In the eyes of Lewisville, Texas, Mayor TJ Gilmore, one Bible verse summed up Jazz guard Keyonte George’s return to his hometown:
“To whom much is given, much is required.”
The 22-year-old George, Gilmore said, has worked to fulfill that requirement.
On Friday night, in the middle of two Jazz road games against the Dallas Mavericks, George and his Jazz teammates and coaches drove the 30 miles northwest of downtown to head to George’s suburban high school. In between basketball games played by the Lewisville Lady Farmers girls’ team and the Fighting Farmers boys’ team, the high school and city held a ceremony celebrating the third-year Jazz guard.
George was born and raised in Lewisville, going through the school system before he emerged as a bright young basketball prospect as a freshman and sophomore for the Fighting Farmers. He’d then move to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to finish his high school career, but says the move didn’t change where he considers home.
“Understand some of the changes I made were for the betterment of my game,” George said. “But at the end of the day, man, I rep Lewisville for forever.”
Lewisville High didn’t retire George’s jersey number, but did show off the plaque they’d hang at the high school in commemoration of George’s career so far. He also was given a trophy basketball in recognition of his accomplishments at the school.
Jazz guard Keyonte George with his former high school basketball coach David Watson at Lewisville High School in Texas. (Andy Larsen | The Salt Lake Tribune)
George would go on to become the Big 12’s Freshman of the Year at Baylor before being drafted 16th overall by the Jazz. After an up-and-down start to his NBA career, George has exploded with star-caliber play in his third season, scoring 23.7 points per game in 2025-26.
He was thankful, too, his Jazz teammates attended the ceremony and visited his hometown.
“I appreciate all those guys, man. They could have been doing something else — we’ve been on the road for forever,“ George said. ”The fact that they really came and showed up for me, I’d do the same for them. You know, I love them."
