HBCU basketball comes to Charlotte with first Black College Invitational Championship
Postseason college basketball in March is here to stay in Charlotte.
The inaugural Black College Invitational Championship features historically Black colleges and universities competing in a head-to-head tournament this week at Bojangles Coliseum.
In addition to the men’s and women’s basketball championship games Saturday, nearly 2,000 local students are coming to the venue on Independence Boulevard for “Education Day” activities. Representatives from 27 different HBCUs — including 15 school presidents — are leading students from the city and its surrounding areas Thursday and Friday through college and career advice sessions.
“The first step is us completing this weekend, executing with efficiency and professionalism, showing that all of our players, student-athletes, sponsors and partners are squared away,” BCIC chief executive officer Dr. Wes Bellamy said. “But what I’ve really been thinking about is how I would love to look at expanding this SIAC vs. CIAA model on both the men’s and women’s sides, and then next year, I can’t wait to have the Division I schools join us.
“There were a lot of schools that wanted to play, and for logistical reasons and a couple of reasons, they didn’t. But next year, they’ll be here.”
‘We’re building this together, and it’s going to require all of us’
Roughly 900 students are expected to attend Friday’s “Education Day” after more than 1,000 students packed Ovens Auditorium on Thursday morning.
Local students from around the Charlotte area, including at least one school from South Carolina, spent sessions getting prepared for post-high school options. They learned more about opportunities at HBCUs and other colleges, along with meeting with a variety of career and military professionals.
Wanda Durant, the mother of 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, came to Charlotte for the event. She spoke to the group Thursday morning, along with the college presidents from around the country who led an HBCU sustainability summit.
“We’re building something together,” Bellamy said. “This isn’t Wes Bellamy’s tournament. This is our tournament. Again, we’re building this together, and it’s going to require all of us. I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far, and I can’t wait for us to continue growing.”
Local stars take the floor at Bojangles Coliseum
Johnson C. Smith University, off Beatties Ford Road near uptown Charlotte, played in Thursday’s night games.
Charlotteans were all over the event, including Central State freshman Champ Hayden, who became an all-state player at North Hills Christian School in Salisbury, South Meck-turned-J.C. Smith sophomore Betsey Bennett, and Golden Bulls graduate student Ford Cooper.
The various HBCUs all had their brands represented inside Bojangles Coliseum, at which spectators of different ages cheered from the stands. But perhaps none more than J.C. Smith, whose basketball squads are being showcased on one of the Queen City’s biggest stages.
“We are the only HBCU in Charlotte, so for us, this is a really big deal to promote our program as it pertains to recruiting and donating,” Golden Bulls interim head coach Taisha Murphy said. “Any platform to promote young Black women, young Black men is a really good platform. Statistically, they get the short end of the stick, even in college athletics.
“Just being able to put this event together and put on for our city — this is our city they’re hosting this tournament in — is always going to be a really big deal. And I think it’ll only get better in years to come.”
BCIC schedule for Friday and Saturday in Charlotte
The Johnson C. Smith women battled Livingstone on Thursday night, while the Golden Bulls men played against Virginia Union. In earlier games, Clark Atlanta University played Virginia Union on the women’s side, and Central State battled Claflin.
Consolation games between the losers of Thursday’s games are Friday, with the women’s game tipping off at noon and the men’s contest at 6 p.m.
The championship games will be played Saturday afternoon, starting with the women’s final at noon before the winner of the inaugural men’s bracket is crowned following their championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday.
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 5:45 AM.
