COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Sept. 25, 2025) – The USA Basketball Foundation today announced the third Torch Leadership in Sport Mentoring cohort. Torch will run from Sept. 2025 to May 2026.
Torch provides opportunities for minority students to be mentored by USA Basketball executive staff with the goal of empowering the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) leaders in sport by introducing them to opportunities at USA Basketball and other sports-related entities.
“The continued value of the Torch Leadership program is evident not only in the accomplishments of our mentees but also in the continued and growing interest in this program as a marquee opportunity for young people,” said Jennifer Lynne Williams, USA Basketball Foundation chief development officer. “Over the last three years, it’s been a pleasure to get to know each of our Torch alumni while watching them move on to amazing opportunities. Many of these students have gone on to earn fulltime positions in sports, earn acceptance into top graduate schools and find other ways to pursue their passion.”
Selected from among more than 230 applicants, the 2026 Torch cohort includes:
- Daijah Boyd, North Carolina Central University (senior)
- LeManuel Donaldson, Clark Atlanta University (senior)
- Joseph LeFlore, Metropolitan State University (junior)
- Shekinah Leonce, Alabama State University (senior)
- Nia Mayers, Howard University (senior)
- Sydney McCree, Norfolk State University (senior)
- Elijah Pinckney, Morehouse College (senior)
- Tyler Stevens, San Diego State University (senior)
- Kelsie Tillage, Spelman College (junior)
“On behalf of the USA Basketball Foundation, I’m excited to welcome the 2026 Torch Leadership in Sport cohort to the USA Basketball family,” said David Denenberg, USA Basketball Foundation chair. “The Torch program offers real-world opportunities for students to grow personally and professionally, and I look forward to watching these young people thrive in the program and in their many other endeavors.”
In addition to virtual mentoring opportunities with their USA Basketball mentor, students will hear from other industry leaders and have additional in-person learning opportunities over the duration of the program.
Application requirements included having a minimum GPA of 3.0; having a junior, senior or graduate-level standing at an HBCU, Hispanic-serving institution or AANAPISI (Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions); and submission of a resume, cover letter and letter of recommendation.