USA Basketball Foundation Announces 2027 Torch Leadership Cohort
9.25.26 | General
HAMPTON, Va. (September 25, 2026) … Former Hampton University football student-athlete Kaleb Moore has been selected to participate in the USA Basketball Foundation's Torch Leadership in Sport Mentoring cohort. The program will run from September 2026 to May 2027.
Moore a student in the Hampton business program, earning Dean's List recognition as well as Coastal Athletic Association Commissioner's Honor Roll honors. He was a member of the Pirate the Making innovation competition.
A native of Greenbelt, Md., Moore was a USGA Pathways Ambassador and worked for Monumental Sports as a sports business intern.
Torch provides opportunities for students at minority-serving institutions 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.
Selected from among more than 290 applicants, the 2027 Torch cohort includes:
· Kaleb Moore, Hampton University
· Travis Dalton, Morehouse College
· Madison Galloway, Norfolk State University
· Denver Matthews, Morehouse College
· Joshua "JJ" Montelongo, University of Washington-Seattle
· Chiara Luna Pilato, Arizona State University
· Leah Richardson, Clark Atlanta University
· Will Sears, Morehouse College
· Zuri Sims, University of Central Florida
· Nile Thaxton, George Mason University
With 10 students selected, the 2027 Torch cohort is the largest since the program's inception, while five new universities will be represented in the group.
In addition to virtual mentoring opportunities with members of the USA Basketball leadership team, students will hear from other industry leaders and have additional in-person learning opportunities over the duration of the program.
Moore a student in the Hampton business program, earning Dean's List recognition as well as Coastal Athletic Association Commissioner's Honor Roll honors. He was a member of the Pirate the Making innovation competition.
A native of Greenbelt, Md., Moore was a USGA Pathways Ambassador and worked for Monumental Sports as a sports business intern.
Torch provides opportunities for students at minority-serving institutions 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.
Selected from among more than 290 applicants, the 2027 Torch cohort includes:
· Kaleb Moore, Hampton University
· Travis Dalton, Morehouse College
· Madison Galloway, Norfolk State University
· Denver Matthews, Morehouse College
· Joshua "JJ" Montelongo, University of Washington-Seattle
· Chiara Luna Pilato, Arizona State University
· Leah Richardson, Clark Atlanta University
· Will Sears, Morehouse College
· Zuri Sims, University of Central Florida
· Nile Thaxton, George Mason University
With 10 students selected, the 2027 Torch cohort is the largest since the program's inception, while five new universities will be represented in the group.
In addition to virtual mentoring opportunities with members of the USA Basketball leadership team, students will hear from other industry leaders and have additional in-person learning opportunities over the duration of the program.
Wednesday, September 23
Saturday, September 19
Thursday, September 17
Wednesday, September 09
