing and we start to see more and more talent coming from HBCUs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kevin Durant (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KDTrey5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KDTrey5<\/a>) is known for financially supporting HBCUs. I asked his thoughts on the visibility the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NBAAllStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NBAAllStar<\/a> HBCU Classic gives these schools: \u201cIt\u2019s huge\u2026just an opportunity for people around the country to see the type of talent they have at HBCUs.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dbltakesports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@dbltakesports<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u2wh4VbtI9\">pic.twitter.com\/u2wh4VbtI9<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaritaCParks\/status\/1758946551072788949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think the NBA and what we\u2019ve done as a league\u2026we\u2019ve done a phenomenal job of being able to support that. What better way to do that than bringing it to All-Star Weekend. After I answer this question, I\u2019m going over there right now to show my love and support. At the end of the day, if we don\u2019t support us, who will?\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cI think it will continue to grow and continue to get better.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Donovan Mitchell (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spidadmitchell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@spidadmitchell<\/a>) is vocal about the importance of supporting <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HBCU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HBCU<\/a> hoops. He spoke to me about how the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NBAAllStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NBAAllStar<\/a> HBCU Classic is a product of the NBA listening to its players and his plans to attend the game: \u201cIf we don\u2019t support us\u2026who will?\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dbltakesports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@dbltakesports<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LOFcpRm5BN\">pic.twitter.com\/LOFcpRm5BN<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaritaCParks\/status\/1758950989078364663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, Mitchell made headlines for rocking a stylish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/style\/a\/fnr-tigg\/heres-where-you-can-buy-the-hbcu-jacket-donovan-mitchell-wore-during-game-1\">HBCU Pride letterman jacket<\/a> created by the Chicago Playground Clothing Line to Game 1 of the Utah Jazz\/Memphis Grizzlies playoff series. He was also involved in last year\u2019s HBCU Classic where he gave the players from Grambling State University a pair of his new shoes in partnership with Adidas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durant has also done his fair share of giving back to HBCUs. Last December, his foundation donated $500,000 to Bowie State University, Maryland\u2019s oldest historically Black college. Durant is a native of Prince George\u2019s County in Maryland. The school intends to use the donation for renovations of the university\u2019s basketball arena, to provide financial support for men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball and university athletics programs, and to establish a scholarship for Durant Center College Track Students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several HBCU alumni attended the HBCU Classic on Saturday including ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith and NBA legend Ben Wallace. Smith played for the legendary Clarence \u201cBig House\u201d Gaines at Winston-Salem and spent time with John McClendon, the Hall of Fame coach who helped pioneer fast-break basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Winston-Salem State Rams went on to defeat the Virginia Union Panthers 64-47.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;each school which represented the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) received $100,000 from the NBA and AT&amp;T as part of their ongoing commitment and support to HBCUs. The Rams were also <a href=\"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/27\/winston-salem-state-claims-13th-ciaa-mens-basketball-championship\/\">crowned champions of the 2023 CIAA Tournament<\/a> in Baltimore, MD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Winston-Salem State is crowned the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NBAAllStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NBAAllStar<\/a> HBCU Classic champion with a 64-47 over Virginia Union! No matter the winner\u2026its still a celebration!<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HBCUPride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HBCUPride<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/x3aGSlrWVw\">pic.twitter.com\/x3aGSlrWVw<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Double Take Sports (@dbltakesports) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dbltakesports\/status\/1758963226753065462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The NBA hosted its 3rd annual HBCU Classic during All-Star Weekend. Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell spoke to Double Take Sports about their hopes for continued growth of the event. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-2613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","tag-features"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/WSSUVUUjpg.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2620,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613\/revisions\/2620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}