‘One Tree Hill’ Cast Reunite for Basketball Game in Honor of the Show’s 21st Anniversary (Exclusive)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/one-tree-hill-charity-event-lafferty-johanson-greenberg-092224-a875ce13e80a4c7eb0b1bd53a3a723c3.jpg "‘One Tree Hill’ Cast Reunite for Basketball Game in Honor of the Show’s 21st Anniversary (Exclusive)")
The Tree Hill Ravens are back on the court together, and PEOPLE has an exclusive look!
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the cast of the hit series One Tree Hill reunited for a special 21st State Championship Basketball Game Reunion Celebration.
The event, hosted by Friends With Benefit Charity Events, took place at the UNCW Trask Coliseum in Wilmington, N.C., where the original series was filmed.
Several big names from the show were in attendance, including James Lafferty, Bryan Greenberg, Robbie Jones, Stephen Colletti, Tyler Hilton, Lee Norris, Antwon Tanner, Cullen Moss, Colin Fickes, Vaughan Wilson, Burgess Jenkins, Texas Battle, Drew Seeley and Jaden Harmon.
The halftime show also included a special performance from Gavin DeGraw, who notably sang the show’s theme song “I Don’t Want to Be” and made a cameo in the series.
The event was part of a weekend-long celebration, where fans met and greeted the cast, including Bethany Joy Lenz, Paul Johansson, Austin Nichols, Danneel Ackles, Jana Kramer, Evan Peters and Sophia Bush, the latter of whom is currently developing a reboot of the series alongside costar Hilarie Burton.
During a Q&A with fans after the game, the cast teased the possible revival as they revealed where they think their characters would be today.
Ahead, see PEOPLE’s exclusive look at the star-studded event, and get ready to feel nostalgic.
Tree Hill Ravens
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Before hitting the court, the cast of the hit series posed for a photo op with the Tree Hill Ravens mascot. Paul Johansson (Dan) and Burgess Jenkins (Bobby), who served as the “coaches” for the two teams also joined in on the photo alongside Lee Norris (Marvin “Mouth”) and Colin Fickes (Jimmy) who provided commentary during the game.
Stars Go Red, White and Blue
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Kicking off the event, Tyler Hilton (who played Chris Keller) sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the UNCW Trask Coliseum where the basketball game was held.
Repping No. 23
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Sporting his character’s No. 23 jersey, James Lafferty (Nathan) flashed a smile on the court as fans snapped photos from behind.
Team Coaches
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Paul Johansson (Dan) and Burgess Jenkins (Bobby) both served as the coaches during the game, with Johansson coaching his onscreen son for the Ravens and Jenkins coaching the River Court team.
Your Hosts for the Evening
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Tyler Hilton (Chris Keller) joined Lee Norris (Marvin “Mouth”) and Colin Fickes (Jimmy) courtside as they provided commentary for the game just like their characters, sharing fun insight throughout.
Ravens’ No. 1 Cheerleader
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Wearing her very own Ravens uniform, Barbara Alyn Woods (Deb) cheered alongside the cheerleaders during the game. At one point, she joked that she wasn’t sure if she should be rooting for her onscreen son James Lafferty or her onscreen boyfriend Antwon Tanner (Skills).
Nothing But Net
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James Lafferty (Nathan) was pictured jumping to the net during the game, which was decked out in Tree Hill Ravens gear.
Waving to the Crowd
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Bryan Greenberg (Jake) excitedly greeted the crowd as he made his way into the coliseum. Like his costars, he was seen repping a jersey with his character’s name and number on it.
Father and Son
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James Lafferty (Nathan) and Paul Johansson (Dan), who played son and father on the series, shared a cute moment on the court as they gave each other a hug.
Nathan and Quentin Hitting the Court
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Though their characters formed a strong bond on the series, James Lafferty (Nathan) and Robbie Jones (Quentin) played for opposing teams during the game, with Lafferty playing for the Ravens and Jones playing for the River Court.
All Smiles
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James Lafferty (Nathan), Bryan Greenberg (Jake) and Paul Johansson (Dan) were seen huddling up for a photo in between plays.
Deb and Dan Together Again
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During the game, Barbara Alyn Woods (Deb) snapped a photo with her onscreen husband Paul Johansson (Dan) and Bryan Greenberg (Jake). Woods and Johansson had playful banter as Woods joked she was “never afraid” of the character Dan, quipping, “Bring it on, Dan!” She then sweetly added that she loved Johansson and “always will.”
Mingling with Fans
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Laguna Beach alum Stephen Colletti (who played Chase during later seasons) took a break from playing to mingle with a few fans.
Special Halftime Show by Gavin DeGraw
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Nostalgia overload! For the halftime show, Gavin DeGraw performed the show’s hit theme song “I Don’t Want to Be” on the basketball court. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the hit track, DeGraw recently released a new take on the single as part of Chariot 20, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of his debut album.
Pumping Up the Crowd
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As Gavin DeGraw performed the theme song, zealous One Tree Hill fans joined in during the chorus, belting out the lyrics.
Duet with Bethany Joy Lenz
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Toward the end of the performance, Gavin DeGraw shared a cute moment with Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley) in the crowd as she sang part of the song with the singer.
Courtside Hangs
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Following her impromptu performance during the halftime show, Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley) was seen sitting courtside, cheering on her former costars, including Bryan Greenberg (Jake).
Family Time
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At one point during the game, Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley) posed alongside Paul Johansson (Dan), who played her father-in-law on the series after Haley married Nathan.
A 10/10
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Stephen Colletti (Chase) repped the No. 10, paired with a friendship bracelet, as he played for the River Court team.
Hanging with the Boys
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Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley) snapped a playful photo alongside James Lafferty (Nathan) and Antwon Tanner (Skills) during the game.
The Fields Brothers
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Robbie Jones (Quentin) got to play on the same team as Jaden Harmon (who played his younger brother Andre on the series). At one point during the game, the onscreen brothers snapped a photo in their matching white jerseys.
Dream Team
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James Lafferty (Nathan) and Bryan Greenberg (Jake) repped the Ravens in black jerseys as they posed together on the court.
A Win for the River Court
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After being neck and neck all game, Robbie Jones (Quentin) secured a basket for the River Court team, ending the game with a tie. He later flashed a sweet smile as he held up a Q cape.
Victory Lap
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James Lafferty (Nathan) was all smiles as he greeted his teammate and former costar Bryan Greenberg (Jake).
It’s All Confetti
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James Lafferty (Nathan) took it all in as confetti went off around him. During a panel after the game, the actor took a moment to thank all the dedicated One Tree Hill fans for their support over the years as he reflected on getting to reunite with his costars at the convention. “It’s a dream come true,” he said about getting to share the basketball court with his costars again. “It’s unbelievable.”
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