NEW YORK – For the fifth 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.
 
“We are honored to spotlight and amplify the powerful stories of African American pioneers who laid the foundation for the game of basketball across the footprint of our conference," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.  "Their legacy continues to inspire our student-athletes and communities, and we are proud that the BIG EAST provides a meaningful platform to celebrate the Black Fives Era and its enduring impact on both the game and society as a whole.”
 
BIG EAST players will wear shooting shirts featuring the team logos of historical Black Fives basketball teams. From the early 1900s through the 1940s, these teams played in ballrooms, gymnasiums and other venues located within the same geographic footprint as many of the BIG EAST schools today and together played a crucial role in breaking down racial barriers in American sports during the early to mid-20th century.
 
“Our ongoing collaboration with the BIG EAST Conference gives us an important platform to honor the pioneering African American men and women who changed the game,” said Black Fives Foundation founder Claude Johnson. “By giving voice to their stories we help make sure their legacy continues to inspire future generations.” 
  
Fans can experience the celebration during 22 BIG EAST Men’s and Women’s Basketball games. 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.