Terance Mann hosts basketball clinic in Inglewood
Los Angeles Clippers star Terance Mann and the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation held a basketball clinic for young athletes at Morningside High School in Inglewood.
Community Commitment
The clinic highlighted Mann’s commitment to the community. The event went on as scheduled, even after he underwent surgery for his fractured finger.
Mann’s Mother: “Winners Just Respond”
“We always preach ‘next play’ in basketball. I tell him ‘winners just respond,” Mann’s mother, Daynia La-Force said. “He knows this is just something he’s got to get through and get over, but he’s going to be so ready to get back on the court, and I’m just proud of him.”
The Foundation’s Mission
La-Force is a former player and coach at the collegiate level and in 2021, she was an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Her coach mentality is strong, not just for her family, but for the children they serve through the foundation.
“Resiliency, hard work, commitment, dedication [are] all these things that I really think they need to take away from the game of basketball and I just really hope they understand what it’s really about,” she said.
“It’s not about shooting, passing, and rebounding. It’s about teamwork, high character and supporting each other on the court,” she added.
A Family Affair
The foundation is a family affair as Mann’s father, brother, grandmother, and childhood friends are also part of the organization.
Media Day
On Media Day, Mann, a Florida State alumnus, shared he started thinking about where he’d like to play overseas during his season years as he was uncertain if he’d get a chance to play in the NBA. In July 2019, he was selected by the Clippers as the 48th overall pick and fast forward to 2021, his career night in the Western Conference semifinals helped send the Clippers to their first Western Conference Finals in team history.
Follow Your Own Path
“Follow your own path,” Mann said as he spoke to the group of excited athletes.
“I feel like nowadays a lot of kids are scrolling on social media… and they’re worrying about what other people got instead of what they got right in front of them, so it’s slowing them down,” Mann said.
Skechers Partnership
In 2023, Mann signed a deal with Skechers as the company looks to grow in sports. During Saturday’s clinic, each athlete was given a fresh new pair of Skechers basketball sneakers.
“I got sent videos of when they got the shoes and one kid said, ‘this is my first pair of new shoes I’ve had in a long time’ and he was almost in tears. So, it was dope to be able to see that,” Mann explained.
NBA Cares Award
The league has taken notice of Mann’s efforts and in February, he was the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner.
Conclusion
The Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation has held a handful of basketball clinics and given away an estimated $150,000 worth of scholarships. The foundation aims to continue growing its funding to impact more lives and provide opportunities for young athletes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation?
A: The Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to provide opportunities and resources for young athletes to grow and develop their skills.
Q: What was the purpose of the basketball clinic?
A: The purpose of the basketball clinic was to provide young athletes with a unique opportunity to learn from and interact with professional basketball players, including Terance Mann.
Q: Who is involved with the foundation?
A: The foundation is a family affair, with Terance Mann’s father, brother, grandmother, and childhood friends also part of the organization.
Q: What has the foundation achieved so far?
A: The foundation has held a handful of basketball clinics and given away an estimated $150,000 worth of scholarships.
Q: What is the future vision for the foundation?
A: The foundation aims to continue growing its funding to impact more lives and provide opportunities for young athletes.
