North Carolina Central University Athletics

Twice a CIAA All-Tournament selection in the championship basketball tournaments, Harold Hunter became in 1950 one of the first two black players sign­ed to play in the National Basketball Association. Coach John B. McLendon craf­tily arranged for Hunter to sign his contract ahead of West Virginia State's Earl Lloyd, so he is at least technically the first black player to hold a NBA contract. He played with the Washington Capitols, the Washington Americans, and the Baltimore Bullets. He has coached and taught in Wilmington, N.C., Washington, N.C., and at Tennessee A&I State University, Xavier University and Dillard University.  (from HOF bio at time of induction)

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Additional information:
On April 26, 1950, Harold Hunter, from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University), became the first African American to sign a training camp contract with a team from the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was signed by the previously all-White Washington Capitols. Hunter, a 5-foot-9-inch point guard, had helped lead his college team to the championship of the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Unfortunately, the Capitols cut him during training camp, and he never played in an NBA game. Later, he excelled as a coach, becoming, in 1968, the first African American to coach the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

(Hoopedia/NBA.com)
Harold Hunter was a stand-out guard from North Carolina College. Hunter led NCC to the title game of the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) National Tournament. On April 26, 1950, Hunter became the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract. Unfortunately, Hunter was cut during training camp. Hunter would never get the chance to play in the NBA. Hunter would, however, go on to become the first African-American to coach the U.S. Olympic Team. Hunter would also send 17 players to the NBA while head coach of the Tennessee State University Tigers basketball program.