Longtime Charlotte Hornets executive Fred Whitfield and former Hornets and Wake Forest star Muggsy Bogues will be the featured speakers at the Greensboro Sports Council’s 2026 Fred Barakat Sports Dinner.
The dinner is presented by The Carroll Companies and will once again benefit the Greensboro Aquatic Center’s Learn to Swim Program.
Whitfield joined what was then Bobcats Sports & Entertainment in July 2006, serving as President & Chief Operating Officer for 12 years before assuming the title of President & Vice Chairman in 2018. During his tenure, he oversaw significant growth throughout the organization, including the name change from Charlotte Bobcats to Charlotte Hornets in 2014, the rebranding of Spectrum Center in 2016 and the launch of the Greensboro Swarm in the NBA G League. A native of Greensboro and former collegiate star at Campbell University, Whitfield retired from the Hornets in 2023.
Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history (5'3") and a fierce competitor known for his incredible speed, court vision, and skill as a point guard. Selected 12th overall in the 1988 NBA Draft, Bogues played for 14 seasons, primarily with the Charlotte Hornets where he emerged as a fan favorite. Bogues’ NBA career also included stints with the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. At Wake Forest, Bogues led the ACC in steals and assists, earned All-ACC honors, and had his jersey (#14) retired by the university.
Founded in 2008, The Fred Barakat Sports Dinner was renamed in 2011 in memory of the late associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Barakat joined the ACC in 1981 as supervisor of men’s basketball officials. He was later promoted to associate commissioner, director of men’s basketball and served as the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament director for 16 years. He passed away in 2010.
Proceeds from the Fred Barakat Sports Dinner will benefit the privately-funded Learn to Swim program at the GAC. The goal of the program is to teach every second-grade student in Guilford County water safety skills. Fifty-four Guilford County schools – the program’s highest total ever - are participating in the 2025-26 school year and more than 20,500 students have graduated from the curriculum-based, healthy lifestyle program since its inception.
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