When the halftime buzzer sounded, Georgie Harding didn’t hesitate. He sprinted from the court to the stands, grinning as he celebrated his first basket of the game with his dad, Jesse. For the South Jordan Middle student, the moment was about more than 2 points. It was about belonging.

Georgie was competing in his first tournament. As a student with Down syndrome, he plays on a team that pairs athletes of differing abilities with peer partners, competing together against nine other Jordan School District middle schools as well as Timberline Middle School in Alpine School District. This year’s tournament featured 27 teams, an increase from 12 teams three years ago.

“He's excited to be a part of a team,” his father Jesse Harding said.  “Growing up in an orphanage in Bulgaria, he didn't have a lot of opportunities, especially to work together with kids with special needs and mainstream kids, so he's just been so excited for this. He’s come a long way.”

Georgie arrived in Utah in July 2025. Since then, he has been learning English, adjusting to a supportive classroom, developing friendships and building social skills, all while learning the game of basketball. 

South Hills player shoots for 2 during Jordan School District’s middle school unified basketball tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“He’s learning English and adapting pretty well, but he still has a ways to go. In Bulgaria, special needs people are tucked away as people think they shouldn’t be out in public. We got a lot of dirty looks when we picked him up. It was pretty shocking. But it was awesome when we got into the states. Those dirty looks turned into smiles and now, he’s all in to trying to do all these things,” Harding said, adding “Nice shot, buddy” when his son came over to him.

Across the gym, there were similar stories of growth and joy.

West Jordan Middle eighth-grader Conner Rosenthal learned to play basketball from his older brother and practiced for the tournament.

“I like shooting and winning best; I’ve shot a bunch,” he said. “It's fun playing with my friends.”

Conner looks up to NBA legend Michael Jordan.

“He’s cool; I want to be like him,” he said.

Two ninth-grade classroom peer tutors, Hailey Litchfield and Kassidy Woolley, played alongside him, embracing the unified sports’ spirit.

“This is about the kids and making sure they have fun,” Hailey said. “I’ve learned it's not all about winning, but about having a positive attitude.”

Kassidy adds: “I’ve learned how much fun you can have together and just being friends with them.”

Mountain Creek eighth-grader Julian Zavaleta competed from a wheelchair, adapting his game as he gained experience.

“It’s hard to shoot, but I'm still getting used to it,” he said. “I play a lot of basketball. My friend Max taught me how to throw the ball, pass the ball and shoot. I like shooting and winning best. I started playing with my friends and today, I’ve made friends with players from other schools.”

Mountain Creek ninth-grader and peer tutor Harrison Kenney said the experience has been eye-opening.

“It makes me be more grateful for what I have and more grateful I can do all these things with them,” he said. “We’ve learned even if something is hard, you should keep trying. You may fail a lot of times, like you shoot and not score, but we need to keep trying. They can get upset when they don’t make a basket, but when they get a shot in, they’re so happy and that makes me happy.”

Bryan Veazie, who oversees the district’s unified sports program, said high school students who serve as officials and scorekeepers also are building that connection and understanding. 

After a made shot, an Oquirrh Hills player celebrates with her teammate. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“I love having our high school athletes volunteer their service to participate as officials and score keepers; it gives them an opportunity to spend concentrated quality time with our special education students, to feel more comfortable around them and to embrace them more willingly,” he said. “It also gives them a higher level of gratitude and appreciation for the abilities that they have and for the talents to compete in unified basketball.”

Veazie said the growth in unified athletics reflects the program’s success. 

“Throughout the Jordan School District, the unified sports program continues to grow, and we've added West Hills Middle School (in West Jordan) this school year, who, for the first year, has a support classroom in their school,” he said. “What this tells me is it’s a success. The schools are enjoying the opportunity, the teachers look forward to providing the experience and it's becoming more known and more popular with the students, both our unified athletes and our unified partners.”

Veazie also is appreciative of West Jordan High for hosting the tournament, which with its growth, has required more planning, but the reward is clear.

“Having the opportunity to work with the people I work with and having the opportunity to provide these experiences we're able to provide to middle school students as a way of promoting unity and belonging and purpose is one of the most rewarding parts of my position,” he said. “It envelops a spirit of love and gratitude and desire to support and desire to serve.”

For South Jordan Middle eighth-grader Hayden Kirby, it comes down to having opportunity.

“Playing unified basketball is fun with my friends,” he expressed with help of South Jordan Middle instructional assistant Easton Watts. “I’ve made four baskets and the best part is when people cheer for me.”