MUNCIE, Ind. – In Muncie, Zion Strong is making a real difference in his community. The 21-year-old has worked hard to honor his late father while also helping the community. He’s turned tough times into ways to help others.
This past year, Zion became the head coach for the eighth-grade basketball team at Northside Middle School. A year ago, during an event at Lincoln Park with the Indiana Black Expo, a woman approached him and suggested he take the job. At first, he said no. She reached out again, and he changed his mind.
“I believe that God needed me to be in this role,” Strong said.
The team has improved since he took over in November. Many of the kids were getting into trouble at the start. Strong made it his goal to teach them more than just the game of basketball. He focused on manners and helping them grow into young men.
“I told the kids that we could lose every game this year, but if I don’t help you guys become a better person every day then my job has failed.” Strong said.
He views the players as young leaders who can do great things for the community in the future. While coaching, Strong got help from supporters and was able to hand out 82 pairs of basketball shoes to the boys and girls teams in grades six through eight at Northside at no cost to the players.
Strong’s motivation comes from his late father, Marwin Strong. Marwin worked for the Muncie Housing Authority, and he was all about giving back to the community. The father and son had previously planned to launch a clothing brand based on Marwin’s book “Back from the Shadow of Death.” Zion tore his ACL and meniscus twice while playing basketball at Muncie Central, and soon after, his dad passed away.
Out of that difficult time, Strong created “4everLasting” to honor his dad and to continue his legacy, a clothing line that launched in 2023. The idea is to show people how to inspire, overcome and persevere.
“God taught me where I can tell people how to inspire, overcome, and persevere forever everlasting,” Strong said.
It’s been a strong way for him to share that message.
He also started Superator Inc, a nonprofit organization. The name is Latin for “overcomer,” and it ties the clothing brand and the nonprofit together.
He first renovated the basketball court at Heekin Park. Then, the CEO of the Housing Authority asked Strong to handle another job, creating the Marwin Strong Park. To fund it, they held a charity game at Ball State University, raising $10,000. Every dollar will go into rebuilding Munsyana Park and turning it into the Marwin Strong Park, providing things such as new concrete, a parking lot, basketball goals, street lights and so much more.
“It’s an investment to the youth,” Strong said. “The park will be a youth development campus, not just a park. There will be so much to help uplift this community.”
Strong’s vision is to make Muncie a stronger place, like the cities such as Fishers and Noblesville. He thinks local talent can shine if given the right support. With 4everLasting and Superator Inc, he wants to go big.
“The goal is to be able to teach people how to inspire, overcome, and persevere,” he said. “We are going to shock the world.”
A major event is set for July 23 to July 26 at Marwin Strong Park and Heekin Park called Summer Showdown 2026, where it will be one of the biggest basketball tournaments this summer. Zion Strong is proving that one person’s efforts can lift up a whole community.
Contact Jacksen White with comments at jacksen.white@bsu.edu
