HBCU Basketball Heads to Disney: New Invitational Unites Competition, Community & Careers (7108 hits)
HBCU Hoops Invitational Tips Off at Disney, Dec. 4–7: Tickets Live Now
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — August 13, 2025
Holiday hoops with purpose. The brand-new HBCU Hoops Invitational tips off December 4–7, 2025 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. A slate of storied HBCU programs will compete on a national stage — and pair that competition with scholarships, an admissions fair, and year-round career development for HBCU students and student-athletes.
Who’s Playing
This first-ever event features four men’s and four women’s teams in a single-elimination format inside the State Farm Field House:
Men’s Bracket: Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Florida Memorial University, Barber-Scotia College
Women’s Bracket: Bethune-Cookman University, Hampton University, Edward Waters University, Cheyney University
There’s plenty of star power and history in this field. Florida A&M recently welcomed Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as head coach, while Cheyney University’s women remain the only HBCU program to reach the NCAA Division I Final Four (1982).
Why It Matters
The Invitational — organized by HBCU Hoops Global, Inc., a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) — is designed to be bigger than the scoreboard. Beyond four days of high-level basketball, the event will host a college admissions fair, fund scholarships, provide academic support, and create career-readiness opportunities throughout the year.
As HBCU Hoops Global vice president Haywoode Workman — a former NBA guard and current NBA referee — puts it, this is “more than a basketball tournament — a powerful celebration of heritage and excellence.” That’s the energy our community deserves.
The Stage: ESPN Wide World of Sports
If you love hoops, this is a destination schedule. ESPN Wide World of Sports already hosts major college events like the WBCA Showcase (Nov. 20–23) and the ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 24–28), alongside national AAU championships — all on a 220-acre complex built for championship-level experiences.
Quick Facts
Event: HBCU Hoops Invitational
Dates: December 4–7, 2025
Venue: State Farm Field House, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Walt Disney World Resort, FL)
Format: Single-elimination; 4 men’s teams + 4 women’s teams
At HBCU CONNECT, we champion platforms that blend exposure, education, and economic mobility. This Invitational stands out: athletes compete on a national stage, families connect at the admissions fair, and students tap into career pathways created around the event. We’ll be tracking updates, sharing opportunities as they’re announced, and spotlighting impact from the court to the career fair.
Grab your seats (and bring the family): HBCUhoops.org. See you courtside.
Source: Walt Disney World Resort. Media Contact: Walt Disney World Public Relations, 407-566-6397.
