Bengals WR Tee Higgins stars in celebrity basketball game at Oak Ridge
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Bengals WR Tee Higgins stars in celebrity basketball game at Oak Ridge
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and Oak Ridge graduate Tee Higgins returned home for a celebrity basketball game on June 20. Higgins hit multiple three-pointers in the game and made a dunk in the second quarter, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The star-studded roster also included Higgins’ current NFL teammates — wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons, and many more. Higgins will also be hosting a car show on June 22 at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Harper.
The game featured other NFL players and local stars, drawing a large crowd.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and Oak Ridge graduate Tee Higgins returned home for a celebrity basketball game on June 20.
Spearheaded by former Tennessee point guard Bobby Maze, former Vol and current Utah Jazz guard Jaden Springer, and Higgins himself, it was a packed event.
Fans will remember it, especially all the kids in Higgins jerseys who swarmed the hometown hero before and after the game.
“It’s amazing. Tee played for me when he was younger,” Maze said. “So, now seeing him come back and give back to his community, that’s one of the best things, and I think he’s done it over and over in a big way.”
Higgins was not made available to be interviewed after the game.
The star-studded roster also included Higgins’ current NFL teammates — wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons, and many more.
DJ Sterl the Pearl, Tennessee athletics DJ and former Vol quarterback, handled the game music, which had the crowd dancing and having a good time.
“Tee and Jaden both play in these huge leagues and are extremely close,” Maze said. “We all wanted to bring back something special for the city.”
Higgins hit multiple three-pointers in the game and made a dunk in the second quarter, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Although Higgins tied the game 126-126 with about 50 seconds left, his team lost 128-126 after a buzzer beater from former Tennessee guard and current Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson.
Higgins graduated from Oak Ridge High school in 2017, playing both football and basketball. He also had his jersey number retired in 2019 and is inducted into the Oak Ridge High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Once the game was over, there was a meet and greet in the gym for fans to take pictures briefly with the hometown hero.
This visit back to his hometown will not stop at the basketball game. He’ll also be hosting a car show on June 22 at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall with Knoxville natives Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Harper and Las Vegas Raiders safety Thomas Harper.
As the upcoming NFL season arrives, Higgins and Chase are coming off signing massive contract extensions earlier this year: a four-year $115 million contract for Higgins and a four-year $161 million contract for Chase.