(BALTIMORE – November 2, 2026) — Baltimore basketball legend Al Leslie will receive a Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award at LOYALTY, BMORENews.com’s 24th anniversary celebration, on December 3, 2026, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Shura.
A West Baltimore native raised around Druid Hill Avenue and Laurens Street, Leslie’s journey took him from the courts of Cloverdale to McDonogh School and Bucknell University, where he became one of the greatest basketball players in school history.
Leslie scored 1,973 career points at Bucknell—without the benefit of a three-point line. His accomplishments included a school-record 45-point performance and a career scoring record that stood for 32 years. Bucknell inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and retired his No. 22 jersey in 2006.
The Indiana Pacers selected Leslie in the second round of the 1981 NBA Draft, making him Bucknell’s first NBA draft selection.
His contributions continued beyond basketball. Leslie taught computer science and coached junior varsity basketball at McDonogh, returned to Bucknell as a graduate assistant, and later served as a programs director at the Woodstock Job Corps Center.
Today, he remains connected to Baltimore’s basketball community, including Greg Branch’s Legends Tournament at the Dome. He also champions reviving the spirit of Cloverdale—a place where basketball brought neighbors together and younger players learned from those who came before them.
That continued presence speaks directly to the meaning of LOYALTY.
Al Leslie shows up. For the game. For the history. For the community.
Join BMORENews.com as we celebrate Leslie and his fellow honorees—people whose accomplishments and commitment deserve recognition.
RSVP: Loyalty2026.eventbrite.com
A Baltimore legend. A life of purpose beyond the game.
