Visitors and friends stop by to check out the action and Scheper is quick to offer a spare racquet should one come without. In 2014, Scheper, his wife Sandra and daughter Jayda, received a prestigious award from the SC Chapter of the United States Tennis Association (USTA.) All three of the Schepers play competitive tennis with notable wins to brag, however this award, 2014 SC USTA Tennis family of the Year, is given to a Family that has done the most to promote tennis in South Carolina through playing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, and administrative work.

Among the programs Scheper provides: USTA Junior league competition for ages 10-18, Tennis Summer Camp, Special Needs Tennis and FREE lessons for youth 10-and-under noon Saturday. Adult tennis programs include clinic, twice daily plus private lessons. In 2011 Scheper became Head Coach at Beaufort Academy guiding the team to 2016 state finals.

A look back Scheper’s youth, “Baseball got me going…” he said. Coach Lynn Brown recruited him in 3rd grade to pitch for the Brown Bombers. The team was named after Beaufort Boxing legend Joe Fraser. By 9th grade, Scheper thought he was not strong enough in baseball and at 5’7” too short for basketball. Living across the street from the downtown courts, he started playing with a friend. His baseball coach cautioned him that most tennis players start age four or five. Plus, tennis was considered a white person’s game.

Scheper continued tennis everyday. His mom Julia watched from her kitchen window. By 12th grade he was #1 on Beaufort High School’s tennis team. Earned him a tennis scholarship to Grambling State University in Louisiana. He turned Pro in three years and transitioned into professional tournament circuit with fellow Grambling doubles partner Kenny Myers, now Head Coach at their Alma Mater. They slept in their cars or bunked at relatives, recycled tennis shoes and racquets tossed in the trash by wealthier players and competed to win new tennis gear. Scheper held his own in national competitions against players like Patrick McEnroe and Michael Chang but teaching tennis turned out a better fit to raise a family with his wife Sandra.

He received his teaching certification from the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR) in 1999. As a Teaching Pro he progressed from High School Instructional Assistant Tennis Coach to Head Coach at Benedict College. There he re-instated the tennis team and guided them to a 3rd place win in the College Conference his first season. Later posts included: Head Coach, National Youth Sports Program and National Youth Games, Head Coach, Davis Cup players from Trinidad/Tobago and Tennis Pro, International Tennis Academy in south Florida where some of the best players in the country train.

His high school pal, Domino Boulware, Tennis Pro at Greenview Park in Columbia, SC remembers when Scheper first took to the courts. His uncle Kenny hit balls with him. “Larry was a respectful young man, mild-mannered from a well-respected family. If you asked him to do something, he would do it. No questions asked.” They began playing Junior Tournaments held in SC and GA. After a big match against the #1 player out of Summerville, Scheper looked to Boulware for assistance. “I wasn’t his coach, but was older and thought I might have a few shots for him. He worked everyday hitting against the backboard for hours – in all weather, even in the 90-100 degree summers. After Larry went to college, I never won a match off him,” said Boulware.

Boulware went on to become a cameraman for the former Beaufort TV station WHHI and recalled filming a TV clip on Scheper as an up and coming player. “He was the real deal.” Said Boulware. “He was respected enough in the community to receive an invitation to meet Arthur Ashe, Jr., International tennis legend in 1983

Scheper remembers the call from Emory Campbell then Executive Director at Penn Center. Penn is a 50-acre campus on St Helena Island founded 1862 part of Port Royal Experiment. It was established by the Quakers to prepare abandoned slaves for freedom, now listed as a National Historic District Landmark. Ashe was being honored for a list of African-American ‘firsts. Among them, first ‘African-American player to win the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and #1 player in the World. Retired from play, Ashe promoted youth tennis. He surprised Scheper… “What are you going to do after tennis?” Scheper, a sophomore in college, was still focused on his own play. Ashe continued the charge, “And don’t ever forget about the kids.”

Coaching his third generation, Scheper is reaping the benefits of younger players. His first, student, Winston Fields, whose talent and Scheper-training won him a scholarship to Nick Bollettieri’s prestigious tennis academy near Bradenton Florida, assists him with STA clinics and youth programs. Chloe Jean Charles was recruited by Scheper to play at Benedict College while Head Coach. She went on to become 4-time All Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference winner. She will also be assisting with STA youth programs. “It’s about the kids now,” said Scheper.