For nearly seven months, Kyle Smedley, a sports reporter for the South Bend Tribune, has been reporting and writing a four-part series covering the often-overlooked history and rich legacy of South Bend’s standout, Black high school athletes.
From January-July 2026, Smedley has interviewed prominent Black athletes spanning from the 1950s to the present. He has also held a handful of other off-the-record conversations for guidance along the way. The stories below are a result of this work.
Legacy of first generations of Black South Bend athletes
To sum up the full history of Black high school athletics in South Bend is impossible. It’s been nearly 85 years since the IHSAA’s color barrier was fully broken, and many influential athletes both before and after that significant accomplishment have been lost to history. But there are some who still resonate today. Read their stories here.
Black South Bend high school athletes from 1970-99
From 1970-99, there were 14 team state championships won by South Bend schools: four from Adams and Saint Joseph, three from Riley, two from Clay and one from Washington. There were also 14 Black track and field athletes and six Black wrestlers from South Bend who won state championships as well. Read about their stories here.
Black South Bend athletes reflect on legacy
Damezi Anderson Jr. doesn’t live in the hometown he holds near and dear to his heart. He doesn’t even live in Indiana. Now residing in Kansas City, Missouri, Anderson Jr. is still following his passion and playing basketball overseas. He’s also intentionally keeping a comfortable distance from South Bend. Anderson Jr., a 2018 Riley graduate, says most people only remember him for his many athletic accomplishments.
These high school student athletes are proud to be Black
To understand the full picture of how important South Bend’s Black community is, highlighting the present and future are just as important as honoring the past. Standout athletes from South Bend like Saint Joseph 1,000-point scorer Elijah King are celebrated, thanks to those who came before him like Entee Shine, a 1950 South Bend Central alumnus who was one of the first two Black Notre Dame men’s basketball players. Read how today’s athletes are not only honoring the past, but are also integral to South Bend’s strong Black community here.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The history and legacy of South Bend’s Black high school athletes
Reporting by South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
