‘One Tree Hill’ comes back to life at Trask Coliseum

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — From the halls of Tree Hill to the hardwood at Trask Coliseum, basketball brought the story of Wilmington’s “One Tree Hill” back to life Saturday.

Fans from across the country and around the world filled Trask Coliseum for Friends With Benefit Events’ annual basketball game, where the Tree Hill Ravens once again took the court.

For Jayden Huyck and his mom, Shanna Jones, who traveled from Havelock, the game came with a deal.

“I said to my mom I’d binge watch the whole ‘One Tree Hill’ thing if she gets me on the court,” Huyck said.

That deal quickly paid off when Huyck was unexpectedly called onto the court during the game.

“I see Q goes up, gets fouled. I’m standing there, I’m like, ‘Okay,’ and then I get pointed to to get out on the court,” Huyck said.

Now, Jones says her son has some catching up to do.

“Now he has to binge all nine seasons. Hopefully we can do it together,” Jones said. “It just brings families here, and just what FWB does and, you know, for the charities and all that, it’s just amazing.”

The timing made this year’s game especially fitting. “One Tree Hill” is celebrating its 23rd anniversary, the same number worn on the court by Nathan Scott in the series.

“It’s the 23rd anniversary, so super special ’cause 23 is so nostalgic to this show. So we’re so excited,” said Kennedy Walter, who traveled from Michigan.

For Asja Husicic, originally from Bosnia, basketball is part of what makes the experience so meaningful.

“I think that everyone finds a connection to ‘One Tree Hill,’ and that’s why we are all here, not just for actors but the story,” Husicic said. “Basketball is the core of this. I love basketball. I love basketball. And, and I think basketball connects people together.”

But Husicic’s connection to the show goes deeper. She said “One Tree Hill” provided an escape during a difficult period in her family’s life.

“‘One Tree Hill’ was always like a mental escape for me when my mom was going through some hard time in our lives,” Husicic said. “And then fast-forward, here I am where everything started. I have a six years old son named Lucas. It gives me chills just to think that we have opportunity to see all these characters come together and have opportunity to watch them play and actually live in the moment.”

For fans, the event was about more than basketball. It was a chance to relive the memories created by a show with deep ties to Wilmington and see the Tree Hill Ravens take the court once again.