CHICAGO, ILL. (Aug. 3, 2020)– The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) continues to deliver on its mission of providing educational opportunities to former professional basketball players and their families. Through the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund, the NBRPA will award 78 undergraduate and graduate scholarships for the 2020-21 school year. The scholarship, initiated in honor of the late Dave DeBusschere, provides financial support to eligible NBRPA members, their spouses, children and grandchildren in pursuit of degrees in higher education.
“Providing financial assistance towards keeping the educational pathway open for our members and their families is important,” said NBRPA Chairman Johnny Davis. “It has the potential to instill a lasting positive impact on the future of our members and their families.”
Ten of the 78 recipients will also receive the Earl Lloyd Scholarship which is pledged by the NBA Players Legacy Fund to recipients in-need of additional support. Collectively, the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund and Earl Lloyd Scholarship will distribute $260,000 amongst eligible students in 2020.
“The NBRPA is thrilled to offer the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund and Earl Lloyd Scholarship to support its members and families in continuing education,” said NBRPA President & CEO Scott Rochelle. “We strongly believe our members and their families should have access to higher education, regardless of their financial status.”
Over the past three years, the NBRPA has distributed 200-plus scholarships and more than $750,000 in total payouts. To date, $1.8 million in scholarships have been awarded to NBRPA members and their families through the cornerstone initiative.
In addition to the college scholarships, the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund supports the NBRPA Chapter Program’s annual Reading Initiative, wherein educational programs in the twelve NBRPA chapter cities receive funding.
See below for a full list of the 2020 Dave DeBusschere Scholarship recipients:
| Nurah Abdulaziz | Jason Eakins | Nancy Jones | Race Parks |
| Shaylynn Adams | Jadyn Eakins | Houston Jones | Lucy Parrish |
| Hailey Ayre | Keonna Earl | Alyssa Keeling | Samuel Roberts |
| Keion Battle | Keith Edmonson | Mason Kite | Mayneatha Royal |
| Ava Birdin | Kennedi Edney | Natasha Knight | Cristina Santiago Espinet |
| Mylaisia Birdsong | Kolbi-Rae Edney | Alexa Lister | Syarra Sellers |
| Earl A. Boykins Jr. | Michaela Falzone | Alton Lister, Jr. | Anna Shaw |
| Charity Bradley | Dylan Fisher | Chelsea May | Kendall Smith |
| Mehsai Bradley | Reilly Gambee | Stefani McClanahan | Karch Smith |
| Freddy Brown | Myles Gilbert | Alicia McDaniel | Serena Smith |
| Isabelle Brown | Zoey Hill | Mason Meents | Eric Snow |
| Jazmyn Carthen | J'Den Humphries | Amara Money-Williams | Jazmine Thomas |
| Caley Chapman | Benjamin Inniger | Cheyenne Monthe | Trevor Toolson |
| Stephanie Colter | Michael Inniger | Sydney Monthe | Melody Walters |
| Johanna Counts | Grant Inniger | Elijah O'Bryant | Evan Wilkins |
| Sari Cureton | Alfonso Johnson | Emery O'Bryant | Shyneefa Williams |
| Jalen Darling-Tot | Trey Johnson | Liana Pachot | Jordan Wooten |
| Jajuan Darling-Tot | Shoneia Jones | Milton Palacio | Craig Matthew Zeiring |
| Jaelyn DeJesus | Logan Jones | Emeri Palacio | |
| Deneal Dooling | Dominick Jones | Iseri Palacio |
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL RETIRED PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Johnny Davis, Vice Chairman Jerome Williams, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Thurl Bailey, Caron Butler, Dave Cowens, Dave Naves, Shawn Marion and Sheryl Swoopes.