Hall of Hope Enshrinees | The Pathways Foundation

The Enshrinement

Each August, in the city where the game was invented, Hall of Hope honors those whose work off the court to change young lives.

Springfield, Massachusetts ◆ The Birthplace of Basketball

2026

The Gold Jacket Class

Enshrined at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Nancy Lieberman

Nancy Lieberman Charities

Two-time Naismith Hall of Famer and pioneer of the women's game, whose Dream Courts give youth safe places to play.

Chuck Cooper

Accepted by Chuck Cooper III

Chuck Cooper Foundation

The first African-American drafted into the NBA (1950), who broke the league's color barrier with the Boston Celtics.

Harold “Lefty” Williams

Dare 2 Dream Foundation

The first left-handed showman in Harlem Globetrotter history, inspiring youth to dream bigger and lead.

Mario West

The Mario West Foundation

Former NBA guard and Georgia Tech captain bringing mentorship and scholarships to Atlanta-area youth.

2025

The Inaugural Class

Where Hall of Hope began

Travis Best Foundation

Springfield, MA

A Springfield-born NBA guard whose foundation has uplifted local youth through sports, arts, and education since 2008.

The Academic Leadership Association

Springfield, MA

An award-winning Springfield program empowering youth through mentoring, literacy, and self-advocacy.

Join the Legacy

Every honoree began with someone who believed a young person could do more.