KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Since 2007, Tennessee basketball partnered with the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee to shoot hoops and spend time with people with special needs. The event started 17 years ago when the event director, David Sexton, was approached by his son, Trey Sexton, with an idea.
"My son had the idea, and he reached out to UT and pitched it; they loved it," said Sexton. "We did it that first year thinking it was a one-time thing, and then it did so well, everyone said, how about we do it again next year."
On Saturday, 50 to 60 community members volunteered to make it a memorable experience. Sexton said some people miss weddings and drive hours to be here with these UT athletes, but for the players, the experience is just as special.
"It's a great event; we get to spend time with these kids," said Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella. "There's nothing better we could ask for, but make sure they have a smile on their face and get a couple of buckets. It's just super fun."
Lady Vol senior Sara Puckett has been participating in the event for a few years, and she said it's important for both programs to give the participants the same support as the teams receive during the season.
"They look up to us so much," said Puckett. "They get to actually be right by us, even though they see us on T.V. or whatever. They are fans of us but we are fans of them too because we admire that they come out here for fun, playing the sport that we're competing at a very high level at."
For Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler, these experiences hit a little closer to home, having two nephews with disabilities.
"At home, it's really the same thing...I feel like just being around them gives me a bit more of a connection," said Zeigler. "And that my teammates get to be a part of something like this and understand that, yeah, they might have some disabilities, but we are all human."
Head coaches Rick Barnes and Kim Caldwell were also present, and both the men's and women's teams are excited to continue the annual event for years to come.
