UT basketball connects to those with Down syndrome at ‘inspiring’ event

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — For nearly two decades, the annual ‘Hoops for Hope’ event has been bringing awareness to those with Down syndrome.

Focused around basketball, Lady Vol and Vol basketball players were in attendance for a Saturday afternoon of giving back to the community.

“I told them it was going to be the funnest event we’re gonna have this year,” said Vol Basketball sophomore forward J.P. Estrella when referring to how he described ‘Hoops for Hope’ to the Vol newcomers, “We all look forward to this one.”

It’s an event that is just as inspiring to the UT athletes as it is to those with disabilities who are inspired by the athletes.

“I feel like the most inspiring part is you know seeing them go out here and just having fun and you know having fun with us and we get to be ourselves out here and they get themselves and just have a great time,” said Estrella.

And one that reminds Lady Vol and Vol basketball to not take the game so seriously.

“Seeing all the smiles and the high fives like just them having a really great time, making shots, even if they miss it just being ready for the next shot which is also inspiring to me because I know when I miss shots I kind of get down on myself but just seeing them work up that attitude and stuff like that gives me inspiration,” said Lady Vol basketball guard Jewel Spear.

Every year, ‘Hoops for Hope’ is an event both the Lady Vols and Vols look foward to, however for Vol basketball senior guard Zakai Zeigler, it goes one step deeper. The Tennessee guard has family who have disabilities.

“It’s very important because I’ve been a part of some of the things that I wasn’t really a part of, but I was there for my nephews and seeing them go around and seeing them smile and be happy and my teammates go be a part of something like this and understand that yeah they may have some disabilities but we’re all human,” said Zeigler, “We’re all equal, so them being a part of it, I know that it means a lot to them and I’m glad that they can get to experience something like that.”

Having family with disabilities allows Zeigler to better connect with those in attendance today.

“I feel like I can really understand them cause you know, at home it’s really the same thing and I’m really close with them, so some stuff I can see that they like or don’t like. They might not say that they don’t like something but I can understand when they don’t like some things so just, I feel like just being around them gives me pretty much a bit more connection with them,” he said.

Zeigler, along with several Lady Vols and Vols have been coming to ‘Hoops for Hope’ for several years now, allowing their connection with those who come to grow deeper each and every year.

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