One of the NBA’s most accomplished point guards will take center stage as Morehouse College celebrates its newest class of graduates later this month.
The college announced that 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul will deliver the keynote address at its 142nd commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Paul, a two-time Olympian and Winston-Salem State graduate, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He will be honored alongside Southern Co. Chairman, President and CEO Chris Womack and the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, who will retire this summer after 47 years of service to the college.
“It is a profound honor and privilege to speak at Morehouse College’s commencement this year,” Paul said in a statement. “I have a deep respect for Morehouse’s legacy and impact on our community, especially on generations of young Black men.”
Referencing the legacy of past commencement speakers, Paul said the moment reflects that greatness is defined not only by performance, but by “character, consistency and commitment to one’s community.”
“My hope is to encourage the Class of 2026 to carry these principles forward as they enter the next chapter of their lives,” he said.
