CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Knothole Foundation of the Carolinas hosted the 4th Annual HBCU Showcase event on August 9th and 10th, 2023 at the Richard “Stick” Williams Dreams Fields. The event gave 73 high school baseball players from 5 different states and the District of Columbia the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of more than 25 college coaches and scouts from schools across all three NCAA divisions, the NAIA, and the NJCAA.
The event was a great success, with players showing off their skills and coaches and scouts getting a chance to see the talent on display. “It was great to see so many talented players come together and show off their skills,” said Morris Madden, Co-Founder of The Knothole Foundation. “We’re proud to be able to provide this opportunity for these young athletes to get noticed and potentially get recruited.”
The event also featured a life skills banquet attended by over 200 people including players, parents, coaches, and event sponsors. The banquet featured a speakers panel from Alex Fourney from The Players NIL and Cecil Burrows from Wells Fargo to talk to the athletes about financial health. The players and their families had the opportunity to meet these speakers and representatives from partner companies to talk in more depth about topics around NIL financial health and college and career pathways for upward mobility.
“We’re so proud to be able to provide this opportunity for these young athletes to learn more about financial health and college and career pathways,” said Cecil Burrows. “It’s important for them to understand the importance of financial literacy and how to make the most of their college experience.”
About The Knothole Foundation
The Knothole Foundation’s mission is to increase access and opportunities for underserved youth through a focus on baseball instruction, academic support, and life skills development. Visit www.knotholecarolinas.org for more details on this year’s event and updates regarding plans for the Knothole Foundation’s 2024 HBCU Showcase event.
Contact:
Anthony Grillo, Director
anthonygrillo@knotholecarolinas.org