Joe Gates thanked his elementary school PE teacher, Mr. Norris, for coaching the basics of basketball shooting, which he passed down to his own son, Kason.
Kason is a 10-year-old aspiring youth basketball player.
Kason Gates is already showing the dedication of a true athlete.
He has been on a steady journey to improve his basketball skills for almost two years under the guidance of coach Bryson Randolph.
Bryson is there to train him every week, and their sessions are more than just playing the game. He pushes him to be better, corrects his mistakes, and doesn’t hesitate to get on him when he’s not giving 100% effort.
This dude, Bryson Randolph, has been training my son every week for almost two years now . He’s trained in NBA, WNBA, college , and high school . He’s got several students right now with multiple D1 offers.
Joe Gates
In addition to sports, Kason is also talented in academics and has won a spelling bee competition in his classroom.
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Mr. Norris’s Guidance Creates a Basketball Legacy in Crawfordsville
A simple lesson on a school gym floor in Crawfordsville is still making baskets decades later.
When Joe Gates was a student at elementary school, his Physical Education teacher, Mr. Norris, took extra time with him. He remembers every step.
Mr. Norris stood between the free-throw line and the hoop, meticulously breaking down the mechanics of a perfect shot: elbow in, fingers positioned, knees bent, follow-through tall.
Those foundational lessons didn’t end with Joe.
Over the years, he passed each detail on to his own son, 10-year-old Kason Gates, correcting form just as Mr. Norris once did for him.
Now, Kason has been training under Coach Bryson Randolph for nearly two years, but his first and most influential coach was his father, who Mr. Norris coached.
I am so proud of this dude. I had to shed a tear after the game. I know he was hurting from the recent injury. They took a loss. But Kason came out as the leading scorer of the game with 8 points. The team ended their run 4-3, losing to a ranked AAU team that’s been together for 3 years.
Joe Gates
In a heartfelt online post, Joe addressed his former teacher.
Mr Norris , wherever you are ….. You helped create this guy . Thank you . My 10 yr old Kason knows your name and who the credit goes to .
Joe Gates
Joe’s story expresses a coach’s impact that echoes through generations.
From Mr. Norris to Joe, and now to young Kason, a legacy of fundamentals and passion for the basketball game continues to grow in Crawfordsville.
