By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
The inaugural Twenty2 Basketball Coaches Clinic and Networking Brunch, welcomed more than 50 high school, college, community league coaches and players to learn from and connect with each other and NBA personnel on Sept. 14.
Shortly after the day started, it became obvious to friends and family that the inaugural tribute event to honor the legacy of Blake Bozeman was a rousing success– the first of what will surely be many more to come.
“We wanted to honor the spirit of Blake Bozeman, who understood the connection between basketball, sport and issues that impact the community. Blake was a connector and understood basketball as a tool for connection,” said Todd Bozeman. “The basketball court was where things might get started, but he understood athletes have to prepare for all of life – both on and off the court.”
The senior Bozeman is founder of the Blake Bozeman Foundation and former basketball coach at Morgan State University. He is also father to Blake Bozeman, the 31-year-old beloved mentor and former Morgan State University athlete who was shot and killed on Sept. 23, 2023 in the 1300 block of H Street in Northeast, Washington, D.C.
Blake Bozeman played high school basketball at St. Albans and Bullis Prep before his time at Morgan State University. He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the historically Black institution and worked in real estate at the time of his death. Blake was married with three children.
Now, two years later, the community is remembering the life and legacy of Blake Bozeman through the sport he loved most. The Twenty2 Basketball Coaches Clinic and Networking Brunch was held at McNamara High School in Forestville, Md. and featured local professional and high school coaching talent, including David Vanderpool, assistant coach for the Washington Wizards, David Cox, the University of Maryland’s (UMD) associate head coach, and Lindsey Spann, assistant head coach and recruiter for women’s basketball at UMD.
“It was a full day of inspiring speakers,” said Terry Payton, a new head coach in Fairfax, Va. “I’m taking away a lot. With everything else going on, now I need to keep up with what’s happening today to be an effective coach.”
The Bozeman Foundation is planning two additional activities between now and the end of the year, and has already started discussions about the second annual Blake Bozeman tribute event.
“This was an amazingly good start,” said the senior Bozeman. “We’re coming out of the gate with a strong foundation.”