Claim: In black neighborhoods, basketball was promoted through the YMCA, and could be played indoors, outdoors, and on almost any surface,  by 1915 African-Americans played in high school and college gym classes and teams were started at Hampton University , Lincoln University, Wilberforce University, and Virginia Union.
Evidence: It was promoted largely in YMCA in black neighborhoods, on basketball courts indoors and outdoors, at parks and on playgrounds. The game could be played on almost any surface, and it required little or no equipment. By 1915, African-Americans played basketball in high school physical education classes, on college and university squads, and on club teams representing major urban cities. Some of the first predominantly black universities to form basketball teams include Hampton University in Virginia; Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; Wilberforce University in Ohio; and Virginia Union in Richmond.