The Nashville Celtics’ organization was established in 2001 because the founders, Jack Waddey, and his son, Alex, along with coaches Patrick Hale, Jonathan Henderson and Ben Corbett, saw the need for a program that combined teaching life lessons with basketball development for youth that loved the game. The program focuses on getting their attention with basketball and molding them by example and instruction. In 2001, the program consisted of one boys’ team for ages 12 and under. In 2005, the organization decided to affiliate with the prestigious Atlanta Celtics out of Atlanta, Georgia after the late Wallace Prather saw the excitement generated in Tennessee. The Adidas sponsored Atlanta Celtics organization is arguably the premier spring/summer travel basketball program in the country having such Alumni as Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, etc… They were impressed not only with the quality of the young men in the Stars program, but also with the dedication of the coaches to helping youth grow as players and as people. After several discussions with the late Wallace Prather (the founder of the Atlanta Celtics), the evolution of the Nashville Celtics was complete.