Six seconds on the clock. Down 64-63. The 2023 MEAC Championship is on the line. I’m standing at the free-throw line in Norfolk, Virginia, and the only thing between Howard University and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 31 years is two shots. The crowd is deafening. I step to the line, find my routine, and sing myself a lullaby to quiet my mind. Sink both shots. 65-64. The clock expires. Howard is dancing. The alumni are in the stands, faces full of euphoria. You can feel the pride in the air. History.

What followed those free throws: national media coverage, better recruits, and the very next year, another championship. The first and only back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in the history of Howard basketball.

That moment wasn’t just about talent. It was about infrastructure.

The summer before I transferred to Howard, two major announcements changed the trajectory of the program.

Jordan Brand entered a 20-year partnership with the university, and Nuna became the court sponsor at Burr Gymnasium. Many saw those deals as Howard catching up to the field; that they finally had sponsors to help them grow. But here’s what people missed: Jordan didn’t just give us gear; they immersed themselves in campus culture. Homecoming activations, sponsored content and recruiting infrastructure changed what 17-year-old recruits believed was possible about playing at an HBCU.

Nuna didn’t just slap........

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