Hoop Group
Hoop Group is a privately held youth basketball events and instruction company founded in 1963, operating camps, leagues, tournaments, and a 50,000 sq ft NJ facility across multiple East Coast states, serving 27,000+ athletes annually through 1,100+ teams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersNeptune, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hoop Group does
Hoop Group is a privately held youth basketball events and instruction company founded in 1963 by Bob Kennedy and headquartered in Neptune City, New Jersey. It organizes camps, clinics, leagues, tournaments, and tournaments across the United States, operating a flagship 50,000 sq ft facility (Hoop Group Headquarters) and a multi-venue circuit spanning New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The company serves more than 27,000 athletes annually across 1,100+ teams, drawing participants from 46 states and an alumni network of over one million, including 148 NBA/WNBA players, 240 McDonald's All-Americans, and 73 Hall of Famers.
Its product portfolio centers on competitive and developmental basketball: the Hoop Group Scholastic League (HGSL, launched 2016), the Hoop Group Academic League (HGAL, launched 2025) targeting high-academic prospects in partnership with All Academic Basketball, and large-scale showcase events such as Jam Fest that host 180+ college coaches for recruiting exposure. Registration, scheduling, and payment are delivered through the third-party PlayerFirst platform, which provides a single login shared with 150+ partner organizations, and event broadcasting runs on the BeTheBeast live-streaming platform.
The business model is consumer-facing: Hoop Group monetizes through per-athlete registration fees (range $35–$1,850), team and league franchise fees, camp and clinic tuition, facility rentals, and event-related media/streaming rights, with no disclosed enterprise or sponsorship concentration. The company is privately held and does not publish financial results.
Hoop Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hoop Group
- Legal name
- Hoop Group
- Website
- https://hoopgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Hoop Group is a privately held youth basketball events and instruction company founded in 1963, operating camps, leagues, tournaments, and a 50,000 sq ft NJ facility across multiple East Coast states, serving 27,000+ athletes annually through 1,100+ teams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hoop Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Basketball Training & Events
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL), Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)
Keywords
Where Hoop Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neptune
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Hoop Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Registration Fees: Hoop Group charges registration fees for tournaments (Jam Fests, Showdowns, HGHQ events), camps (Elite Camp, Academic Elite Camp), and circuits (NXT Gen Winter Circuit, HGSL, HGAL). Fees range from $35-$1,850 per participant depending on event type and package. This is the primary revenue stream.
- Media & Content Packages: Hoop Group sells optional media add-ons at events including team/individual committed graphics ($50-$400), photo shoots ($150), team photo & video packages, and highlight tapes ($400). These are upsells at point of registration or event participation.
- Facility Rentals: The 50,000 square foot HGHQ facility in Neptune, NJ is rented to grammar school, high school, and grassroots teams for court/facility use. Revenue is generated through court rental fees.
- Hotel/Travel Services (Stay to Play): Hoop Group partners with Team Travel Source for hotel booking. Teams located more than 75 miles from event venues are required to book a minimum of 4 room nights (2 rooms per night) through the partner, creating referral/affiliate revenue.
- Game Film & Highlight Packages: Camp and event participants can purchase game film ($103.75-$166) and highlight tape packages ($155.62-$290.50) as add-ons to their registration, providing additional per-transaction revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | NXT Gen Winter Circuit - Full Season Package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pittsburgh Summer Elite Camp - General Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pittsburgh Summer Elite Camp - Registration + Game Film + Highlight Tape |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pittsburgh Summer Elite Camp - Registration + Game Film |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-Atlantic Academic Elite Camp - General Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | New England Academic Elite Camp - General Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Spring Jam Fest - Sunday ONLY Band |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | New England Jam Fest - Various Bands |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HGHQ Summer Showdown at HGHQ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HGHQ NJ JamFest at HGHQ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HGHQ Boys Spring High School League |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Scholar Stage - Single Day Camp |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Jam Fest - Individual Media Add-ons |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Hoop Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hoop Group operates a comprehensive grassroots basketball platform delivering instruction, competition, and college recruiting exposure through camps, clinics, leagues, tournaments, and showcase events. Core offerings include Jam Fests exposure tournaments, the Hoop Group Showcase League (HGSL), the Hoop Group Academic League (HGAL), the NXT Gen Winter Circuit, weekly instruction at HGHQ, Elite Camps, and Academic Elite Camps serving athletes from middle school through high school.
Product overview
Hoop Group is a comprehensive basketball services company operating since 1963, offering a portfolio of interconnected products centered on basketball instruction, competition, and player exposure. The core product lineup includes Jam Fests (premier exposure tournaments), HGHQ Showdown Tournaments (regional tournaments at the Neptune, NJ headquarters), Hoop Group Showcase League (HGSL, a college recruitment showcase league established in 2016), and weekly instruction programs at HGHQ. Supporting products include the NXT Gen Winter Circuit and Middle School Spring Series for youth development, HGHQ High School Leagues for seasonal competitive play, and camp products including Academic Elite Camp, Scholar Stage (in partnership with All Academic Basketball), and Elite Camp for college-bound players. Media Packages provide add-on services for professional team graphics and highlight videos. The newest addition is the Hoop Group Academic League (HGAL) launched in 2025 for high academic prospects. The company also offers facility rentals of its 50,000 sq ft headquarters with 4 NBA courts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HGSL (Hoop Group Showcase League): Premier exposure platform for college prospects established in 2016, featuring 40+ teams from 20+ states at 17u, 16u, and 15u divisions.
- HGAL (Hoop Group Academic League)
- NXT Gen Winter Circuit
- Jam Fests
- Elite Camp
- Academic Elite Camp
Products and services
- Jam Fests Premier basketball exposure tournaments offering competition against national programs across multiple divisions. Designed for high school basketball players seeking college recruiting exposure.
- HGHQ Showdown Tournaments
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of Hoop Group Elite Camp campers go on to play in college
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Hoop Group
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hoop Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Hoop Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PlayerFirstcorePlayerFirst Technology provides the registration, waiver management, team rostering, and player profile platform powering Hoop Group's digital operations. Single login access spans 150+ youth sport organizations and event providers. Hoop Group is one of multiple brands using this platform, and the partnership enables cross-organization network effects and operational efficiency.
- BeTheBeastcoreBeTheBeast provides live streaming infrastructure for all Hoop Group events. Separate streams are available for parents/fans and college coaches (recruiter portal). All major events are live-streamed on the BeTheBeast Event Live platform, enabling remote access to games for recruiting purposes.
- All Academic BasketballcoreAll Academic Basketball is a strategic partner for the Scholar Stage program, which specifically targets high academic student-athletes seeking Division 2 and Division 3 college recruitment. The partnership combines Hoop Group's basketball infrastructure with All Academic Basketball's academic recruiting network.
- Team Travel SourcecoreTeam Travel Source is Hoop Group's exclusive hotel partner for the 'Stay to Play' policy. Teams located more than 75 miles from event venues must book a minimum of 4 room nights (2 rooms per night) through Team Travel Source. TTS provides Team Experience Specialists to assist with reservations and team blocks. Reservations booked directly with hotels or third parties do not count toward compliance.
- NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)coreHoop Group operates NCAA-certified events during official recruiting periods. NCAA certification is required to participate in all live period events. Hoop Group's platform integrates with NCAA's Basketball Certification System (BBCS) for team and athlete registration. NCAA coaches are the primary audience for Hoop Group's exposure events.
- USA Basketball (USAB)coreTo coach at Hoop Group live period events, coaches must obtain a USAB Gold License, which requires submitting a background check. This partnership ensures compliance with USA Basketball coaching standards and enhances the credibility of Hoop Group's coaching staff.
- Multi-Sports KingdomminorMulti-Sports Kingdom in Manalapan, NJ is used as a venue for NXT Gen Winter Circuit Stop 1 and Championship events, combined with HGHQ in Neptune.
- Shoot Hoops KOPminorShoot Hoops KOP in King of Prussia, PA serves as the venue for NXT Gen Winter Circuit Stop 2, enabling regional expansion into Pennsylvania.
- Athletic RepublicminorAthletic Republic in District Heights, MD serves as the venue for NXT Gen Winter Circuit Stop 3, enabling regional reach into the Mid-Atlantic.
- Starland SportsplexminorStarland Sportsplex in Hanover, MA is listed as a Hoop Group event venue, expanding geographic footprint into New England.
- Haverford CollegeminorHaverford College in Haverford, PA is the venue for Mid-Atlantic Academic Elite Camp. The partnership provides Hoop Group with access to college facilities for hosting recruiting events.
- Milton AcademyminorMilton Academy in Milton, MA is the venue for Scholar Stage and New England Academic Elite Camp. Provides Hoop Group access to premier academic institution facilities for high-academic recruiting events.
Scale indicators19 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hoop Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): National governing body for amateur youth sports including basketball. Indirect peer through sanctioned AAU team participation in Hoop Group events; sets the broader amateur basketball governance and sanctioning framework Hoop Group operates within.
- 3 Step Sports: Large youth sports platform that operates multiple event brands across basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Hoop Group appears to operate under the 3 Step Sports platform (per copyright footer). Direct peer in event operations with broader sport portfolio.
Direct peers
- NY2LA Sports: Operates basketball exposure tournaments, camps, and showcases across the Midwest and nationally. Direct competitor in the grassroots basketball event space, targeting the same college-recruit customer base with similar NCAA live-period event formats.
- Adidas Gauntlet: Premier sponsored grassroots basketball circuit featuring elite high school teams and showcase events. Directly comparable business model—tournament circuit, college coach exposure, sponsored apparel partnerships—competing for the same 17u/16u/15u prospects.
- Under Armour Association: Sponsored grassroots basketball league and tournament series. Operates the same circuit/showcase format during NCAA live periods, targeting elite college-bound prospects with apparel sponsorship economics similar to Hoop Group's branded events.
- Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League): Nike-sponsored premier grassroots basketball circuit and finals event. Direct competitor for elite 17u prospects, with similar NCAA live-period timing, college coach attendance model, and tiered event pricing.
- Zero Gravity Basketball: Northeast-based grassroots basketball event operator running tournaments, leagues, and showcases. Closely comparable geography (Northeast US), event formats, and target customer segments (youth through high school prospects).
- Peach State Hoops: Southeast-based grassroots basketball event operator running tournaments, leagues, and showcases. Comparable business model with regional concentration, providing a useful benchmark for Hoop Group's potential Sun Belt expansion.
Emerging players
- Ballislife: Grassroots basketball media and event platform producing content, highlights, and tournaments. Adjacent peer combining media monetization with event operations—relevant as a model for Hoop Group's media package and live-streaming growth.
- All Academic Basketball: Strategic partner for Hoop Group's Scholar Stage program; specializes in academic-focused basketball recruiting for D2/D3 programs. Closely aligned with HGAL positioning and serves as a benchmark for the high-academic recruitment vertical.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hoop Group social profiles
Digital presenceHoop Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hoop Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Hoop Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hoop Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hoop Group
What does Hoop Group do?
Hoop Group operates a comprehensive grassroots basketball platform delivering instruction, competition, and college recruiting exposure through camps, clinics, leagues, tournaments, and showcase events. Core offerings include Jam Fests exposure tournaments, the Hoop Group Showcase League (HGSL), the Hoop Group Academic League (HGAL), the NXT Gen Winter Circuit, weekly instruction at HGHQ, Elite Camps, and Academic Elite Camps serving athletes from middle school through high school.
Is Hoop Group a public or private company?
Hoop Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hoop Group founded?
Hoop Group was founded in 1963. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Hoop Group based?
Hoop Group is headquartered in Neptune, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hoop Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Event Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are media & Content Packages, facility Rentals, hotel/Travel Services (Stay to Play) and game Film & Highlight Packages.
Who are Hoop Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and 3 Step Sports. Direct peers are NY2LA Sports, Adidas Gauntlet, Under Armour Association, Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), Zero Gravity Basketball and Peach State Hoops. Emerging players are Ballislife and All Academic Basketball.
Does Hoop Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hoop Group.
What industry is Hoop Group in?
Hoop Group's product category is Youth Basketball Training & Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAF, Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues), with a secondary code of MPAKADAL, Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers. Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7997.