KU to host McLendon Classic this weekend with documentary screening from Kevin Willmott

Kansas Athletics will host the inaugural McLendon Classic this Sunday and Monday, Nov. 5 and 6 in celebration of famed basketball coach John McLendon.

There will be a community event on Sunday at the Lied Center, where there will be a screening of Fast Break: The Legendary John McLendon, a documentary about McLendon’s life directed by Oscar-award-winning filmmaker and KU film professor Kevin Willmott. After the screening, there will be a discussion featuring Willmott, KU director of equity and success initiatives Melissa Peterson, North Carolina Central head coach LeVelle Moton, and KU head coach Bill Self, with KU professor Shawn Alexander moderating the discussion. The group will discuss their thoughts on the documentary and the immense impact that McLendon had on KU, basketball, and society in general.

The film uses both pre-existing and new footage to tell McLendon’s story. Its name comes from McLendon’s invention of the offensive basketball strategy “fast break,” but that contribution to the game pales in comparison to the other things McLendon has done. He changed a lot about the game of basketball, but most importantly, he was instrumental in integrating college basketball.

McLendon grew up playing basketball but was never able to play on the team at KU while he was a student there because college basketball was still segregated. However, he got the chance to be mentored by James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.

After he graduated, he began coaching high school and college teams. While coaching at the North Carolina College for Negroes, they played a secret game against Duke. It was the first collegiate basketball game between a Black team and a White team and had to be played in an empty gym with no audience due to the laws at the time, but it was a major stride toward equality.

“Sports has the weird ability to bring people together with politics and humanities,” says Willmott. “It’s interesting how sports can get people to kind of see the value of someone else.”

The basketball game against North Carolina Central on Monday will honor McLendon and his legacy, with players on both teams wearing patches and special pregame shooting shirts. Tickets for the game can be purchased here.