Travis L. Williams is a family man, entrepreneur, philanthropist, Nupe, and veteran basketball coach with experience at HBCUs and PWIs. As CEO and founder of HBCU All-Stars LLC, a sports marketing, events and media company in Atlanta, the core of his work intersects basketball, service, faith, and purpose. Williams’ journey wasn’t easy. He didn’t grow up with a father figure in his home, and he lost his mom to lupus at age 12, but he turned tragedy into victory by dedicating his life to service.
“I experienced a lot of ups and downs very early in life, but it all made me who I am today,” Williams tells AURN. “I come from a praying grandmother that trickled down to my mother, and so, I’m a man of faith, family. I live a life of service and just try to impact the world and make a difference.”
Williams is making a difference through his namesake foundation, a non-profit that focuses on educating, empowering, and mentoring youth and families, the Patricia Williams Scholarship Fund, in honor of his late mother, and Patricia’s Blessed Closet, which provides clothes, shoes, food, books, and financial assistance to youth and families. He also gives back to youth in his hometown of Tifton, Ga., via free basketball camps and clinics, and provides opportunities for development and exposure for HBCU athletes and coaches.
Next up for Williams is the third annual HBCU All-Star game on April 7 at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, broadcasted live on CBS Sports. The HBC All-Star game is a college basketball showcase featuring some of the nation’s most talented basketball players from HBCUs, representing MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, and SIAC.
“It’s an entire HBCU All-Star game experience. We get an opportunity to take the bands, the cheerleaders, and the dance team to that part of the country where HBCUs don’t exist,” Williams tells AURN. “We’ll have a large ceremony where we recognize this historic moment for these guys and celebrate them being the top players in the nation representing our four premier conferences, and the best in Black college basketball. Not only that, we’ll recognize some of our local leaders that have really impacted the Phoenix community. We’ll let them know that they matter to what we’re doing in Phoenix during this HBCU All-Star game experience.”
The kick-off ceremony starts on April 3, and leading up to the main event, over Final Four Weekend, there will be a series of related events in Phoenix such as a community give back, a dedication at a renovated community basketball court, an HBCU-focused college admissions fair, and more.
“God placed this vision in my spirit. I’m being very obedient. I’m staying faithful, and I’m serving my purpose, and I think that’s the best way to put it,” says Williams. “We haven’t been in this space, and so whenever we do our events, especially during Final Four Weekend, if there are historic events, and where we’re able to amplify Black excellence, Black culture experience, and Black history at the highest level, that’s where I am.”
