While Alabama basketball tipped off their first of two preseason scrimmages with a victory vs. Wake Forest last Friday. The day before, a local high school found themselves winners on the floor of Boutwell Auditorium.

On Oct. 17th, First String, a philanthropic program kicked off their new initiative, a partnership between Hibbett and Nike, by donating $50,000 to Wenonah High School basketball teams.

Student athletes from Wenonah had a chance to shoot baskets on the court at Boutwell Auditorium, with Hibbett President Jared Briskin, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Birmingham Promise Director, Samantha Williams.

Each year, First String donates funds to local basketball programs and selects one player from the boys and girls’ teams to receive scholarship assistance for their post-high school education. In addition to the financial donation, the teams received the new Ja Morant signature shoes.

“We all want to see these players successful on and off the court and First String will help ensure those students succeed,” said Woodfin in a press release. “The partnership between First String and Birmingham Promise to help provide students with scholarship funding to continue their post-high school education and help identify possible career opportunities continues to foster the Birmingham community.”

According to a First String spokesperson, Wenonah is one of the schools that Hibbett and Nike have worked with over the last four years in various campaigns that promoted the individual brand’s initiatives, before forming First String.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Hibbett is being acquired by U.K.-based JD Sports in a deal totaling $1.08 billion.