Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- The Utah Jazz held their annual open scrimmage at Hill Air Force Base, offering both players and military families a unique basketball experience.
- John Collins, born on the base where his mother served in the Air Force, found the event nostalgic and surreal, reflecting on his childhood moving around military bases.
- Collins received a warm welcome, taking photos with attendees and expressing a desire to return with his mother in the future.
HILL AIR FORCE BASE — As the Utah Jazz made its way around Hill Air Force Base on Saturday, John Collins couldn't help but be nostalgic.
The plane hangars, the runways, even the kids playing on the soccer fields with fighter jets flying above. It all brought him back to his childhood growing up on various bases around the world.
"I saw myself out there," he said. "That was what I was doing when I was a kid, playing against Army base and Navy base and all that good stuff as a kid. So a lot of good memories."
The Utah Jazz held their annual open scrimmage Saturday at Hill Air Force Base.
Dozens upon dozens packed into Warrior Fitness Center to see Lauri Markkanen drive to the hoop, Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson celebrate 3s, and Taevion Kinsey deliver multiple highlight-reel dunks.
There were some moments where players tried to lock up defensively (looking at you, Collin Sexton), but mostly it was just a laid-back exhibition.
The gym's small quarters (there were just a few rows of seats) created a unique experience for military members and their families. It was a unique one for Collins, too.
Collins, whose mother was in the Air Force, was born at Hill Air Force Base. Saturday was the first time he'd been back since he moved away.
He doesn't remember Hill from his childhood. As a military kid, his life was spent moving around every few years. He lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Turkey, Washington State, and Florida as he followed his mother around.
Still, being back as an NBA player allowed him to reflect on where life has taken him.
"It was very surreal," Collins said. "Just funny how life works, knowing that I was born on this base, and to achieve my dream of playing the NBA and to be back here. It's sort of surreal, and taking the moment in."
Collins received one of the loudest cheers as he was introduced to the crowd, and lingered on the court after the scrimmage taking photos with service members and families.
Just one person was missing that would have made it that much more special: his mother.
"I wish my mom was here with me, but she'll be back soon, and we'll make some stuff happen," he said.
Collins isn't the only Jazz player who knows what military life is like. Clarkson was born on a military base in Florida, and Cody Williams' parents both served. Williams' mother was in the Air Force for 13 years, and his father held active duty for 24 years.
Williams has fond memories of bouncing around bases — going from the bowling alley to the gym and then browsing the aisles of the commissary. Saturday's setting, then, felt familiar to him.
"I'm kind of used to it," he said. "We always go to the military base to bowl or go out to eat and, obviously, come here and play basketball. So for me, it's like right up my alley."
You can say the same thing for Collins.
"He's born here?" a surprised Williams asked when told of Collins' history with base. "I had no clue. What in the world? I've got to talk to him about that. I had no idea. That's dope for him."
