Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic: Hampton Men’s Basketball Takes Home the Crown

by Aliyah McClammy ‘24

Third time is a charm! On February 3, the Hampton University Men’s basketball team participated in the annual Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Hampton, Grambling, Jackson State, and Howard were the four HBCUs chosen to play for this year’s classic.

Michael B. Jordan created the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic alongside Hampton’s alumnus, Chad Easterling. Chad Easterling is a 2008 Hampton graduate and the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of his company, Obsidianworks, a culture-powered media and consulting agency.

Easterling spoke of the initial conversation he had with Michael B. Jordan about finding brands and people who wanted to have an impact on the black community. “Invesco was serious about it and wanted to make sure they had a presence in it. It’s more than just giving this platform for HBCUs; it’s also about how you are setting them up for the future, financially,” Easterling shared.

Throughout the event, there were a multitude of alumni who showed up and showed out for Hampton! Hampton Alumnus Somos Thompson hosted a pop-up shop as the official designer of the Legacy Classic. Thompson is also in HU’s Forty Under Forty initiative, which recognizes outstanding alumni who have demonstrated excellence in various areas like art, business, media, and community service. “I think it’s important to lend a voice to the future. Whenever I see anyone from Hampton, I tell them to call with any question. We have to help and give back as alumni.” Many other Hampton alumni were in attendance, including the President of MSNBC, Rashida Jones, the first black woman to lead a major cable news network, and Hampton Trustee, Calvin L. Butts, Jr.

Hampton and Howard played the last game, fortifying the battle for “The Real HU.” In the beginning, Hampton and Howard were neck and neck, but Howard took the lead before halftime. A three-pointer by Jerry Deng at the 24-second mark gave that push to win the game and bring home the crown from a successful weekend!