NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

Keynote Speaker: Grant Williams

University of Tennessee Alum & Charlotte Hornets Forward

Professional basketball player Grant Williams is a leader on and off the court, as two-time back-to-back SEC Player of the Year and First Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association. He is recognized by fans of his college team as one of the best players in their history and has been called “a true student of life and basketball” by the Boston Globe. Known for his passion for strategic thinking, Williams is a dedicated academic mentor. He graduated in just three years from the University of Tennessee with a degree in supply chain management from the University of Tennessee, one of the top public programs in the country for supply chain management. The league’s Senior VP of Player Development, Jamila Wideman, called him "an incredible storyteller" with a good sense of humor and a willingness to be vulnerable. Williams brings humor and insight to high-powered events, touching on leadership, teamwork, gender equality, mental health awareness, and more.

Dubbed a “high-energy Renaissance man” in a glowing Forbes profile, he’s received accolades for his commitment to giving back to the community, a passion which is central to his purpose. Williams has leveraged his platform as an NBA rookie to make a major impact in the lives of young people, creating a group mentoring program. For his work empowering young people, he received the Bill Russell Mentoring Award. Williams is a former Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics player and current Power Forward for the Charlotte Hornets.

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER SPONSORED BY GREG TAYLOR AND:

Event Information

Date & Time

Friday, June 5, 2026 | 6:00 pm

Location of Event

Meadowview Conference Center and Resort

1901 Meadowview Pkwy, Kingsport, TN

Program Information

The Night of Champions brings guests together that include athletes, coaches, school employees, family members, friends, community leaders and partners, for an ESPYS type award ceremony that recognizes the accomplishments of high school student athletes in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia communities. This year, the Club is excited to have former Tennessee Vols basketball player and current Charlotte Hornets power forward Grant Williams as the Keynote Speaker.

The Inaugural Night of Champions event (2024) had University of Tennessee Vols Alum and NFL Quarterback Josh Dobbs ,who spoke on the importance of believing in yourself and never giving up. The following year (2025), 2-time Mr. Football of Tennessee and University of Tennessee stand out running back DeSean Bishop shared his inspiring story of perseverance and faith.

This annual event brings together high school athletes from around the region and is a fantastic opportunity for the community to recognizing student athletes and their accomplishments while supporting the Club's mission of building great futures.

Nomination Categories

• Best Record-Breaking Performance (team or individual)
• Best Play (team or individual)
• Best Championship Performance (team or individual)
• Best Team – Women’s Sports
• Best Team – Men’s Sports
• Best Comeback (team or individual)
• Best Breakthrough (team or individual)
• Best Athlete – Men’s Sports (athlete can be on a team or individual sport)
• Best Athlete – Women’s Sports (athlete can be on a team or individual sport)
• Community Impact Award (team or individual with a significant community impact beyond their athletic performance)