How Do I Find Hoopers Everywhere I Go?

This is actually a question that I receive often, and it’s a weird one to me at this point in my life. However, I understand it. But the answer is really simple, I go out of my way to find them. I go to gyms, I ask around, I might even make a post.

Finding people that hoop, finding people that have similar interests like myself, is as easy as anything else when you really want to find what you are looking for. You see, I won’t stop until I find what it is I am looking for. Now, the level of competition I stumble across might be an issue, but just finding people in the gym or on a court is the first step.

Recently I went to visit my family out in California. One of the first questions I asked during my stay was “what gym do you go to?” And even though I was talking to my aunt and uncle who clearly wouldn’t be hitting the court, they knew where a court was. So I just went with them when they went to workout. I brought my basketball shoes with me, so I was already prepared in that regard. They got me in on one of their guest passes and I made my way to the court.

At first, there was no one in there. Matter of fact, the janitor was mopping the floor. It was about 9am on a Friday morning. The day after Thanksgiving to be exact. I’ve done this enough times to know that IMMEDIATELY after a big holiday where a lot of food is involved, many people will be looking to hit the gym and get their cardio in. After the janitor gave me the “go ahead” nod to walk on the court, I began to shoot around. I figured if no one else came in, at the least I would get in my own little workout and get some shots up.

And with the bouncing of the ball, others began to look in and see who was on the court. Within 10 minutes I had about 3 other people come in and begin shooting. One person began rebounding for me, and then of course that’s when I began to ask questions about where the hoopers in the area were.  

Here are the main questions I always ask:

1.   Do people come in here and play 5 on 5?

2.   Do you know what time people come in here? And on what days do they come in?

3.   Do you play anywhere besides here?

4.   How is the competition level?

These questions never fail to lead me in the right direction and I usually find what I am looking for. Once that guy answered all of my questions, slowly but surely there were some hoopers walking through the door ready to play. We must have played about 6 games. I stayed on the court the entire time. I was able to meet some new people in a place I am sure to visit again. And they even invited me to come back and hoop with them the next day.

I’d say it was an overall successful trip. I mean who doesn’t like family, turkey, and getting buckets???