Ultimate Hoops: A Basketball Player's Dream in Fridley

Although NBA lockout negotiations are showing no signs of progress, it’s still possible to catch the Bulls on a fast break to the net. Yes, the first two weeks of the 2011 season are still scratched, cancelled by Commissioner David Stern, but the game lives on in cities across the nation for players in Ultimate Hoops.

Ultimate Hoops was established in 2006 by Alan Arlt before being picked up by in 2008. The partnership allows members in adult and youth leagues to use Life Time’s state-of-the-art basketball facilities around the U.S.

The league is a significant cut above your average game of pick-up basketball and is located in five Minnesota cities: Bloomington, Champlin, Fridley, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. Chad Wessels is the league coordinator of Ultimate Hoops, Fridley.

“It’s not like any other league you’re going to be a part of,” Wessels said. “Other rec leagues don’t have stats, don’t track minutes, don’t have photos [or] don’t have YouTube access with live interviews.”

Playoffs Add a Month
The year-round league is offered to basketball fanatics for $60 a season (fall, spring, winter and summer). Players can participate in a competitive, organized two-month campaign—three if you make the playoffs. The league comes complete with referees, mounted scoreboards and even stats.

“There are different incentives to keep people coming, keep people engaged within Life Time Fitness and Ultimate Hoops.” Wessels said.

People like Eugene Phelps, player and general manager of the aforementioned Bulls.

“For me to be able to have my own team and name them after my childhood basketball team Bulls and be successful,” Phelps said. “It's everything to me besides family.”

Phelps is also a member of the Ultimate Hoops players’ committee.

“I always dreamed of playing in the NBA and it didn’t come true, but you can’t complain.” Phelps said. “This is still a dream come true.”

Locations and Leagues
Ultimate Hoops continues to draw recognition and excitement while bringing players together from all over the Twin Cities; many of whom play in multiple leagues.

“This is going to be my second season, fourth team.” New Hope native Izzy Elkaffas said. “I played in Fridley, Champlin and St. Louis Park.”

Other players boast a longer commute than Elkaffas’ 15-minute drive. .

“I’m from West St. Paul,” Lance Buscher said. “So it’s probably 30 minutes here and then I play in Bloomington . That’s probably 30 minutes there too.

This is a major improvement from the drive Buscher used to make to Fridley as a Lakeville native. Teammate Brandon Laurencot also resides in West St. Paul. He too has eased the pressure on his gas tank since moving from Eagan, although he didn’t mind the drive.

“I think it’s thrilling to come to a game because once a week you get really pumped to play.” Laurencot said. “Basically you can’t wait to play unless you play in multiple leagues.”

Friends and Family
Players aren’t the only ones who can’t wait for a game of hoops at Life Time. It’s common to find family, friends and even children courtside cheering for two 22-minute halves.

“A lot of the participants have families of their own with wives and kids,” Wessels said. “And just like a high school basketball game or a college basketball game, they’re going to want to come and see them play.”

“I think it’s pretty cool how there’s such a community with it I guess.” Buscher said. “You get to know the people.”

Between the hustle plays, boxing-out for rebounds and “questionable” foul calls, competition can get escalated—but cooler heads prevail.

“On the court it’s pretty good,” Elkaffas said about the sportsmanship. “Sometimes it gets a little competitive but it’s nothing too crazy.”

On the Web
The grandeur of Ultimate Hoops extending past the court is what takes the cake for all parties involved. The experience extends to the Web and Ultimate Hoops’ official website UHlife.com. Not to mention the occasional conversation on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

“It’s the overall atmosphere and what you’re getting out of your dollar,” Wessels said. “You’re going to be getting live stats, you’re going to be getting minutes being tracked, you’re going to be getting breakdowns of your games, you’re going to get something called a player performance ranking, you’re going to be getting photos and interviews keeping you engaged within Ultimate Hoops.”

“The website that they’ve got is fantastic,” Elkaffas said. “It just keeps everybody interested, keeps you looking forward to the next game.”

Referee Weighs In
The added bonus the internet provides even has Ultimate Hoops referees buzzing.

“Players get all their stats; they get all their points, their rebounds, their assists and everything like that,” two-year referee John Faison said. “It’s a great league to play in as a player.”

 “You’re going to stay engaged, week-in and week-out, within Ultimate Hoops,” Wessels said. “It’s not just a one-hour session for you to get an exercise. It’s just a lifestyle for average Joes to participate and play basketball.”