For Howard and Tennessee State, the NBA HBCU Classic is an audition

Robert Covington remembers what it’s like to experience NBA All-Star Weekend, having competed in the 2021 Skills Challenge. When the league debuted the NBA HBCU Classic the following year, staging a matchup of two HBCU men’s basketball teams during All-Star Weekend, Covington, then with the Los Angeles Clippers, met with players from the participating schools to offer encouragement and show them what’s possible after college.

Now serving as chief men’s basketball officer at his alma mater, Tennessee State, Covington is carrying that commitment forward by mentoring the next generation of HBCU players hoping to follow his path to the NBA.

And this season, the roster he’s guiding will get the chance to see All-Star Weekend up close; the NBA announced Tuesday that Tennessee State will face Howard University in the 2027 NBA HBCU Classic during NBA-All Star Weekend in Phoenix. The historically Black universities will play Saturday, Feb. 20, at Hardwood Central within the Jam Session at the Phoenix Convention Center.

“Being the last active HBCU player [in the league], I carried that title. Being a part of the [HBCU Classic] the last few years, just getting to witness it was dope, how they [the league] incorporated HBCUs into All-Star Weekend,” said Covington, 35, who played in the NBA from 2013-24.

“I wanted to bring more light to HBCUs because we don’t get the recognition, the accolades [and] acknowledgement that we deserve. So, I used my voice, used my platform to continue to push that, and now finding out that [Tennessee State] is going to be a part of [All-Star Weekend] is such a great opportunity.”

The NBA connections run deep for both programs. In addition to Covington’s 11-year NBA career, Tennessee State head coach Nolan Smith and assistant coach Vince Taylor both played in the league. Howard’s president of basketball operations is five-time NBA All-Star John Wall. Coaches and administrators on both sides are leaning on that professional experience to help their players prepare for the season and the spotlight of NBA All-Star Weekend.

“I’m just building them up for the moment and understanding that they’re under a different lens now because of the expectations last year,” Covington said, referencing Tennessee State snapping a 32-year NCAA tournament drought last season. “You have to make sure you stand out, and that’s what I’m teaching these kids.

“Some of those guys have what it takes to play professional basketball. We’re building up their confidence, building up their motors. I’m just overall just pouring knowledge into them.”

Since taking over at Tennessee State in 2025, Smith has made it a priority to get the Tigers involved in the NBA HBCU Classic for the first time. Drawing on his experience attending All-Star Weekend as a player, he wants his players to meet the people who helped shape the game, build relationships and see firsthand the possibilities in the basketball world.

“Being out there in Phoenix is going to give NBA front office personnel the opportunity to come watch up close and personal. We have some talented guys this year, and I know Howard does, too. So it’s going to give scouts a close, personal look at our guys,” said Smith, 38, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers from 2011-13. “It’s an audition. I tell them, ‘Every time you step between [the lines], it’s an audition.’

“You get to showcase yourself and showcase your team. I think we’ll get a lot of texts and calls from a lot of people that are in that building, whether it’s a G League opportunity that comes right away from it or a two-way opportunity [splitting time between an NBA team and its G League affiliate] for our players.”

This iteration of the NBA HBCU Classic will feature two head coaches whose bond extends beyond the court. Since Smith joined Tennessee State in 2025, he and Howard coach Kenneth Blakeney have stayed in close contact, drawing on their shared experiences as Duke University alumni. Their All-Star Weekend matchup will mark a new chapter in that relationship — the first time the two former Blue Devils will face each other as head coaches.

The Howard Bison will be making their second appearance in the NBA HBCU Classic, having competed in the inaugural game during the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2022. The Bison defeated Morgan State 68-66 in a comeback victory, rallying from a 12-point second-half deficit.

Blakeney said the NBA HBCU Classic gives Howard’s players a firsthand look at the professionalism and preparation required at the highest level.

During Howard’s first trip to the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland in 2022, Blakeney recalled seeing stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo up close. He said the experience helped his players recognize the importance of physical conditioning, discipline and maximizing every opportunity to extend their careers. He also believes the weekend lets them learn from current and former NBA players and better understand what it takes to compete professionally.

Howard’s appearance in the inaugural NBA HBCU Classic in 2022 preceded a stretch in which the Bison won three conference championships in four years.

Two players from Howard’s inaugural NBA HBCU Classic team, Bryce Harris and Steve Settle III, have since earned NBA opportunities. Harris suited up with the Oklahoma City Thunder in this year’s NBA Summer League, and Settle recently signed an Exhibit 10 contract, a training camp deal, with the Washington Wizards.

Blakeney also sees the NBA HBCU Classic as a chance to extend Howard’s reach beyond basketball, connecting its students and the community with a national audience while helping them build relationships and experience the culture of NBA All-Star Weekend.

He often describes Howard as the “Dream Factory,” where he and the program instill the belief that every young man who steps onto campus has the whole world in front of him. He said opportunities such as competing at All-Star Weekend can help student-athletes pursue careers as professional basketball players or in an NBA front office.

“For us to be able to network, connect, meet and expose not only our university but our players to this weekend and everybody that we have access to during this weekend,” Blakeney said. “I love the fact that, you know, our guys get a chance to showcase their abilities, but also how they work with others to have success. That’s what this experience is about.

“When they can come back to Howard within 15-20 years, they can sit on the Yard and talk about how they went to the NBA All-Star in Phoenix. They may not remember how many points they had or how many rebounds they had, but they sure will remember those kinds of moments.”

In addition to supporting Howard and Tennessee State as participants in the Classic, the NBA and its partners will donate $50,000 apiece to the schools for academic resources, athletics and wellness services. The league’s NBA HBCU Fellowship Program also offers undergraduate and graduate HBCU students career development opportunities in basketball operations.

The Bison and Tigers’ first and only meeting came in 2024 at the HBCU All-Stars Challenge, with the Bison edging the Tigers 88-84. Smith hopes their latest game at All-Star Weekend will inspire an annual contest between the two programs.

“It’s going to be something that can definitely turn into a rivalry. I think the energy in that gym is going to be electric,” Smith said. “I think the [Duke] Brotherhood NBA players are going to come out to that game, and there’s going to be a lot of other guys coming out to watch that game.

“Hopefully, both teams are hot, so it’s going to be a big-time environment and a big-time game. When you put together a game like that, you can’t just do it one time.”