The Minnesota Up-Towns were a dominant Black basketball team in the 1920s whose legacy has long been overlooked in state history.
Charles Hallman
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Table-top book captures 170 Boston Celtics ‘moments’
A new illustrated book explores the Boston Celtics’ overlooked Black history, from NBA firsts to the complex legacy shaped by race and rivalry.
Posted inBlack College Sports Report
Black schools getting ‘plucked’ by NIL, portal
HBCU coaches say unregulated NIL rules and the transfer portal are allowing bigger schools to recruit directly from their rosters, threatening program stability.
Posted inAnother View
Como Park grad has no regrets
Ronnie Porter’s final game at Williams Arena marked a full-circle moment for the St. Paul native, who rose from walk-on to Wisconsin starter and leader.
Posted inAnother View
Former St. Thomas guard finds happiness with Huskers
Kendall Blue made the most of his homecoming, hitting a late three at Williams Arena as Nebraska remained unbeaten in a historic season.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Gopher hockey forward ‘just an athletic guy’
Javon Moore is making history in Gopher hockey as the program’s second Black men’s player while building toward an NHL future.
Posted inCoaching while Black
New Saints head coach finds St. Scholastica a good fit
St. Scholastica men’s basketball coach Jared Drake reflects on faith, leadership, and being the MIAC’s only Black head coach.
Posted inSports
Two hoop champions bridge 57-year gap
Emmette Bryant met Jaylen Brown in Chicago, linking two Celtics champions who wore No. 7 nearly six decades apart.
Posted inAnother View
Northwestern associate coach ready to step up
Tangela Smith’s basketball career spans the WNBA, international play, and now a leadership role as associate head coach at Northwestern.
Posted inOdds and Ends
NIL, transfer portal make high school recruitment more competitive
Veteran coach Milton Barnes launched Play Right Sports Academy to help high school athletes navigate recruiting challenges in the transfer portal era.
Posted inBlack College Sports Report
Who’s toughest, SWAC or MEAC?
As debate grows over whether the SWAC or MEAC is the toughest Black college basketball conference, coaches say depth, talent, and competition make every game a challenge.
Posted inAnother View
Big Ten WBB winningest active coach retiring
Joe McKeown reflected on coaching, competition, and legacy during his final visit to Williams Arena as Northwestern’s longtime women’s basketball coach.
Posted inOdds and Ends
MAC players adjust to new coaches
Macalester basketball players are adjusting to new coaches, academic demands, and evolving roles during the 2025–26 season.
Posted inSports
At Augsburg, more diversity makes great chemistry
MIAC basketball diversity is increasingly visible at Augsburg University, where inclusive rosters are reshaping the conference.
Posted inAnother View
Abe’s back, Chip resigns
Abe Woldeslassie returned to Minnesota with Denver as MIAC coaching milestones marked leadership changes across the conference.
Posted inOdds and Ends
New MAC assistant coaches help teams rebuild
As Macalester men’s and women’s basketball rebuild this season, first-year assistant coaches Mamadou Diallo and Taylor Pilot share their coaching journeys, philosophies, and goals.
Posted inSports
Wolves coach White, a hoops vagabond, now loves Minnesota
James White Timberwolves assistant coach brings NBA and international experience to Minnesota’s growing coaching staff.
Posted inAnother View
Gopher assistant coach has head coaching in his sights
Brothers Dennis and Armon Gates faced each other as coaches when Missouri hosted Minnesota, marking a rare family moment shaped by shared roots, hard work, and basketball ambition.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Prep Academy gets new coach, top prospect
Minnesota Prep Academy appoints Quincy “Coach Q” Caldwell as head basketball coach and welcomes Canadian standout Tito Onyemachi as a top new prospect.
Posted inBlack College Sports Report, Sports
Prairie View’s first-year women’ BB coach aims to create team’s identity
Tai Dillard begins her first season as Prairie View A&M’s head women’s basketball coach, bringing WNBA, Big 12, and SWAC experience to the program.