Chris Paul can now add “HBCU graduate” to his name!



As previously reported by AfroTech, the Phoenix Suns star attended Winston-Salem State University along with being invested in actively supporting HBCUs.

Back in July 2022, Paul shared that he didn’t learn about the institutions until later down the line.

“I was born and raised in Winston Salem, North Carolina and I actually attended Wake Forest University,” he said during the 2022 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit. “Wake Forest was an amazing school, but in my hometown, you have a Wake Forest University over here and you have a Winston State Salem University over here, which is an HBCU. And Winston-Salem State never recruited me. Not saying that I would’ve went there. Not like that, but at the time honestly, there was sort of a blueprint to try to make it into professional sports.”

Better Late Than Never

Now, Paul is officially a part of the HBCU family.

On Dec. 16, after his team won against the Los Angeles Clippers the night before, he was front and center at his Winston-Salem graduation ceremony, according to Sports Illustrated. 

Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications.

In 2003, Paul pursued a college degree at Wake Forest. However, his time was cut short after he was the No. 4 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

“I’m excited. Long time coming,” Paul said during a post-game interview.

He added: “My brother was the first person to graduate in my family. To be able to go back home and do that with my family is something that snuck up kinda quick … but I’m probably most excited that I get to spend the next ten days with my wife and my kids.”

In addition to receiving his college diploma, Paul awarded $2,500 to each of his fellow graduates, according to the outlet.