Miles Director of Athletics and head men's basketball coach Fred Watson has been selected to participate in this year's men's NCAA College Basketball Academy in Memphis, Tenn. The event will take place from July 24-27 at the new Memphis Sports and Events Center.

The NCAA College Basketball Academies give prospective men's and women's student-athletes a sample of the college basketball experience. Organized with input from the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, these developmental summer academies pair high-level basketball competition with life skills instruction. 

Academy coaching staffs are composed of Divisions II and III, NAIA and junior college men's college basketball coaches and high school coaches. For the men's academy, the coaches were selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in coordination with the NCAA. Watson is the only HBCU coach selected to participate in this event.

"Honored. That was my first thought when learning about my selection. It will be my second consecutive selection, so I am grateful to consistently be considered for these opportunities," Watson said.

Watson will help mold some of the top young basketball talent in North America, with qualifying participants selected through USA Basketball and Canada Basketball, top 10th and 11th grade travel ball squads and other chosen individuals.

"To work with the best grassroots players in the county is always exciting," Watson said. "I have a passion for coaching, so I look forward to pouring into these young men as I do my own student-athletes."

In addition to playing in games and working on skills, participants and their parents or chaperones will attend life skills courses about NCAA eligibility and compliance; the recruiting process; name, image and likeness opportunities; agents; the Transfer Portal; and the pathway to professional basketball opportunities. 

Watson is entering his fifth season a head men's basketball coach at Miles, where he has won three SIAC championships and led the Golden Bears to four NCAA South Regions tournaments. He is 92-25 in his four seasons (.786 winning percentage) and has more than 400 career victories in 20 seasons as a head coach.