Chris Paul: From HBCU Advocate to HBCU Graduate

Both of NBA superstar Chris Paul’s parents attended Winston-Salem State University. 

On Friday, the Phoenix Suns point guard’s educational journey will become complete as he graduates from the historically black college with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. 

The 12-time NBA All-Star has been working on and off toward his college degree since 2003. He initially pursued a bachelor’s degree at Wake Forest but left after two years for the pros. Since picking up his textbooks again, Paul has focused on mass communication and sports management. 

“When you start something, you want to see it through; you want to finish it,” Paul told the New York Times. “And even though I was blessed and fortunate to go to the NBA, I still wanted to graduate.”

Paul’s at the forefront of a growing number of athletes and media personalities trying to give more financial support to and attention to historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs.

This weekend in Las Vegas, the second annual Chris Paul HBCU Challenge features four teams, in a showcase of HBCU talent. The participating schools are Hampton, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, and Texas Southern.

• Nicknamed CP3, Paul is opening accounts worth $100 for his 350 classmates, according to the New York Times.
• Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant’s foundation is donating $500,000 to Bowie State University, the oldest HBCU in Maryland.
• TNT star NBA analyst Charles Barkley has pledged to donate $1 million apiece to Bethune Cookman University and Jackson State University.