From the court to the community: former NBA player Chris Wilcox continues annual Whiteville turkey giveaway

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — A former NBA player continued an annual tradition by giving back to his hometown.

Chris Wilcox played 12 years in the NBA and won a national championship at the University of Maryland in 2002.

The Whiteville native held his annual turkey giveaway at Southeastern Community College, where 1,000 turkeys and other ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner were handed out.

Cars started lining up at 5 in the morning for the event, which began at 9.

Wilcox said it’s always been important to him to give back to his hometown.

“These are the people that raised me, man,” Wilcox said. “Back home, these are the people that raised me, these are the people that support me. Every year, I do camps and do different things back here in the county. These are the people that support me so man, I just show my appreciation every year by coming and giving out things like this during the holidays.”

Wilcox has done this giveaway for the past 20 plus years through his foundation.

Along with volunteers from his foundation, members of Southeastern Community Colleges athletic teams, along with kids from local high schools, helped hand out the dinners.