The USA Basketball Foundation introduced the Torch Leadership in Sport Mentoring Program, which will provide annual opportunities for minority students to be mentored by USA Basketball executive staff. The goal of the program is to empower the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) leaders in sport by introducing them to opportunities at USA Basketball and other sports-related entities. Applications for the 2022-23 cohort will be accepted from June 1-30, 2022.

Torch Leadership provides students at Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-serving institutions and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISI) access to executive leaders at USA Basketball and in the sports industry, while also providing one-on-one in-person and virtual mentoring from the USAB executive team during the academic year.

“The Torch Leadership program exposes students at institutions that serve minorities to opportunities in the sports industry and allows them to have access to USA Basketball leadership,” said Jennifer Lynne Williams, USA Basketball Foundation chief development officer. “I want the mentees to develop relationships that don’t just last for the duration of the program, but for them to truly be able to connect with their mentor and others in the Torch network and to use those individuals as resources as they pursue their careers.”

For more information on Torch Leadership, visit usabfoundation.org. Applicant requirements include: Maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, having Junior, senior or graduate-level standing at an HBCU, Hispanic-serving institution or AANAPISI, provide a resume, cover letter and letter of recommendation.

A fully funded program for successful applicants, the Torch Leadership Program runs from September to May, with the cohort selected in August.