The HBL Announces Award-Winning Journalist, Soledad O’Brien, to Join Advisory Board

Cleveland, OH – November 12, 2019 – The Historical Basketball League (HBL) is pleased to announce the addition of documentarian, journalist, speaker, author and philanthropist, Soledad O’Brien, to the league’s Advisory Board. Comprised of influencers from various industries critical to the long-term success of the HBL, the Advisory Board includes experienced leaders in technology, finance & investment, sports, media & content, legal, and academics. Soledad O’Brien is the newest member of the HBL Advisory Board and will work closely with the HBL Executive Team to provide critical input on decisions related to overall strategic planning and execution of the HBL’s mission and vision.

Ricky Volante, CEO and Co-Founder of the HBL remarked, “Soledad brings passion and grit to every effort she commits to and we are so pleased to welcome her to the HBL Advisory Board.  Her extensive experience and knowledge, as well as her long-standing relationships in the media industry, will be invaluable as the HBL moves into the next strategic growth stage. Soledad's efforts to give under-represented and exploited individuals a voice, as well as her dedication to upholding human and civil rights, fit perfectly with our overall mission to create a fair and equitable college basketball model that rewards its athletes for their efforts, rather than exploiting them.”

Soledad O’Brien is the CEO of Soledad O'Brien Productions (SO’B Productions), a multi-platform media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a range of social issues. In addition to leading SO’B Productions, she anchors and produces the Hearst Television political magazine program Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien and reports regularly for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and PBS’ NewsHour. O’Brien has appeared as an anchor or contributor on all three major networks and was the face of CNN’s morning news shows for many years. She also anchored the CNN documentary unit where she created the In America documentary series.  O’Brien is the Philanthropy Editor of Worth Magazine and is also the author of two books, her critically acclaimed memoir The Next Big Story and Latino in America.  She speaks on a variety of social issues at college campuses and corporate events.  

On joining the HBL Advisory Board, O’Brien said, “I'm honored to be part of the Advisory Board of the HBL because I think there’s an important conversation to be had on how best to reform the system—that uses promising young athletes but fails to compensate them. As a storyteller I know the public is ready for a conversation about the rules that govern college athletes, and where those rules can be improved. I'm thrilled to join their team of courageous athletes, sport pioneers and innovative leaders at such a critical juncture.”

The HBL is the first professional college basketball league to enable athletes to directly benefit from their talent, marketability, and hard work by offering an education and compensation. The league is shifting the landscape of collegiate athletics by offering salaries up to $150,000 per season, in addition to 5-year guaranteed scholarships, along with allowing its athletes to fully commercialize their name, image, and likeness without restriction. 

With backing secured from over a dozen investors from a range of industries and backgrounds, the HBL is preparing to launch its 2021 inaugural season in eight cities: Philadelphia, Baltimore, District of Columbia (D.C.), Richmond, Norfolk, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Atlanta. The HBL expects to finalize its domestic media partnership in the coming weeks and will then shift its focus to hiring head coaches and securing an apparel partner, as well as continuing to engage and recruit 4-star and 5-star prospects.  Expect more exciting news from the HBL, including updates on coaches, players, team names and logos, as well as further details on team and league sponsorships and partnerships.

Press inquiries for interviews, additional facts, and images should be directed to press@hbleague.com. To keep up to date, follow the HBL on Twitter (@hb_league) and Instagram (@hbleague).

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