This December, the rhythm of HBCU hoops is headed to The Happiest Place on Earth. From December 4–7, the inaugural ESPN HBCU Hoops Invitational will turn the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World into a showcase of culture, competition and community.

The tournament will feature eight programs—four men’s and four women’s. On the men’s side: Florida A&M, Tuskegee, Florida Memorial and Barber-Scotia. The women’s bracket runs just as deep, with Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, Edward Waters and Cheyney—the latter still holding history as the only HBCU women’s team ever to reach the NCAA Division I Final Four.

The Invitational, powered by HBCU Hoops Global, Inc., aims to uplift beyond the court. A college admissions fair, scholarship initiatives and career development programs will anchor the event’s mission to empower the next generation of Black scholars and athletes.

“The HBCU Hoops Invitational is far more than a basketball tournament—it’s a powerful celebration of heritage, excellence and the limitless future of HBCU athletics,’’ said HBCU Hoops Global vice president Haywoode Workman in a statement per hbcuhoops.org. The former Indiana Pacers guard turned NBA ref continued: “We are building a legacy that extends well beyond the court to open doors to academic achievement, career readiness, and financial opportunity for our scholar-athletes.”

The Invitational goes to show the depth of basketball’s impact on the community, and the Black community in particular. This is about showing the next generation that HBCU hoops belong on the biggest stages and that the culture knows no limits.

Photos via Getty Images.