Team Insight

TEAM INSIGHT GOES RIGHT TO THE SOURCE TO FIND OUT WHAT YOUNG BASKETBALL PLAYERS WANT. BY MIKE MAY TEAM BASKETBALL 10 • Team Insight ~ July/August 2024 teaminsightmag.com Aubry Eackles-Perine Talks Hoops Aubry, 17, is a member of the TNBA Houston 17U girls' travel basketball team from Houston, TX. is fall, she will be a senior at Klein Collins High School in Spring, TX. Ball talk: "I like to use Wilson and Baden basketballs. e texture of both brands is comforting and I just love the sound they make through the hoop." Shoe preference: "I look for color. It has to pop when I see it. Highlighter shoes catch my eye first and I need a basketball shoe with strong ankle support." Favorite shoe: "e Nike Kyrie 5 Sponge Bob Patrick." Buying power: "My school makes all of the buying decisions." Cool brands: "For working out off the court, cool is Skecher's Women's Uno brand shoes. For slides and clothes, Nike and Under Armour are my go-to brands because of their longevity. Nike is still a cool brand and it continues to get better and better." Sock preference: "I prefer both white and black Nike socks. ey complement any shoe and have a nice tight fit." Who pays: "My mother and Auntie Lola pay for my basketball gear. ey are just as invested in my basketball career and image as I am." Horror stories: "I washed my white jersey in my freshman year of high school and it was blue for the rest of the season. It was a lesson learned indeed." Brielle George Talks Hoops Brielle is a member of the 11th grade Wellington Wolves travel team from Wellington, FL. is fall, she will be a senior at e King's Academy in West Palm Beach, FL. Ball talk …"I really like the Wilson brand because almost every school (in Florida) uses it and I've just grown accustomed to it. e consistency and reliability of Wilson basketballs make them perfect for games and their excellent grip and feel give me confidence on the court." Shoe preference: "One of the most debated B asketball is, far and away, the most pop- ular team sport in the U.S., based on the latest research conducted by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). In fact, right now there are roughly 28.1 million basketball players in the U.S. — 73 percent of them are male; 56 percent are between the ages of 13 and 34; and 33 percent come from families with annual household incomes of at least $100,000. At the high school level, basketball is the number one sport, according to the NFHS, with more than 17,000 schools fielding teams — that adds up to more than 910,000 teenagers. At the cash register, basketball is big busi- ness. According to the SFIA, wholesale sales of basketball equipment, footwear and apparel are roughly $2.16 billion. With that much buying power in their hands, Team Insight reached out to young basketball players to get their opinions on their hoops stuff. e result is a blueprint for team dealers and their vendors to follow if they want to continue to tap into this lucrative market. Read on. You might be surprised at what your customers want. TALKIN' HOOPS

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