HAMPTON, Va. (Feb. 10, 2026) … Hampton takes on North Carolina A&T as part of the NBA All-Star Game weekend. It marks the first time that the Pirates have participated in the event.

The fourth time the NBA has sponsored the HBCU Classic, it marks the first appearance by Hampton and North Carolina A&T.

On hand for the HBCU Classic will be Rick Mahorn, the greatest basketball player in Pirate history. He played at Hampton (then Hampton Institute) from 1976-80, amassing 2,460 points and 1,465 rebounds. A member of the Hampton and CIAA Halls of Fame, he is the only Pirate basketball player to have his number (44) retired.

A second-round pick of the Washington Bullets, he played in the NBA for 18 seasons with the Bullets, Pistons, 76ers and Nets.

A loyal and fervent Pirate supporter, he has remained close to the program.

The Game
Hampton (12-13, 6-6) takes on longtime rival North Carolina A&T (9-14, 2-10) with the star-studded backdrop of the NBA All-Star Game and ancillary activities.

It will be the second meeting of the two Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) teams. On Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 19, the Pirates throttled the Aggies 82-61 before a crowd of 4,776 at the Hampton Convocation Center.

In the first meeting, the Pirates led 43-34 at intermission and outscored the Aggies 39-27 in the second stanza in a game televised on CBS Sports. Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt (24 points) and Michael Eley (18) both came off the bench to score 42 of Hampton's 82 points.

Gaines-Wyatt is now Hampton's starting point guard, averaging 11.9 ppg. Hampton's leading scorer, Michael Eley (12.7 ppg) has missed seven games this season --- including the last four --- dealing with a turf toe injury.  On Jan. 8, Eley tallied 43 points at Campbell, a career and team high. He scored four points in 12 minutes against UNCW on Jan. 24 in his last appearance.

Forwards Daniel Johnson (9.7 ppg) and Xzavier Long (9.6 ppg) are scoring threats. Long leads the CAA and is 13th nationally in rebounding with 10.3 rpg.

Trademark of Coach Ivan Thomas's team is an aggressive, physical style of play on the defensive end. CAA opponents average just 64.3 ppg in 12 contests against the Pirates.

The game will be broadcasted on Peacock/ESPN2/NBATV.