High Hoops christens NFM center
The North Fort Myers Recreation Center never hosted a sporting event this big in its 20 months of operation.
Last weekend, the new facility served as the main host for the United States Specialty Sports Association’s High Hoops Shootout, a huge 5-on-5 basketball tournament with some of the best travel ball teams from all over Southwest Florida.
After seeing the facility and what it can do, don’t be surprised if many more tournaments come to town in the near future.
More than 65 teams from fourth-grade to high school seniors played at five locations all over Lee County, including minor locations at North Fort Myers and Mariner high schools.
The Wakahatchee and Estero community centers also hosted games.
Play started on Friday with local teams and continued through to the finals late Sunday afternoon, with some of the best talent in the region on the court.
Randall Wiggins, a Cape Coral Police officer and site director for the tournament, said it basically was an event where teams showcase their best players.
“We have local teams, teams from Miami to Tampa, and they just showcase what they have,” Wiggins said. “It’s intense, all the teams are competitive and they’re ready to work.”
The games are different from high school play in that they play 16-minute halves instead of eight-minute quarters. There is no shot clock, though with the pace of play there really wasn’t need for one. Players were racing up and down the court putting up shots with the frequency of NBA teams.
It also is a very grueling event. Teams play as many as three games in one day, making depth a major factor and leaving tongues dragging on the floor. The fact that some kids also play spring football made them even more fatigued.
“It’s tough. It’s what they signed up for,” said Wiggins, whose brother coached the High Hoops Broadway Ballers.
The Ballers had numerous talented players, among them Darrian Felix, who as a sophomore has colleges already interested in him to play wide receiver in football.
The Ballers, a group of 16-year-olds from eight different area high schools, showed their superiority in cruising to an easy win in its first game against a team comprised of members of Gulf Coast High School’s JV and freshman teams.
“It’s a great opportunity for our student athletes in Southwest Florida to play locally at a high-caliber level of travel ball,” said Will Prather, manager for the Ballers and whose son plays for the team. “These are generally the best players in high school.”
Wiggins said the tournament gave the facility great recognition as it’s able to host two games simultaneously.
“It’s a beautiful gym. It has great staff and there are a lot of things to like here,” Wiggins said. “We’ll be back. It’s one of our premiere sites.”