HBCU Heroes Celebrity eSports Holiday Showdown To Stream Live on Weds, Dec.16 at 2 P.M. ET Featuring Exhibition Matches Between Pro NFL Players & NBA2K Pro Gamers
Featuring Celebrity Exhibition Match Ups Between Pro NFL Players and NBA2K Pro Gamers from Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Boston Celtics' CLTX GC, Hawks Talon GC and More, Non-Profit Org HBCU Heroes Teams with Intel to Host virtual HBCU eSports NBA2K Tournament. All Star Lineup for Wednesday's Showdown Includes NBA2K Pro Announcer Jamie "Dirk" Diaz Ruiz, Who Joins Chicago Bears Running Back Tarik Cohen, Miami Dolphins' Wide Receiver Preston Williams, NBA2K League Gamers Boston Celtics' Sheriff Cruz (FTW) and Hawks Talon's Lee Lamb (LEE), along with NBA Vets George Lynch and Etan Thomas for Epic Showdown!
ATLANTA, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The countdown is on leading to this week's epic HBCU Heroes virtual HBCU eSports Holiday Showdown on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, and major players have been added to the talent line up. Streaming on multiple platforms, the 2 p.m. ET tip off will kick start the action, with official NBA2K League commentator Jamie "DirK" Diaz Ruiz calling the plays. Esports enthusiasts can watch on Hawks Talon GC and HBCU Heroes' Twitch channels, Facebook Gaming, YouTube, HBCUgoTV, HBCU Gameday, and HBCUHeroes.org. Competitors from HBCUs across the nation will face off for a chance at up to $50,000 in scholarships, prizes, and eSports lab funding to their institutions, sponsored by Intel.
Celebrities and athletes will suit up to win bragging rights as well as eSports funding for their HBCUs of choice -- $2500 going to the match winner's selected institution, while $1500 will be awarded to the runner up's HBCU pick. Marquee participants include Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears running back and proud HBCU alum of North Carolina A & T State University (NCAT) facing off in an exhibition match VS. Boston Celtics NBA2K League gamer Sheriff Cruz aka FTW, playing on behalf of Hampton University. Old school players will join the fun, showing off their new school skills in a head-to-head NBA veteran's showdown. HBCU Heroes' co-founder and former Philly 76er George Lynch is playing to support Cheyney State University opposite Etan Thomas, former player with the OKC Thunder. Thomas competed against Lynch in the NBA and now faces off against him in this exhibition match to benefit Langston University, Oklahoma's only HBCU.
In a match themed "Battle for the AUC," dynamic Miami Dolphins wide receiver Preston Williams goes up against Hawks Talon Gaming Club's Lee Lamb aka LEE. Hawks Talon is the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks. This match will benefit four Atlanta HBCUs with $5,000 split evenly to assist Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown colleges with their eSports efforts.
HBCU Heroes is producing the event as a gateway to HBCU gamers, who are experts at playing with friends, but may not have had the opportunity to compete in a league or tournament. Joining in the effort, Southern Law University Center will sponsor returning HBCU gamer Jamaal Young with a $1,000 scholarship donated to him through this tournament for his continued esports competitions and studies at Southern University.
Other highlights include returning players from the HBCU Heroes' summer eSports tournament, such as reigning champion Ahmahd Moore from Fayetteville State University and Jamaal Young representing Southern University. The response from HBCUs has been enthusiastic about participating in the tournament, as well as efforts to boost their eSports curriculum and programming.
"Morris Brown College became the first college in Georgia to offer a certificate and degree program in Esports Performance. We are excited about the new program and expect vast interest. We look forward to becoming a leader in Esports, not just within higher education, but beyond," said Dr. Kevin E. James, President.
The event can be live-streamed by eSports fans who can tune in via Hawks Talon GC and HBCU Heroes Twitch channels, Facebook Gaming, YouTube, HBCUgoTV, HBCU Gameday platforms, and HBCUHeroes.org on Wednesday, December 16 starting at 2 p.m. ET.
Twitch: twitch.tv/hbcuheroes
Hawks Talon GC Twitch: twitch.tv/hawkstalongc
HBCUgo TV https://hbcugo.tv/sports/sports-trending/549-nba-2k21-tournament
HBCU Gameday: youtube.com/hbcugameday (also HBCU Gameday FireTV app, free downloads in the Amazon App Store)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZEgm2d2KNtsHg3NHC2Zi1g
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/hbcuheroes
Website: http://www.hbcuheroes.org
Registration is now closed. For more information or to sponsor, visit http://www.HBCUHeroes.org or contact Tracey Pennywell at [email protected].
About HBCU Heroes:
HBCU Heroes was founded by NBA veteran George Lynch and entrepreneur Tracey Pennywell. With corporate branding strategy deployed by Kwame Jackson, the three have poised this nonprofit as one of the leaders in the HBCU space. HBCU Heroes sits at the nexus of culture, community and commerce with partnerships designed to create maximum impact at the highest level to uplift the HBCU community. Their proven track record with fundraisers & streamathons, and digital funding drives have uniquely positioned them as a premiere one-stop shop, providing content and social impact initiatives that resonate directly with the HBCU universe. National coverage includes Forbes, Sports Illustrated, BET, Undefeated, Black Enterprise, ESPN, Black News Channel and more. Visit http://www.HBCUHeroes.org.
Media Contact
Tosha Whitten, FrontPage Firm, +1 (202) 246-7875, [email protected]
Tracey Pennywell, HBCU Heroes, [email protected]
SOURCE HBCU Change
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