PRESERVING HISTORY & LEGACIES
Black College Players Who Set the Bar in the NBA
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton
Black college basketball produced some of the great performers who starred alongside other black players in the NBA, from the breakthrough in the 1950s with stars like Earl Lloyd (West Virginia State) and Nat Sweetwater Clifton (Xavier, LA) to Cleo Hill (Winston-Salem State) and Dick Barnett (Tennessee State). The 1960s era witnessed Sam Jones (NC Central) and Earl Monroe brought a dazzle to the game and Willis Reed who became a cult hero. Theses are just a few who opened the door for a trail for HBCU talent to play on the big stage.
Here are the those who excelled in their careers.
See NBA Honorees NBA Trophy Awards
Willis Reed
NBA Trophy Awards
The National Basketball Association unveiled six new trophies for the league’s division winners in 2022. Four of the six legends who played collegiately at a historically black college from the 1950s – 1960s were honored.
See Awardees
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