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Sporting Goods Retailer Named Alma Mater of Anthony Black a 'First String Initiative' Recipient

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•12/23/24•

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Anthony Black
Duncanville alumnus and Orlando Magic point guard Anthony Black. (© Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

Hibbett, an Alabama-based sporting goods retailer, selected Anthony Black’s high school alma mater as a recipient of their philanthropic cause. To celebrate the Orlando Magic point guard’s mini-series, The Origin, Hibbett and Nike made Duncanville High School the second recipient of the ‘First String’ initiative.

To officially announce the partnership, representatives from Hibbett and Nike met with the Duncanville boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. In addition to the launch of Black’s first episode of The Origin, the basketball programs received a $50,000 donation. That amount will go a long way for the fifth-best boys’ and top-ranked girls’ basketball teams in the On3 Texas Composite Rankings.

Meanwhile, each player received a new pair of Nike’s LeBron Witness 8 in Duncanville’s team colors. Furthermore, one player from each team will receive a four-year scholarship grant. Duncanville’s players will also get internship opportunities at Hibbett. Wenonah High School, the first-ever ‘First String’ recipient, also got the same incentives during the program’s launch last October.

Likewise, Black gave an inspiring message to the current Panthers players. The second-year NBA player is the protagonist of the mini-series produced by Nike and Nice Kicks. As the Nice Kicks YouTube channel caption states, “Episode 1 follows Orlando Magic player Anthony Black as he reflects on his path from Texas high school basketball star to NBA rookie, navigating unique challenges along the way. In this episode, get an inside look at the daily life of an NBA player and discover how Anthony’s tight-knit family played a crucial role in shaping his success.”

Black transferred to Duncanville after playing three years at Coppell High School. While he played only 15 games for the Panthers, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, four assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Those numbers made him a McDonald’s All-American and a Nike Hoop Summit participant in 2022.

The five-star prospect eventually chose Arkansas over TCU, Oklahoma State, and Gonzaga for college basketball. After playing for the Razorbacks, the Magic selected Anthony Black with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Black averaged 4.6 points, two rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game during his rookie NBA season.