The Eddie Tate Story
Tate’s steady progression has made him one of the best backups in the 5A-West
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
The shift has been remarkable, explains Alma boys basketball coach Dominic Lincoln.
But the true definition of the ‘Rags To Riches’ Eddie Tate story comes from the lips of one of the best players in program history.
Eddie Tate isn’t just a regular backup, quips Israel Towns-Robinson. “He never puts the breaks on. I can’t lie, he’s blocking my shots now,” Towns-Robinson said.
Since junior high, Towns-Robinson and Tate spent part of their summers growing up with the basketball team. During the fall, when Towns-Robinson was off playing football, Tate kept improving.
“I’m very proud of Eddie,” Towns-Robinson said. “Every year that I go into football, Eddie would just get better and better. It’s easy to see.“
Four years ago, Tate wasn’t one of junior high coach Eddie Corder’s first options. The talented senior class had rising stars like Towns-Robinson, Camden Curd, Carmani Smith, Tyree McGill, and Matthew Rodgers.
But look at him now.
Tate is averaging 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as Towns-Robinson’s backup, scoring 66 points in 11 games.
Last season, Tate averaged 2.1 points per game while appearing in 26 games.
"I am so proud of Eddie Tate,” Lincoln said. “He is the most improved player in our program. He's one of the hardest-working kids I've ever been around. What I want people to take from the Eddie Tate story is that it might not go your way at first, but if you stick to it and keep battling and battling you can overcome.
“Eddie is definitely in our rotation now, and we're not winning without Eddie."
The 6-foot-5 Tate started turning heads two summers ago. Now, his expectations are taken for granted.
"I think looking back at my ninth-grade year, you could see how great of a team we could be," Tate said. "I was super tall for my age but I didn't have great coordination. I was like, 'I need to get in the gym and get to work.'
"So that's what I did."
Stronger? More athletic?
Tate’s become a bonafide enforcer.
"It was very important for me to get more athletic," Tate said. "I was very uncoordinated."
“Him being in the second group, they’ve got to be able to execute and perform whenever the starter is out,” Towns-Robinson said. “Then again, everybody says we have 10 people that can play, and maybe that’s true, but you still have to do your job.”
"We basically could put anybody out there and we're going to be fine,” Tate said. “Me and Izzy switch all the time, but we're still the same threat. We've got a team coming at you either way, no matter who it is."
Tate credits Lincoln for helping him become the player he is today.
"He looked me in the eye and asked me how bad I wanted it,” Tate said. “That was so different from any experience I had previously had. Having somebody believe in you, that's inspiring.
"That makes you want to do well."
Being an Airedale is special, Tate said.
"To wear the Alma Airedales uniform, it's about family," he said. "It's not about yourself. You've got to play with your family and come together."
Alma (7-6) begins its post-Christmas run on Dec. 26 when they face Searcy (4-7) in the first round of the Beebe Tournament.
It’s the first time the schools have met on the hardwood since Feb. 22, 2002.
"We have played a tough schedule, but we've been doing that for a couple of years now," Lincoln said. "I wouldn't put these kids in that situation if I didn't think that could happen. I'm proud of them, but at the same time we have a long way to go."