Duncanville High School boys and girls basketball programs named a First String recipient

Hibbett, in partnership with Nike, celebrated the launch of The Origin with Duncanville High School alum and point guard for the Orlando Magic, Anthony Black, with a $50,000 donation to Duncanville High School in Texas, boys and girls basketball programs as part of their new philanthropic initiative, First String.

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Hibbett and Nike present Duncanville High School boys and girls basketball teams with $50,000 First String Donation photo credit: Matthew Lopez

“We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to commemorate the launch of The Origin with Anthony Black than by naming Duncanville as a First String recipient,” said Sarah Wangaard, Hibbett Vice President of Marketing. “Anthony’s journey to the NBA has deep roots here and this program is designed to make a lasting impact for these student-athletes, on and off the court.”

Hibbett and Nike gathered with the Duncanville High School boys and girls basketball team members yesterday to unveil Anthony Black’s inaugural episode of The Origin. Produced in partnership with Nice Kicks and Nike, The Origin is an original mini-series exploring the stories behind emerging talent in sports and culture, highlighting the drive, resilience, and support systems that fuel their journeys. In the episode, Anthony details his journey from high school basketball standout to NBA top ten draft pick.

In addition to screening The Origin episode and each of the players being rewarded with a new pair of the Lebron Witness 8 in team colors, the moment was commemorated by a personal message from Anthony Black to the boys and girls teams naming Duncanville High School as a First String recipient. The boys and girls basketball programs received a donation of $50,000 as part of the program and one student from each of the teams will be granted with scholarship funding for four years and Hibbett internship opportunities in their corporate headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

“We are incredibly grateful to Hibbett, Nike, and Anthony Black for this generous and impactful donation to our boys and girls basketball programs,” said the Duncanville ISD Superintendent, Dr. T. Lamar Goree. “This partnership is a testament to the power of community support and the importance of investing in our student-athletes. The $50,000 donation and the scholarships and internship opportunities provided through the First String initiative will have a lasting impact on our students—both on the court and in their futures. Anthony’s journey from Duncanville to the NBA is an inspiration, and we are honored to have our school celebrated as a First String recipient. Together, we are creating opportunities for our students to dream big and reach their fullest potential.”

“We’re excited to name Duncanville as our second recipient of First String,” said Robby Bullington, Hibbett Vice President of Stores. “We just launched this program earlier this year and we look forward to seeing the impact First String will have on high school student-athletes and hosting these students in our local offices for career development opportunities,” said Bullington.

About First String:

First String is a philanthropic initiative launched by Hibbett in partnership with Nike aimed at empowering the next generation of student-athletes. Focused on supporting local high school boys and girls basketball programs, the program fosters athletic, academic, and career success, seeking to create opportunities for young people to thrive on and off the court. Each year, First String donates funds to local basketball programs and selects one player from the boys and girls teams to receive scholarship assistance for their post-high school education. Scholarship recipients are also given access to internships and career development opportunities with Hibbett at their Birmingham corporate office, helping them explore passions beyond basketball and gain valuable career-building experience.

About Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with nearly 1,000 specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations providing personalized customer service and bringing access to premium products, coveted footwear & apparel from top brands like Nike, Jordan, adidas & New Balance in underserved communities. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop Toe-2-Head fits, and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.Hibbett.com . Hibbett is owned by JD Sports Fashion plc, a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion brands. Follow us @hibbettsports on Facebook, Instagram, and X and @Hibbett on TikTok.

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