Inaugural college basketball, community event coming to downtown Greenville

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A new four-day event centered on community and college basketball will be held this winter in Greenville.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena will host the inaugural HBCU MLK Day Unity Invitational, a four-day celebration of unity, community and collegiate basketball, according to a news release. Set to take place January 12-15, 2024, the event will commemorate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while showcasing 14 basketball teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Basketball will take place Saturday, Jan. 13 and Monday, Jan. 15 and include teams from Claflin University, Clinton College, Fayetteville State University and Johnson C. Smith University, among others, the release stated.

The weekend will kick off with The Legacy Breakfast at Unity Park on Jan. 12 followed by a Career Expo at the arena to provide students the opportunity to connect with representatives from many of the region’s top businesses, the release stated. On Jan. 15, the community will be invited to partake in a special MLK Day March to The Well Parade, which will begin at City Hall in downtown Greenville.

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“The HBCU MLK Day Unity Invitational weekend will offer a diverse range of activities and events, all designed to inspire future generations and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Calvin Ivery, president of Dreamchasers Basketball Club, the non-profit organization producing the event, in the release. "We look forward to this special collaboration with Bon Secours Wellness Arena including the opportunity to highlight talent from leading HBCU basketball teams while bringing the larger community together.”

The invitational will serve as a significant milestone within Bon Secours Wellness Arena’s 25th anniversary celebration.

“We are very pleased to serve as the host site for the inaugural HBCU MLK Day Unity Invitational,” General Manager Beth Paul said in the release. “The invitational strongly aligns with the arena’s mission as we seek to continue diversifying our programming while serving as a place for members of the community to enjoy live entertainment, sports and special events.”