WINTERVILLE — Saturday marks the grand opening of Terrance Copper’s Premier Sports Academy in Winterville. Copper, a former Washington football standout who went on to play for East Carolina and in the NFL, has spent months shaping the academy into what he dreamed it would be — a place where children could be molded both athletically and academically.

The academy caters to children ages 5 to 18 that are in a sport or training for a sport. It offers basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer and weight training. Beyond helping build an athlete, the academy employs tutors to make sure these athletes are growing academically, too.

“The best athletes are not in the NFL, are not in the NBA. They’re not in the major leagues playing baseball,” Copper said. “They’re guys that didn’t make it because of their grades. … You have a lot of great athletes who never went to college because they weren’t pushed enough.

“With me coming from Washington and going through what I’ve gone through personally, I just wanted to come back and give something back to the community.”

Copper also hopes that the academy can offer a sort of stability. He admits that he struggled academically when he was at Washington. He said that he didn’t have anyone pushing him to make good grades until coach Brian Paschal got behind him.

He said that made all the difference. It motivated Copper to do better in the classroom, which allowed him to make the grades and continue his career at the collegiate level.

Now Copper hopes the academy can offer that same motivation to other children in eastern North Carolina.

“We want to be that foundation and stability for these kids,” he said. “We’re really not just focused on sports. We’re focused on everyday life, helping build leaders and character in kids. If you don’t have the grades and a good attitude, you’re not going to go anywhere.”

Copper said the Premier Sports Academy looks entirely different than it did a few short months ago. Everyone has put in tons of work to get the academy ready for Saturday’s opening.

“I’m excited for the kids, parents and coaches to just get to see the facility,” Copper said. “We put so much work into this. Not just me. I have a construction crew that’s been with me since day one. My wife, she’s been working herself tireless. … I’m excited for the community to see what we’re doing here.”

The event starts at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Premier Sports Academy, which is located at 4801 Reedy Branch Rd., Winterville, NC. Vendors will be in attendance. A fashion show modeling some of the academy’s apparel highlights some of the day’s events.