University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: HELEN MCGINNIS
Lucas: A Lifelong Connection
February 26, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Some Chapel Hill children will get in a once in a lifetime opportunity at tonight's game.
By Adam Lucas
Tonight's basketball game against Miami will be yet another testament to the lifelong impact of the Carolina experience.
Fans in attendance at the Smith Center tonight will notice that 20 children from the Hargraves Community Center will accompany the Tar Heels out of the tunnel before tip-off, and then stand with the team during the national anthem. It's part of a decades-long partnership between Hargraves and the Tar Heel basketball program—which includes a young player named Hubert Davis first being introduced to Hargraves when he was a player.
"There's a great history for me at Hargraves Community Center," Davis says. "When I was here in college, we would go over there and play pickup. That's when I learned about how it is a community center that serves Chapel Hill but goes greatly unnoticed. It serves a number of kids and families, predominantly African-American and Hispanic families."
The entire Davis family has remained connected to Hargraves, a relationship that deepened when Hubert Davis returned to the Carolina coaching staff before the 2012-13 season. Since then, the Davis family has been closely involved with Hargraves, sometimes in ways that get attention and sometimes in ways that they keep behind the scenes.
"They have been very intentional in not only meeting the needs of the kids but also the people in the community," says John French, the recreation supervisor at Hargraves.
During the pandemic, a group of Tar Heels that included the Davis family (you'd know the other names, also, but just like the Davises--who will likely be mortified when they find out about this story--they've never sought publicity for their involvement) ensured Hargraves could serve as an alternate school location for kids who didn't have adequate wi-fi at home to participate in online school.
They've been part of turkey giveaways at Thanksgiving. Leslie Davis helped start a tutoring program. It's not unusual to walk into their home near the start of school and find the floor covered with backpacks and other school supplies—all part of an annual dropoff at Hargraves to make sure kids there have the items they need to be successful in school.
"The Davises have touched so many lives at Hargraves," French says. "I could talk about them all day and still wouldn't be able to give them all the flowers they deserve."
As head coach, Hubert Davis has made sure that his players are aware of both the history and the significance of Hargraves. Players and coaches alike have made visits to the community center, both announced and unannounced. They've been part of a variety of Hargraves programming.
In a typical week, the day at Hargraves includes senior programs or community meetings. The after school program begins in the afternoon, there's evening tutoring twice a week, a teen group that meets every other week, and a host of other activities.
"They do an unbelievable job of serving our community every day," Hubert Davis says. "It's a great and safe space for kids to hang out and grow. Our family has spent time over there, and our team has spent time over there. Hargraves is very important to the history of Chapel Hill and to the Carolina men's basketball program."
This is not necessarily part of the job description of the Carolina head basketball coach. But it's the only way Hubert Davis knows how to do it. It's how he was taught by Dean Smith, it's how he and Leslie teach their own kids, and it's how he wants to teach anyone who is part of one of his Tar Heel rosters.
So tonight, Hargraves will come to the Smith Center. Imagine the thrill you'd feel if you were able to walk out of the tunnel with the Tar Heels or stand on the court during the national anthem. Now imagine the way that thrill would be multiplied if you were a Chapel Hill child who may not have ever even attended a game in the building, despite the fact that it's just a couple of miles from your home.
"This means the world to these kids on so many levels," French says. "Not just the players, but the love the Davises have shown to the kids. I'm going to tell them that tonight is an experience they may only get once in a lifetime. And not many kids or adults get this opportunity, so they should enjoy every minute of it."
Tonight's basketball game against Miami will be yet another testament to the lifelong impact of the Carolina experience.
Fans in attendance at the Smith Center tonight will notice that 20 children from the Hargraves Community Center will accompany the Tar Heels out of the tunnel before tip-off, and then stand with the team during the national anthem. It's part of a decades-long partnership between Hargraves and the Tar Heel basketball program—which includes a young player named Hubert Davis first being introduced to Hargraves when he was a player.
"There's a great history for me at Hargraves Community Center," Davis says. "When I was here in college, we would go over there and play pickup. That's when I learned about how it is a community center that serves Chapel Hill but goes greatly unnoticed. It serves a number of kids and families, predominantly African-American and Hispanic families."
The entire Davis family has remained connected to Hargraves, a relationship that deepened when Hubert Davis returned to the Carolina coaching staff before the 2012-13 season. Since then, the Davis family has been closely involved with Hargraves, sometimes in ways that get attention and sometimes in ways that they keep behind the scenes.
"They have been very intentional in not only meeting the needs of the kids but also the people in the community," says John French, the recreation supervisor at Hargraves.
During the pandemic, a group of Tar Heels that included the Davis family (you'd know the other names, also, but just like the Davises--who will likely be mortified when they find out about this story--they've never sought publicity for their involvement) ensured Hargraves could serve as an alternate school location for kids who didn't have adequate wi-fi at home to participate in online school.
They've been part of turkey giveaways at Thanksgiving. Leslie Davis helped start a tutoring program. It's not unusual to walk into their home near the start of school and find the floor covered with backpacks and other school supplies—all part of an annual dropoff at Hargraves to make sure kids there have the items they need to be successful in school.
"The Davises have touched so many lives at Hargraves," French says. "I could talk about them all day and still wouldn't be able to give them all the flowers they deserve."
As head coach, Hubert Davis has made sure that his players are aware of both the history and the significance of Hargraves. Players and coaches alike have made visits to the community center, both announced and unannounced. They've been part of a variety of Hargraves programming.
In a typical week, the day at Hargraves includes senior programs or community meetings. The after school program begins in the afternoon, there's evening tutoring twice a week, a teen group that meets every other week, and a host of other activities.
"They do an unbelievable job of serving our community every day," Hubert Davis says. "It's a great and safe space for kids to hang out and grow. Our family has spent time over there, and our team has spent time over there. Hargraves is very important to the history of Chapel Hill and to the Carolina men's basketball program."
This is not necessarily part of the job description of the Carolina head basketball coach. But it's the only way Hubert Davis knows how to do it. It's how he was taught by Dean Smith, it's how he and Leslie teach their own kids, and it's how he wants to teach anyone who is part of one of his Tar Heel rosters.
So tonight, Hargraves will come to the Smith Center. Imagine the thrill you'd feel if you were able to walk out of the tunnel with the Tar Heels or stand on the court during the national anthem. Now imagine the way that thrill would be multiplied if you were a Chapel Hill child who may not have ever even attended a game in the building, despite the fact that it's just a couple of miles from your home.
"This means the world to these kids on so many levels," French says. "Not just the players, but the love the Davises have shown to the kids. I'm going to tell them that tonight is an experience they may only get once in a lifetime. And not many kids or adults get this opportunity, so they should enjoy every minute of it."
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