East High students thought they were attending a normal assembly. Then the NBA team showed up.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Guard Keyonte George (3) handles the ball as the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
The Utah Jazz went back to high school this week.
Players surprised students at East High School in Salt Lake City on Monday, bringing the team’s annual scrimmage to the corner 800 South and 1300 East and the home of “High School Musical.”
As students filtered into the school’s gym for a surprise assembly, they were told they were there for a Jazz-sponsored celebration — not that the team itself would show up.
So when the Jazz sprinted through the gymnasium’s doors, the students went crazy, an energy they kept throughout the two 10-minute halves of play. The scrimmage took on the character of your average NBA All-Star Game, with no defense and oodles of highlight reel dunks.
The Jazz players seemed to enjoy themselves.
It wasn’t too long ago most of the players on this year’s team were high school students themselves.
Here are the best moments and photos from the event, taken by The Salt Lake Tribune’s Chris Samuels.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Guard Matthew Murrell slam dunks the ball as the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Members of the Utah Jazz greet students before playing an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students react with forward Taylor Hendricks (0) as the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bear rides a motorcycle and plays with the crowd before the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students react to a surprise announcement as the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students react as the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students react as the Utah Jazz play an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Members of the Utah Jazz greet students before playing an intrasquad scrimmage at East High School in Salt Lake City, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
