This year’s class of 74 HBCU fellows hail from 29 Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide. 

It’s Draft day, and the anticipation is palpable as young prospects eagerly await their fate. They know the destination they are heading to will not only steer the direction of their summer, but the future at large.   

Don’t be fooled; this isn’t the Barclays Center. This is a different NBA Draft, roughly 11 miles away in Secaucus New Jersey. The NBA HBCU Fellowship Draft Breakfast commences.  

“The Dallas Mavericks select … Danielle Jones from Dillard University!” says Executive Director of the NBA Foundation, Greg Taylor. Taylor takes on the role of the commissioner for the day. The announcement reverberates through the room, and Jones’ heart soars. 

“I carry the legacy of my HBCU with pride,” Jones shares. A distinguished alumna of Dillard University, she embodies the spirit of resilience and determination. Jones recalls the inspiration of her HBCU professors who instilled in her the confidence and preparation needed to thrive in the world of sports. “The NBA HBCU Fellowship feels like destiny—a chance to not only be part of the game I love but also make a difference.” 

The NBA HBCU Fellowship Draft Breakfast is a defining moment for 74 extraordinary talents, each with their own unique journey that led them from 29 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to the National Basketball Association stage.   

Emile Dogbe-Gakpetor, an analytics rotation intern with the Atlanta Hawks, echoes Jones’ sentiment. After attending high school in Ghana, the fellow received a full-ride scholarship to Livingstone College in North Carolina. “The NBA HBCU Fellowship aligned seamlessly with the core values of my HBCU. This is my chance to make an impact and show the world what we are capable of.” he says.  

According to the NBA Foundation, the Fellowship Program “aims to provide career development opportunities in the business of basketball for undergraduate and graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).”  

Greg Taylor, Executive Director of the NBA Foundation, presents HBCU fellows with their internship placements.

Like NBA players, the fellows got to work. They embarked on a 10-week paid internship across all 30 team offices, including the league office in New York City. 

Contributing across multiple departments, including marketing and finance, among others, Jones says her most impactful projects include spearheading an internship pitch and creating an overnight basketball experience for kids in Dallas. She also had an unforgettable encounter with Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott, at a luncheon, which was also a bonus. 

Throughout his time in Atlanta, Dogbe-Gakpetor collaborated with the G League, H.R., and Community Impact. Emile highlights the orientation sessions, where he honed presentation skills and networking abilities, and values learning from successful executives while gaining valuable knowledge on thriving in the competitive sports industry. 

The NBA HBCU Fellowship is a culmination of the unyielding spirit of HBCU excellence where young visionaries like Jones and Dogbe-Gakpetor are poised to shine brighter than ever.  

In reflection, Jones says her time at Dillard along with the guidance of her family, molded her for success. “If I hadn’t gone there, I wouldn’t be in the place that I am now. [That’s what] really shaped the person I am today and where I am today.”

But she’s only 21, and her impact in the sports world is just getting started. “It’s only the beginning,” she says.