Chris Paul may not be an active NBA player right nowbut remains active in contributing to HBCU basketball.
Yearly Chris Paul HBCU Classic It takes place on Thursday, December 18th and Friday, December 19th at Atlanta’s Gateway Center Arena. The morning session will air on ESPN Plus and the evening session on ESPNU.
Here’s a look at the matchups of the event:
Clark Atlanta vs. Lincoln (Pa), Thursday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. EST, ESPN Plus
The Panthers (5-3 overall) are tied with Edward Waters for first place in the SIAC East with a 4-2 division mark. CAU is led by Jadyn Shider, a 6-foot-8 Southern Indiana transfer who is averaging 15.8 points and eight rebounds per game.
Lincoln is 3-6 overall and has won its only CIAA East Division game to date. Junior guard BJ Johnson is the Lions’ leading scorer with 15 points per game.
Morehouse vs. Fayetteville State, Thursday, December 18, 12:00 PM EST, ESPN Plus
Morehouse is a half-game behind CAU and Edward Waters for first place in the SIAC East. Sophomore forward Josiah Lawson is the Maroon Tigers’ leading scorer off the bench, averaging 13.8 points per game.
The Broncos, meanwhile, are a team that can score (82 points per game) and get (83 points per contest). Four FSU players are averaging double figures, led by Bluefield State transfer Larry Howell with 20.2 points per game.
Jackson State vs. Hampton, Thursday, December 18, 5 pm EST, ESPNU
The Tigers struggled out of the gate entering the HBCU Classic with a 1-9 record.
Hampton is 5-6 so far with close losses to former MEAC rivals Norfolk State and Howard.
Junior guard Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt leads the Pirates in scoring (11.2 points) and assists (3.2 per game), while fellow Jackson State guard Daeshun Ruffin does the same for the Tigers (14.9 points and 2.7 assists per game).
Norfolk State vs. Grambling State Thursday, December 18, 7:00 PM EST, ESPNU
The Spartans and Tigers, both NCAA tournament teams in 2024, have regular non-conference schedule results and hope to beat each other to end Day 1 of the HBCU Classic.
Norfolk State is led by New Hampshire transfer Anthony McComb III with 16.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Grambling freshman Antonio Munoz is the lone Tiger averaging double figures (12.2 per game).
Friday’s games will be the reverse of Thursday’s games as Lincoln will face Morehouse, Fayetteville State will face Clark Atlanta, Jackson State will face Norfolk State and Grambling will face Hampton.
