Community Basketball Games To Honor Local Soldier’s Legacy

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — A community basketball event honoring the legacy of a former local student-athlete and soldier will return this weekend at Smithfield-Selma High School.

The Jeffery Isaiah David Memorial Foundation will host its 5th Annual Youth and Alumni Basketball Games on Saturday, March 28, in the school’s main gym. Doors open at 11 a.m., with games scheduled to begin at noon.

The event will feature youth teams along with alumni matchups, including a game between Smithfield and Clayton alumni teams competing for the championship title. Organizers say the event is designed to bring the community together while supporting educational opportunities for local students.

Tickets are $10, and children ages 5 and under will be admitted free.

Proceeds from the games will support the foundation’s scholarship program. Applications for the Fall 2026 scholarship cycle will open April 1, and graduating high school seniors are encouraged to apply through the foundation’s website.

The foundation was created in memory of Pfc. Jeffery Isaiah David, a Smithfield native who played basketball throughout his youth and high school years before serving in the U.S. Army. David died in 2021 while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

Since then, his family has worked to continue his legacy through programs that support youth development, education and community service.

Organizers say the basketball games are intended to be a fun, family-friendly event while also helping raise funds to support future scholarships for local students.