By Stephen Gaither
Chris Paul is teaming up with fellow Winston-Salem State University alumnus B Dhat to connect the AAU circuit with his HBCU.
The CP3 Classic, Presented by B Dhat is an HBCU Cultural and Admissions Experience that will take place around a three-day AAU basketball tournament. The tournament will take place inside C.E. Gaines Gymnasium on the campus of WSSU from April 12-14 and will involve 24 AAU teams.
BDaht is a nationally renown host, actor and comedian as well as a 2006 WSSU graduate. He served as the host during the 2023 Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off, which was won by Winston-Salem State.
“It’s going to be eight organizations, and all 24 teams will be guaranteed three games,” explained BDaht. “In between the games we’re going to have that HBCU vibe. Bands. Cheerleaders. Royal courts. Fraternities. Sororities. It’s an HBCU cultural and Admissions Experience.”
Chris Paul is a proud Winston-Salem native who grew up around WSSU, where his parents and other members attended school. He took his basketball talents across town at Wake Forest, but has consistently been a presence at his hometown HBCU since turning pro. Back in 2011 he held a charity basketball game at the very same gymnasium in which some of the NBA’s all-time greats took the floor. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and just about every significant player outside of Kobe Bryant showed up to the gym, which seats around 2,500 fans. BDaht served as the announcer for that event.
Paul has also produced an ESPN docuseries called “Why Not Us” which highlights HBCU athletics programs. He has organized not one but two annual HBCU basketball showcases — The Chris Paul Tip-Off (D2 and NAIA) and The Chris Paul HBCU Challenge (Division I).
Now CP3 and BDaht will put hundreds of AAU athletes on the campus of their alma mater, giving them exposure to some of what HBCU life has to offer.
