By Justin Adams | [email protected]

The RSL Academy basketball team will have a new home court to defend this year, after investing in a brand new court that will soon be installed inside the RSL Academy practice facility.

In its inaugural season this winter, the team had to resort to playing at offsite facilities such as Athlos Academy. 

“[That] has not allowed us to curate a fan base that you normally would see at a high school,” said RSL Academy Athletic Director Becky Hogan. “If you come to soccer games you will see hundreds of fans lining the sidelines. It is an electric, exciting environment. Having the courts installed here at the Academy will immediately impact that missing portion of our programs.”

Even without a home court, the team had a successful first season, according to head coach David Evans, who came to RSL Academy after two years at Wasatch Academy, a boarding school in Mt. Pleasant. 

“The first season was a big success,” Evans said. “We have kids from all over. We have kids from everywhere, from Vegas to Maryland to Hawaii. It’s been really, really fun.”

The team plays a mix of local and national competition, including traveling to tournaments. Next year the team plans to play in tournaments in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada and Texas. But when they play home games, it will be on its brand-new court, complete with hoops that were last used by the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.

One issue with basketball courts in large indoor facilities is the fact that greater depth behind hoops can make it more difficult for shooters, something that has been well-documented in NCAA Final Four games, which have often been played in football stadiums. To prevent that, the Academy will put some screens up behind the court. There will also be bleachers added so more fans can attend the games.