By Barry Barbe

“Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.” ~ Carmelo Anthony

We’ve all seen the movie, heard the tale, or read the book, where someone with one sport or another takes a group of kids and through training, dedication, and encouragement turns them into the state champs. It’s the classic underdog story and team that we all root for and find hope in.

For the past two years, Jacob Clendenin has been doing exactly that.

Growing up in Prescott and attending Mile High Middle School, Jacob would spend his high school years between Bradshaw Mountain, eventually graduating from Lafayette High in Lafayette, Louisiana.

“While I was raised by a single mother, I can still remember hanging out with my dad and learning how to play basketball along with my twin brother. I’ve had a passion for the sport ever since,” Jacob said.

“Growing up in a single-parent family, I learned to appreciate what single mothers go through, what they sacrifice, and how hard they work to provide a future for their kids,” he said.

After returning to Prescott, Jacob become a father and later a single parent and co-raises his son who is now 12-1/2.

“I love my kid and want to do what’s best for him; keep him out of trouble and help him have the best life possible.

“We started playing basketball at our apartment complex and I noticed other kids there his age that were hanging out not really doing anything and then they started playing with us. Then I had the idea of creating a team so they would all have something to do,” Jacob explained.

“There are a lot of recreational activities for adults in Prescott, but not necessarily for lower-income kids who may not be able to afford to participate in some of the youth sport leagues.”

What started as a personal sports passion, has turned into a full-time project devoted to keeping the kids in his apartment complex active while building skills, both social and athletic.

The Tri City Roughriders is Jacob’s visionary project for underprivileged youth, ages 10 to 13, all from the apartment complex where he and his son live.

“Basically, I self-fund the program with help from some mentors and other organizations,” Jacob said.

The group of 10 boys — now 12 and 13 year olds — practice twice a week at a local sports complex, where Jacob pays $50 an hour so the kids can practice on a full-size court.

During the bi-weekly practices the kids learn on-court skills, but also the importance of being a good person and teamwork.

“They are a brotherhood, and as such, they look out for each other. We also keep an eye on who they are hanging out with to make sure they are staying on the right path. They also have to keep their grades up and basically be good people if they want to stay on the team, which they have to try out for,” Jacob explained. “Basketball is a privilege and as such, they have to earn the right to participate.”

Early on, Jacob contacted his high school coach from Lafayette for advice on how to organize and fund the program. “Initially, we had a crowdfunding program, and then a buddy donated their jerseys, and when they outgrew them, Yavapai College donated jerseys. At 12 and 13, these kids are basically already outgrowing the donated jerseys,” Jacob said.

Working full time as a server, and picking up part-time handyman gigs, Jacob spends most weekends renting a car large enough and carpooling 10 kids to the Valley or Flagstaff to attend tournaments presented by Unlocked Potential Basket Ball Youth League. The registration fees, transportation and overnight accommodations are largely funded from Jacob’s personal finances.

“For a while I was on EBT, and so we would literally stop and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while we were down in Phoenix for a tournament,” Jacob said.

Things have improved somewhat since then, and believing that the kids should help earn their way to the tournaments, Jacob has the team do clean-up projects for local businesses, such as Founding Father’s to earn money to help offset the cost of the tournaments.

“I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to see these kids grow and become really good young men who have a passion for more than the sport, but are developing character skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

The team has won three of the last four championships, with five of the team members being picked up for high school teams.

“The goal is to continue developing the team and see them grow tighter as a team and ultimately bring a state championship to Prescott.”

While not a 501(c)3, Jacob carries insurance for the program and participants, and operates as a not-for-profit LLC.

Tax deductible contributions may be made through Gato Community Gives, a community fund of the Arizona Community Foundation, 300 E. Willis St., Suite B, Prescott AZ 86301 — Note: “Tri City Roughriders.”

To request more information, email prespalette@gmail.com and visit Tri City Roughriders on Facebook and Instagram.

Barry Barbe owns the El Gato Azul and Torme restaurants in Prescott, and is the energy and insight behind the Prescott Palette. His radio show, the Prescott Palette, is on KQNA 1130AM, Saturdays at noon. Email: Prespalette@gmail.com.