I was lucky enough to get to watch some OTE players work on skills at Overtime Elite's practice court.

Overtime Elite 

What Is Overtime Elite?

Atlanta-based Overtime Elite is powered by the drive, skill, and heart of the best young basketball players in the nation. OTE features standout hoopers, ages 16-20, across the league's eight teams. In addition to intense, basketball practices and games, athletes engage in about 4 hours of academic instruction per day, both in person and online. Think of it as a cross between private school and a basketball training ground...with digital media coaching on the side.

And these OTE players have amassed huge followings -- not just from fans, but from NBA and NCAA scouts as well. OTE's alumni includes four top 10 NBA draft picks over the past two years, including twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson, Alex Sarr, and Rob Dillingham, as well as many NCAA standouts with huge social media followings (which gained visibility on OTE's various platforms).

In addition to basketball achievements, OTE athletes earn academic success. This is just one of the classrooms on the bottom level of the OTE arena.

Overtime Elite Basketball

Overtime Elite's high-school-aged players get access to the best training, coaching, and facilities; prioritized academics with trained educators and learning facilitators; and economic empowerment to market their skills and earn endoresements.

OTE has signed some of the best young basketball players in the country (including a few international prospects) for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The teens are divided across eight OTE teams, all based in Atlanta: Blue Checks, Cold Hearts, Jelly Fam, Rolling Loud, City Reapers, Diamond Doves, RWE, and YNG Dreamerz. While anxious fans await the season opener, they can follow the social media accounts of each team, OTE players, and the league itself.  

And the annual Overtime Takeover weekend pays homage to the organization's beginnings with dazzling displays of basketball prowess and high-engagement fun during games, a dunk show, and other cool events. 

Overtime Select

Due to the success of Overtime Elite, the organization just launched Overtime Select (OT Select) — a brand new eight-team league showcasing the top 15- to 18-year-old women basketball players in the country. OT Select provides tools, resources, and mentorship to help these women build their personal brands as they prepare for college and successful careers. And like the men's league, Overtime Select hosts its own Takeover event in Atlanta (the inaugural weekend just happened last month), featuring high-flying basketball tricks, celebrity guests, special performances, and more. 

OT Select gameplay culminates in a tournament-style competition during late summer (filling a gap in gameplay and programming during basketball's traditional offseason). Those lucky enough to be in the Atlanta area and get tickets will get to watch the semi-finals and championship games in-person this weekend, September 14-15, 2024, at the Overtime Elite Arena.

Overtime Arena 

Located across from Atlantic Station in Midtown, OTE Arena is an unassuming 103,000-square-foot facility built using recycled and reused components. Visitors can sign up for a tour of the facility and see the practice courts, classrooms, lounges, social media hub, control room, and of course, the game court. Or better yet, basketball fans, both visiting and living in Atlanta, can see the arena in all its glory during game day, by checking out the upcoming season schedule and purchasing tickets.

The ease of attending an Overtime game at OTE Atlanta arena centers on accessible, affordable tickets (especially compared to Atlanta Hawks prices), a fun environment, and live action built on the talents and spirit of young, elite athletes.

More Time with Overtime

In addition to training and educating young basketball players, Overtime keeps fans engaged with additional forms of content, including original, long-form programming, as well as social-first talk shows (with engaging personalities that have their own huge followings) and accounts covering the news that fans care about.

And going beyond basketball, Overtime has begun work in other sports, including boxing, gaming, soccer, and football. These leagues and player development are still growing, but seeing the global success of OTE and Overtime Select, it's only a matter of time before these venues blow up in popularity.

With a community of more than 50 million followers across all their platforms, Overtime understands the game of social media as well as basketball. The organization offers a way for parents to connect with their own sports-loving children by following the same fan accounts and related podcasts and videos, as well as watching games on streaming platforms or at the Atlanta arena itself.