February 14, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jonathan Melendez | jmelen17@asu.edu

Rosie Davis | rmdavi23@asu.edu
Angela Anderson | arande34@asu.edu
PHONE: 602-496-5051

ASU BASKETBALL JERSEYS HONORING BLACK EXCELLENCE

AVAILABLE AT SELECT SUN DEVIL CAMPUS STORES

Phoenix, AZ – This February, Arizona State University and the Sun Devil Campus Stores are honoring
Black History Month by offering exclusive jerseys worn by the Arizona State men’s and women’s
basketball teams. The jerseys debuted in 2022 and were part of the Honoring Black Excellence
movement, an initiative started by ASU brand partner, Adidas, to celebrate the achievements of Black
individuals and Black culture as a whole.

These jerseys feature vibrant and distinctive designs inspired by Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey, who
helped lead a movement that sought to unify and connect people of African descent worldwide and
eliminate barriers. Garvey traveled to the U.S. with a mission to empower Black Americans with
education about their African heritage and combat negative attitudes toward African culture. Garvey
developed the term “Cream of the Planet” with cream symbolizing the abundance of natural resources
Africa provides. The Black Excellence jerseys utilize a primary cream color in reflection of Garvey's
teachings.

The Arizona State University Black Excellence jerseys are decorated in mountainscapes and Arizona's
natural colors that represent the unique geography of Arizona and the university's roots in the desert. A
floral pattern of Saguaro Cactus blossoms, the Arizona state flower, alludes to honoring Black leaders by
giving them their flowers.

The men's basketball team sported the jersey on February 3, in their matchup against the University of
California. The women’s team is set to wear the jersey against the University of Washington on February
16. The Sun Devil community can now don the same jerseys by visiting select ASU Campus stores or the
Sun Devil Campus stores website.
About Sun Devil Campus Stores

The Arizona State University Sun Devil Campus Stores are retail spaces located around each campus. It
sells textbooks, used books, art supplies, academic supplies and Arizona State University merchandise. As
the official retail partner of ASU, it strives to provide a one-stop shop for student needs, ranging from
course materials and technology to apparel and gifts. Sun Devil Campus Stores are fully operated by
Follett, the parent company that offers a variety of educational products to schools, colleges and public
libraries. The Follett Corporation's goal is to utilize cutting-edge technology to simplify the academic
process and make learning easy for everyone.

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