Black H.S. Hoops Player Flooded With Support After Fan's Racial Slur

The player has continued to play despite the ugly incident, surrounded by an outpouring of community support.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A Black high school basketball player in Flint, Michigan was the target of a racist slur from a fan during a recent game, but has since received an "outpouring of encouragement and support" from his teammates, classmates, and the broader community. The student who used the racial slur has been disciplined by the school district, though details on the punishment were not released.

Why it matters

Incidents of racism and discrimination in high school sports have become an unfortunate reality, but the response from the Kearsley High community shows the power of standing up against hate and coming together to support affected players.

The details

The disgusting moment happened during a Flint Metro League boys basketball semifinal game, when a Goodrich High School fan yelled the N-word at a Flint Kearsley High player. Despite the ugly incident, the Kearsley player has continued to play in games and has been met with an "outpouring of encouragement and support" from his teammates, classmates, and the broader community.

  • The incident occurred during the second quarter of last week's Flint Metro League boys basketball semifinal game.
  • The Kearsley player has played in two basketball games since the incident.

The players

Flint Kearsley High player

The Black high school basketball player who was the target of a racist slur from a fan during a recent game.

Goodrich High School fan

The fan who yelled a racist slur at the Kearsley player during the game.

Paul Gaudard

The Kearsley Community Schools Superintendent.

Mike Baszler

The Goodrich Area Schools Superintendent.

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What they’re saying

“I'm happy to share that he is doing well, has played in two basketball games since the incident, and has been surrounded by an outpouring of encouragement and support from our entire community.”

— Paul Gaudard, Kearsley Community Schools Superintendent (TMZ)

“We take matters like this seriously, which is why the student section was promptly removed, the matter was investigated, and the conduct was addressed.”

— Mike Baszler, Goodrich Area Schools Superintendent (TMZ)

What’s next

The school districts have not released specific details on the punishment for the student who used the racial slur, but have stated the matter was handled in accordance with their student code of conduct.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing racism and discrimination in high school sports, but the response from the Kearsley community shows the power of standing up against hate and supporting affected players. The continued focus on building an inclusive environment and reinforcing values of respect is crucial.