The N.C. A&T Aggies and Hampton Pirates invaded Los Angeles California during Valentine’s Day weekend for a pulse-pounding NBA HBCU Classic.
Alumni and students alike spent the weekend in the Hyatt hotel, affectionately dubbed, “Aggies in L.A.” Each day consisted of a rich itinerary for everyone including networking events, panel sessions, games, and even an alumni sneaker ball. The weekend culminated with the NBA All-Star game on Sunday night sponsored by AT&T.
Aggies in L.A. kicked off on the 12th with a welcome event hosted jointly by the league and Foot Locker at LA Live, where A&T and Hampton were each presented with a $25,000 check. The moment sparked genuine dialogue among alumni about the growing impact of the weekend and what more was still to come.
“This weekend goes past the money and time that we are able to give back,” said Jennifer Williams, N.C. A&T class of ‘95. “Participating in student recruiting, mentoring, and allowing a space for the HBCU community to connect this weekend reminds us that the real investment is in relationships.”
The welcome event featured performances by HBCU bands and introductions of each team’s roster, building excitement and pride among the crowd. Special guests, Aggie alum Terrence J and Robert Covington of the Portland Trail Blazers, were also in attendance, taking photos and engaging with attendees.
The 13th amplified the culture even more with the pre-game networking mixer at the Hyatt and the official HBCU Classic at the Kia Forum which was broadcasted on ESPN 2 and Peacock at 11:00 p.m. EST. Despite the Aggies starting slow and struggling to find a good pace, they snagged the win, 71–70, overcoming a late deficit with 0.4 seconds left in the game.
Renowned journalist and commentator Roland Martin watched the game courtside and offered his opinion on how the aggies could come out victorious and how to scale the institution’s reach.
“This [the career development opportunities] is giving the the school the chance to take their brand beyond their school and beyond their conference,” said Martin. “The NBA is international and we are living in a world where you want to take your brand global, and this partnership allows HBCUs to do that.”
The game-winning shot was scored by Trent Middleton Jr. The junior guard drew a foul while driving for a layup, and his ensuing free throw gave the Aggies the final push to surpass the Pirates.
N.C. A&T combo guard Bryson Ogletree gave further context on what his thought process was in those final intense moments.
“Keeping the [team’s] energy high,” Ogletree explained. “And never doubting what we had going on and keep going.”
The win ended the Aggies’ four-game losing streak on HBCU basketball’s biggest stage. The players continued the celebration back at the Hyatt, joining alumni and fellow students as they welcomed Valentine’s Day with love and camaraderie.
Valentine’s Day morning kicked off with the 2026 AT&T Career Development Session. The event opened with a panel featuring men’s
stylist Dex Rob and interviewer Blake Newby, followed by greetings from NBA players Grant Williams and Javonte Cooke. The session concluded with breakout rooms focused on various areas of self-improvement.
It was safe to say that students from all disciplines left the weekend feeling empowered and motivated, ready to enter corporate and professional athletic spaces with greater confidence and Aggie pride than ever before.
