Chris Paul may not be an active NBA player at the moment, but he remains active in contributing to HBCU basketball.
The annual Chris Paul HBCU Classic takes place Thursday Dec. 18 and Friday Dec. 19 at Atlanta’s Gateway Center Arena. The morning session will be streamed on ESPN Plus and the evening session will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Here’s a look at the event’s matchups:
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 6-foot-8 Southern Indiana transfer Jadyn Shider, who is averaging 15.8 points and eight rebounds per game.
Lincoln is 3-6 overall and has won their only CIAA Eastern Division game to date. Junior guard B.J. Johnson is the Lions’ leading scorer at 15 points per game.
Morehouse vs. Fayetteville State, Thursday Dec. 18, 12 p.m. 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, coming off the bench to average 13.8 points per game.
The Broncos, meanwhile, are a team that can score (82 points per game) and be scored upon (giving up 83 points per contest). Four FSU players are averaging double figures, led by Bluefield State transfer Larry Howell at 20.2 points per game.
Jackson State vs. Hampton, Thursday Dec. 18, 5 p.m. EST, ESPNU
The Tigers have struggled out of the gate, coming into the HBCU Classic with a 1-9 record.
Hampton is 5-6 with close losses to former MEAC rivals Norfolk State and Howard so far.
Junior guard Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt leads the Pirates in scoring (11.2 ppg) and assists (3.2 per game) while his counterpart at point guard for Jackson State, Daeshun Ruffin does the same thing for the Tigers (14.9 points and 2.7 assists per game.
Norfolk State vs. Grambling State, Thursday Dec. 18, 7 p.m. EST, ESPNU
The Spartans and Tigers, NCAA tournament teams in 2024, have had the usual non-conference schedule results and hope to score a win off of one another to close out Day 1 of the HBCU Classic.
Norfolk State is led by New Hampshire transfer Anthony McComb III at 16.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Grambling freshman Antonio Munoz is the lone Tiger averaging double-figure points (12.2 per game).
Friday’s matchups will be the inverse of Thursday’s games as Lincoln will play Morehouse, Fayetteville State will face Clark Atlanta, Jackson State will face Norfolk State and Grambling will play Hampton.
