Exploring Life & Business with Lance Akridge of STARS Basketball Club

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lance Akridge.

Hi Lance, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was blessed to grow up in a household that loved God, sports, and business. After attending Murray State University (B.S. in Business Admin.), West Virginia University (M.S. in Sports Admin.), and completing accounting courses at Lipscomb University, I started my professional career as a CPA with KPMG in Nashville. During that time, I became involved in a sports ministry called Upward Basketball at a local church in Franklin. The choice to coach a youth basketball team, that focused on skill development and planting seeds for Christ, completely changed my life!

After moving back to Kentucky to help run a family business in 1998, I started and led the Upward Basketball program at my church. As our church doubled in size in one year, I truly bought in to the power of sports ministry! A few years later, I accepted a full-time position with Upward Sports (based in Spartanburg, SC).

After working my way up the ladder with Upward Sports, and serving as a Vice President in the organization, I asked to step down from that role and assume a lesser position with the organization, as my family desired to move back to Williamson County. After that transition back to Tennessee, Upward Sports launched a “Club Sports” model called Upward STARS (2014). Leadership asked me to run with that baton in Nashville, and that race has proven to be more challenging and successful than I would have ever dreamed!

Eleven years in, and now conducting business as STARS Basketball (501c3 organization), our basketball club is blessed to be the largest basketball club in the Southeast. STARS Basketball reaches 5,000+ annually through tryouts and teams, clinics, camps, leagues, shooting lab, and tournaments. The STARS Staff consists of five, full-time employees and 80+ area coaches. STARS Basketball mission is “Planting Seeds for Christ Through Basketball.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Finding facility space was the largest, initial hurdle, and now, continues to be our largest obstacle to reaching more athletes for Christ through the game of basketball. STARS spends $250,000+ on facility space annually. We continue to seek land and potential partners/investors to build a 5-6 court facility.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about STARS Basketball Club ?
STARS Basketball Club is blessed to be the largest basketball club in the Southeast, operating a SOUTH Hub (based in Williamson County) & a NORTH Hub (based in Sumner County). STARS provides year-round basketball opportunities for Pre-K through 12th grade athletes through team play, programming (camps and clinics), shooting lab, leagues, and tournaments.

Launched in 2014 as Upward Stars-Nashville, the club has experienced exponential growth on an annual basis. In 2019, the club transitioned to STARS Basketball Club and adopted a new logo and new colors. There were no changes in leadership, coaches, or culture. During 2019, the club expanded to 55 spring/summer teams and continued to operate hubs in both Williamson County (TN) and Sumner County (TN). In 2024, STARS Basketball formed 100+ club, summer, fall, and winter teams and will touch 5,000 athletes through tryouts, teams, programming, shooting lab, leagues, and tournaments.

The club attributes the aforementioned growth to placing a high priority on providing a “MORE THAN” experience. This impact is seen both ON and OFF the court. STARS has the desire to impact athletes: Mentally, Athletically, Spiritually, and Socially. These four pillars of impact are derived from Luke 2:52 – And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

One way in which the “off the court” impact is accomplished is through spoken character lessons. Our coaching staff has shared approximately 4,000 character lessons with its participants over the past five years at team practices, camps, & clinics. These lessons are based on Scripture and correlate with sports and every-day life. Character lesson topics, just to list a few, have included: Teamwork, Wisdom, Leadership, Perseverance, Effort, Discipline, Integrity, Courage, Commitment, and Service.

From a sports’ credibility perspective, STARS teams have garnered much respect on the regional and national landscape. STARS forms teams that compete in local, regional, and national events, including teams that play on the UA RISE Circuit. In 2023 and 2024, STARS Teams earned these national accolades:

2023 Season:
2027 UA Future Boys (Coach Spencer Turner) – NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2025 UA Rise Boys (Coach Aaron Morrison) – NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2026 UA Rise Girls (Coach Tony McLeod/Malik Mims) – NATIONAL RUNNER-UP
2024 Season:
2027 UA RISE Boys (Coach Spencer Turner) – NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2029 UA FUTURE Girls (Coach Cliff Coleman) – 3rd Place / UA FUTURE Nationals

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My late father, Dean Akridge. My father built a successful business in western KY with my grandfather (Akridge Farm Supply – opening in 1933) that has now expanded to two locations (Farm Supply and ACE Hardware stores). Customer Service was always the focus and still is today 92 years later. The life lessons learned, while working at the family business at an early age, were invaluable.
My wife, Andrea – She has been an encourager from day one, and never allowed me to give up during those initial years of the ministry.
Caz McCaslin (founder of Upward Sports) – A tremendous leader and visionary, the passion to use sports as a tool for Christ was ignited by him and his leadership.
The STARS Staff – Each team member is committed to excellence, as we daily strive to impact athletes both ON and OFF the court!

Pricing:

• While we do charge for all our products (tryouts and teams, clinics, camps, leagues, shooting lab, tournaments), we provide over $50,000 annually in financial assistance to athletes/families in need.
• We also conduct “free” camps and clinics in metro Nashville annually.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://STARSBasketballClub.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starsbasketballclub/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarsBasketballClub
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stars-basketball-club-tn/
• Twitter: https://x.com/StarsBballClub
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@starsbasketballclub5131