About

Why a basketball clinic?

When Jonathan Tate was born, his mother was incarcerated, and his grandmother stepped in to raise him. She not only cared for him but also took him to visit his mother in prison, where she introduced him to the game of basketball. Her skills and love for the sport sparked Jonathan’s passion, giving him something meaningful to focus on during some of the hardest moments of his childhood.

As he grew older, Jonathan learned from family members just how talented his mother truly was. That realization changed the way he viewed both his family and his future. Instead of allowing difficult circumstances to define him, he leaned on faith, family values and the support of his community to shape a different path.

Today, Jonathan believes that God comes first in everything. Faith is the foundation that taught him perseverance, humility and purpose. From there comes family, because strong families create strong individuals. Then comes community, because no child succeeds alone. Every young person deserves people around them who believe in them, guide them and remind them that their current situation does not determine their future.

When children come to him feeling stuck or discouraged, he shares his story as proof that resilience, faith and discipline can break cycles. He reminds them:

“Don’t let the short-term situation of the adult in charge of you define your long-term goals. You may not be able to change the environment you were born into, but you can absolutely shape what comes next.”

Mastering the Simple

At Masters of the Simple, we believe too many young athletes want the results before learning the fundamentals. Kids today often watch highlights and think success comes overnight, but greatness is built by mastering the basics first.

If you’re right-handed, master your right hand, then commit to developing your left. If you can throw a chest pass, work until you can consistently throw a bounce pass. Before flashy moves and advanced skills come discipline, repetition and consistency.

That mindset applies to more than basketball. It applies to life, faith, school, relationships and personal growth. Master the simple things first, because strong foundations create lasting success.

Why We Do This

This clinic is completely FREE because we believe every child deserves opportunity, encouragement and support regardless of their background or financial situation.

Every participant receives:
• A free basketball
• Access to instruction from 5 to 6 coaches
• Skills training, drills and scrimmages
• Free haircuts
• A certificate of completion
• A team t-shirt

Most importantly, they leave knowing they are part of something bigger than themselves. We do not care about skill level. It does not matter if it is your first time touching a basketball or if you already play competitively. Every child is welcomed, valued and challenged to grow on and off the court.

Our mission is bigger than basketball. We want to build confident young leaders who put God first, value family, support their community and understand that discipline and character matter just as much as talent.