Date: January 1, 2026
Location: Houston, Texas
The HBCU Basketball League (HBCUBL) and the National Basketball League–United States (NBL-US) today announced a historic partnership that will reshape the landscape of college and professional basketball development in the United States. Beginning with the 2026 season, the HBCU Basketball League will officially join the NBL-United States, marking the first time in U.S. basketball history that an all-HBCU division becomes part of a nationally sanctioned professional development league.
This groundbreaking move unites two mission-driven organizations committed to providing exposure, structure, and global opportunities for unsigned high school athletes, incoming HBCU students, current HBCU students, and HBCU alumni seeking collegiate and professional basketball pathways.
A Historic First for HBCU Athletics
Founded as the first college and professional development league designed exclusively for HBCU and incoming HBCU athletes, the HBCU Basketball League brings a culturally rich, academically grounded, and globally focused model into the NBL-US ecosystem. Under this agreement, the HBCUBL will operate as a dedicated HBCU Division within the NBL-United States framework while maintaining its distinct identity, leadership, and mission.
The HBCU Basketball League will introduce six teams, with league operations headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, a city deeply rooted in HBCU history, Black excellence, and basketball culture.
Leadership and Structure
The HBCU Basketball League’s Atlanta-based conference will be led by Darian Lewis, who has been named Conference Director. Lewis is a well-connected coach and trainer throughout the Atlanta basketball community and a proud HBCU graduate. His leadership will focus on player development, coaching standards, community engagement, and strengthening pipelines between HBCUs and international basketball markets.
2026 Season Details
- Season Tip-Off: May 2, 2026
- Regular Season: 15 games per team
- Teams: 6 HBCU-focused programs
- League Base: Atlanta, Georgia
- National Championship:
- Dates: July 24–26, 2026
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Format: The HBCUBL Champion will advance to Houston to compete in the NBL-US National Championship weekend, placing HBCU basketball on a national and international stage.
Keonna Farmer, Commissioner of the HBCU Basketball League, expressed her excitement and long-term vision for the partnership:
“This is a defining moment not only for the HBCU Basketball League, but for HBCU athletics as a whole. Joining the NBL-United States allows us to amplify our mission on a national and international level while staying rooted in who we are and who we serve. Our vision has always been to create a true development platform for HBCU athletes—one that values education, culture, exposure, and global opportunity.”
“The NBL-US provides the structure, international reach, and FIBA-aligned framework that helps us put HBCUs on the global basketball map. Through this partnership, our student-athletes and alumni will compete against elite talent, gain international experience, and be evaluated by college programs and professional teams worldwide. This is about changing narratives, creating access, and ensuring HBCU athletes are seen, valued, and respected at the highest levels of the game.”
“The success of the HBCU Movement proved what is possible. Now, the HBCU Basketball League is ready to build on that foundation and create a sustainable pipeline that connects HBCUs to the world.”
Lillian Countee, Commissioner of the National Basketball League–United States, highlighted the historical and competitive significance of the move:
“Welcoming the HBCU Basketball League into the NBL-United States is both historic and transformational. This makes the NBL-US the first league in U.S. history to feature an all-HBCU division, and it aligns perfectly with our mission of being a true college and professional development league.”
“The HBCU Movement’s 2024 NBL-US Championship showed the country—and the world—the level of talent, discipline, and pride that HBCU athletes bring to the game. That championship didn’t just win a title; it opened the door for this moment. The HBCU Basketball League is the next chapter, and it elevates our league, our players, and our global reach.”
“This partnership strengthens our commitment to opportunity, exposure, and international competition. Together, the NBL-US and HBCUBL will continue to build pathways for athletes who deserve to be seen, developed, and celebrated.”
A Shared Mission, A Global Vision
The integration of the HBCU Basketball League into the NBL-United States reinforces the league’s position as a college and professional development platform for unsigned athletes ages 16 and up, while expanding opportunities for HBCU-affiliated players to compete nationally and internationally. Through FIBA-aligned competition, international tournaments, and centralized national championships, HBCU athletes will gain unprecedented exposure.
This partnership stands as a powerful statement: HBCU basketball belongs on the world stage—and now, it has a global platform to prove it.
For More Information
🌐 www.usnbl.com
📧 info@usnbl.com
About the National Basketball League–United States
The NBL-United States is a nationally sanctioned college and professional development basketball league dedicated to providing exposure, structure, and global opportunities for unsigned high school athletes, post-graduate players, and college graduates.
About the HBCU Basketball League
The HBCU Basketball League is the first college and professional development league created exclusively for HBCU students, alumni, and incoming HBCU athletes, focused on education, culture, and global basketball advancement.