FREEPORT — He could have had anything he wanted.

But Garrett King — diagnosed with testicular cancer a year ago, but cancer-free today — didn't want to provide for himself. He wanted to provide for his team.

So the Freeport senior made a request through the Make-A-Wish Foundation for new uniforms for the Yellowjacket football team. King would have started at quarterback for Freeport last year, but he was diagnosed just before the start of the 2020 season and had to miss the season while undergoing cancer treatments.

He is back in uniform this year as a quarterback-safety.

The son of my former Little League coach is a childhood cancer survivor,” King said. “He reached out to Make-A-Wish and told them about me.

“When Make-A-Wish contacted me, they asked me what I wanted, what they could do for me. I didn't need anything. I have fantastic parents who have provided me everything I've ever needed.

“The community was great to me when I went through those treatments. So were my teammates. I wanted to give something back to them,” King added.

His coach lauded the gesture.

“This is a kid who could have asked for anything,” Freeport varsity football coach John Gaillot said. “I mean, he was fighting cancer.

“This shows what a selfless person he is. Who else, given his circumstances, would have asked for something like this?”

But he did. And Make-A-Wish — with assistance from Nike and the Pittsburgh Steelers — delivered.

“Make-A-Wish arranged for the uniforms through Nike,” King said. “Nike got in touch with the Steelers and that's how we got to meet Ben Roethlisberger.”

Upon getting word of King's request, the Steelers and quarterback Roethlisberger set up a surprise meeting Monday with King and his Freeport teammates at Stage AE, located outside of Heinz Field.

“We kept the whole thing a surprise from the kids by telling them we were going on a team-bonding event that day (Monday),” Gaillot said. “Roethlisberger came out to talk with them and when I saw what Nike did... we couldn't believe it. The kids were so excited.”

Nike and Make-A-Wish provided Freeport with 70 new charcoal-grey football uniforms. Each of the 38 players on the team also received custom-made football spikes, gloves and socks.

King even got to design the uniforms.

“I was working on that for a couple of months with Matt James and Carlos Martinez from Nike... just awesome guys,” King said. “That whole experience was a blast.

“The words ”King Strong?” are up around the neck portion. They look really sharp.”

Gaillot added that the team would wear the new uniforms for one regular season game and perhaps playoff games.

“We'll let Garrett choose the game we wear them for,” the coach said.

“I'd love to see us wear them for our home opener, maybe a rivalry game against Burrell or Deer Lakes, and any playoff games,” King said,. “The uniforms are tremendous, and I don't want us to wear them out.

“I want generations of Freeport football players to enjoy them, too.”

After the surprise was laid on them at Stage AE, Freeport's players and coaches were provided tickets to come into Heinz Field and watch the Steelers practice that day before heading home.

Three years ago, Freeport's coaches were talking about an idea of buying charcoal-grey uniforms to be worn on special occasions.

“Garrett was there when that conversation took place,” Gaillot said. “I had talked to our athletic director about the idea and he was all for it, as long as we could raise the funds.

“Of course, nothing ever materialized from that. But Garrett remembered that conversation.”

Now he's looking forward to his final football season, without a trace of cancer.

“I have to go to Children's Hospital every two months for blood work, CAT scans, chest X-rays, just to be sure,” King said. “I'll have to do that for the next five years.

“So far, so good. Nothing is showing up.”

Except for opening night of the 2021 season, Aug. 27 at home against Armstrong.

“I'll appreciate every game, every practice, every minute I have around my family and my team,” King said. “This time just flew by. I look at life at lot differently now.”