Jeffrey Collins is a volunteer with People For Palmer Park and one of Detroit's greats

"I really got into the sport and I wanted to compete and excel," said Collins who had always played with his dad and brother, but also with his friends from Palmer Park, his classmates and other USTA juniors from southeastern Michigan.

"My dad started plugging me in with different coaches. I remember one year he helped me. He said, 'Listen you like these clinics, let's go to Florida.' I was able to go to Harry Hopman's for a week. They had intense training. I mean, you were on the court like six hours a day in the hot sun."

Full of energy and enthusiasm, the young teen played throughout middle school and then four years on the varsity team at Detroit Country Day High School.

He won a state title in doubles.

Today that victory is an unforgettable achievement in Collins' mind. "My doubles partner, we were roommates. Before the match, he opened his suitcase and he pulled out a new shirt. It was still in the plastic! It's like he was saving it for the championship match. I remember him putting that on and feeling like okay we're going to do this, and we did."

Another proud moment: the ATA National Championships.

He hadn't won, but to Collins, just making the ATA junior finals at 16 years old was a glorious moment. The ATA, or American Tennis Association, is the oldest African-American sports organization in the United States.

Better still, some of what Collins has picked up through tennis spills over into his other life—his law life. "Competing under pressure... If you make a bad shot forgetting about it and resetting. I credit those traits to tennis."

As a criminal defense attorney Collins appreciates the lessons tennis teaches, stating how the game goes beyond physical fitness. "It's also high on integrity," said Collins. "How many sports do players call their own lines?"

It should be mentioned that Jeffrey Collins spent a term as Michigan's top/chief federal prosecutor, and was presidentially nominated and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan—a highlight of Collins' legal career.

"One of my idols was James Ray. You probably won't read about him in the history books," said Collins remembering life as an early teenager. "He was a guy who hung out at Palmer Park. He would have a grocery cart full of tennis balls... He was just out there helping the kids play tennis at Palmer."

"He is someone I often think about because that's what I'm trying to do my own way."

Collins gives tennis lessons to juniors and adults at the People For Palmer Park Tennis Academy, inspired by James Ray and also his time working with Northwestern as director of the university's tennis program.

The guidance Collins gives during play times is simple: have fun, control the ball and never give up.

Wanting only to leave a valuable message for the next generation, Collins invests in his community the same way people invested in him.

He still hits with a group of his high school friends. And as a dad, he feels like he owes his own father, Dr. James Collins, a great deal of credit. "I carried on that passion he had with my own kids. My biggest joy from tennis was passing the baton to my son Justin, who is 32. He has the passion to compete and teach... I can remember one time, my brother's kids and my dad, we were all out there on the courts, generations playing tennis together. It was a beautiful sight."

Jeff Collins looks forward to coaching the girls' high school tennis team at University Liggett School this spring. Outside of tennis, his passions include motivational speaking and running marathons. Collins is also the author of a book called Do the Right Thing... Make Ethics Your Brand.