NEW YORK – For the fourth consecutive season, the BIG EAST Conference will partner with the Black Fives Foundation, a nonprofit public charity dedicated to inspiring excellence in youth by preserving, teaching, and honoring the pre-NBA history of African Americans in basketball.

This year’s theme, “Pioneers of Change,” will shine a spotlight on the early African American trailblazers who revolutionized the game and left an indelible mark on the sport.
 
“This season, we are once again honored to spotlight the powerful and inspiring stories of African American pioneers who laid the groundwork for the game of basketball as we know it today,” said BIG EAST Commissioner, Val Ackerman. “Their legacy inspires our athletes and communities, and we're proud that the BIG EAST platform will be used to celebrate and elevate their impact in a meaningful way.”
 
BIG EAST players will wear shooting shirts emblazoned with the phrase “Pioneers of Change” alongside the team logos of historical Black Fives basketball teams. From the early 1900s through the 1940s, these teams played in ballrooms and gymnasiums located within the same geographic footprint as many of the BIG EAST schools today.
 
“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the Big East Conference” said Black Fives Foundation founder, Claude Johnson. “This partnership gives us the chance to honor these pioneers who broke barriers and shaped basketball history. By amplifying their stories, we can give them a voice and ensure their contributions resonate far beyond the court.”
  
Fans can experience the celebration during 22 BIG EAST Men’s and Women’s Basketball games, where players will wear shooting shirts with the mantra, “Pioneers of Change.” For more information, visit //www.bigeast.com/blackfives or follow the BIG EAST on Instagram at @BIGEAST. For more on the Black Fives Foundation please visit www.blackfives.org or @blackfives on social media.