Overtime Elite

Overtime Elite is a professional basketball league for 16–20-year-olds, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The league is owned and operated by Overtime and was founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner.[1]

Overtime Elite
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2022–2023
SportBasketball
Founded2021
FounderDan Porter and Zack Weiner
Inaugural season2021–2022
CEODan Porter
AdministratorDamien Wilkins – general manager
No. of teams8
CountryUS
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia
Venue(s)Overtime Elite Arena
Most recent
champion(s)		City Reapers
(2022–2023)
Streaming partner(s)Amazon Prime Video
Sponsor(s)Gatorade, GMC, State Farm
Official websiteovertimeelite.com

History

Overtime launched the Overtime Elite professional basketball league in 2021 for American and international basketball players between the ages of 16–20. Players receive a minimum salary of $100,000 annually, a signing bonus, and shares in Overtime's larger business. Players can also choose a scholarship option and maintain college eligibility. According to the New York Times, Overtime "provides health and disability insurance and sets aside $100,000 in college scholarship money for each player if they decide not to pursue professional basketball afterwards".[2][3]

Athletes participate in an academic program featuring a 4:1 student-teacher ratio and a curriculum offering traditional high school subjects alongside life skill-related subjects in financial literacy, social media and other media training, and mental health and wellness.[4]

In April 2021, Overtime Elite hired former NBA player and University of Connecticut head coach Kevin Ollie as its first head coach and head of player development.[5] In May that year, the company announced the signings of Matt and Ryan Bewley, the first prep underclassmen to sign contracts with an American professional basketball league.[6] The league also signed Dominican guard Jean Montero in June as its first international player[7] and 16-year-old Jalen Lewis, the youngest American professional basketball player in history, in July.[8] In September, Overtime Elite announced an exclusive partnership with Topps to create basketball trading cards on Overtime Elite athletes.[9] In October, the company announced Gatorade and State Farm as brand partners.[10][11]

In January 2022, Overtime Elite announced a partnership with Meta to develop virtual reality content for the league.[12] In April 2022, they announced the signing of Naasir Cunningham, the number one basketball prospect in ESPN's Class of 2024. Cunningham became the first Overtime Elite player to forgo being paid a salary, preserving college basketball eligibility after graduating from high school.[13] In July that year, Pau Gasol joined Carmelo Anthony and Jay Williams on the Overtime Elite board of directors.[14] In September, Damien Wilkins was named general manager and Head of Basketball.[15] In October, Overtime Elite announced a partnership with GMC.[16] In November, Overtime Elite and Amazon Prime Video agreed to a multi-year global distribution partnership to stream 20 live Overtime Elite games per season for the league's next three seasons alongside the launch of a series on Overtime Elite in 2023.[17]

Overtime Elite Arena

Overtime Elite built a 103,000 square-foot facility in the Atlantic Station section of Atlanta where players train, study, and compete.[18] The building has three NBA regulation-sized courts that can seat up to 1,300 spectators. The building also has a 7,000-square-foot fitness center, a hydrotherapy room, classroom spaces, a dining hall, and locker rooms.[19]

In June and July 2022, the Professional Fighters League held three regular season events at Overtime Elite Arena.[20]

Exterior shot of arena
Overtime Elite Arena Showcourt

Seasons

Season 1 (2021–2022)

Overtime Elite's inaugural season consisted of three teams – Team Elite, Team OTE, and Team Overtime – playing against each other and against prep schools and high schools.[21] In May 2021, Overtime Elite announced the signing of Amen and Ausar Thompson, top-ranked guards in the 2022 class, and Matt and Ryan Bewley, top-ranked power forward prospects in the 2023 class.[22][23]

In the league's first season, Team Elite defeated Team OTE 52–45 in Game 3 of the Overtime Elite Finals to become the first league champion.[24] Ausar Thompson was named MVP of the Finals.[25]

After the season, Overtime Elite's Dominick Barlow signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs,[26] later becoming the first Overtime Elite prospect to play in the NBA on November 2, 2022.[27] Jean Montero also signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks.[28] Emmanuel Maldonado was also drafted by Mets de Guaynabo in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional League in Puerto Rico.[29]

In the summer of 2022, a group of Overtime Elite players competed in The Basketball Tournament and traveled to Europe to compete against professional clubs Basquet Girona, KK Mega Baskett, and KK Studentski centar.[30][31]

Season 2 (2022–2023)

In April 2022, Overtime Elite announced the signing of top-ranked 2024 recruit Naasir Cunningham, the first Overtime Elite player to accept a scholarship instead of a salary.[32] In July, Overtime Elite announced the signing of 8 new players for the 2022 season.[33]

Overtime Elite announced their expansion to 6 teams for that season. Team Elite, Team OTE, and Team Overtime were rebranded as the City Reapers, YNG Dreamerz, and Cold Hearts, respectively. High school teams Hillcrest Prep Bruins, Our Saviour Lutheran Falcons, and the Word of God Holy Rams joined Overtime Elite for the second season.[34][35] In the same month, Overtime Elite announced a 90-game schedule with non-league games against Bryce and Bronny James, Cameron Boozer, and Jared McCain.[36]

In November 2022, Overtime Elite announced the signing of top-ranked 2023 recruit Robert Dillingham after he announced his departure from Donda Academy, Kanye West's school, due to the many controversies surrounding its founder during that time.[37]

Ausar Thompson was named regular season MVP.[38] The City Reapers swept the YNG Dreamerz 3-0 in the Overtime Elite Finals. Ausar Thompson was also named MVP of the Finals.[39]

After the end of the season, Amen and Ausar Thompson from the City Reapers went on to become top-5 picks in the 2023 NBA draft, with Amen drafted 4th overall by the Houston Rockets and Ausar drafted 5th overall by the Detroit Pistons.[40][41] In addition to them, YNG Dreamerz players Jaylen Martin and Jazian Gortman signed deals to join NBA teams after the draft, with Martin getting a two-way contract with the New York Knicks and Gortman signing a deal as an undrafted free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.[42]

Season 3 (2023-2024)

Overtime Elite announced that season 3 will have eight teams including the City Reapers, YNG Dreamerz, Rolling Loud, RWE, JellyFam, Blue Checks, Diamond Doves and Cold Hearts.[43] [44][45]

One Shot: Overtime Elite

On September 5th, 2023 Amazon Prime Video released One Shot: Overtime Elite, ” a six-episode, half-hour docuseries. The series follows seven of the top basketball players from around the country, including Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson, as they navigate various challenges and grueling training in pursuit of a professional career in the sport.[46]

Current roster
City Reapers
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightYrs
F1United StatesEvans, Amari6' 5" (1.96m)204 lb (93kg)1
G2United StatesFaumuina, Jeremiah6' 4" (1.93m)177 lb (80kg)1
G00United StatesHoward, Jahki6' 6" (1.98m)181 lb (82kg)2
C34United StatesJackson, Jahzare6' 11" (2.11m)317 lb (144kg)3
F23United StatesLewis, Jalen6' 10" (2.08m)227 lb (103kg)3
G11United StatesMiller, Jahari6' 2" (1.88m)179 lb (81kg)1
G3United StatesMustaf, Jaeden6' 5" (1.96m)201 lb (91kg)1
F4United StatesOliugu, Efeosa6' 6" (1.98m)217 lb (98kg)1
G5United StatesRobinson, Parker6' 4" (1.93m)178 lb (81kg)1
F15United StatesTiller, Bryson6' 9" (2.06m)214 lb (97kg)1
Head coach
United States Doug Martin (Viterbo University)
Cold Hearts
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightYrs
C11South SudanBol, John7' 1" (2.16m)192 lb (87kg)1
G0United StatesBrown, Mikel6' 2" (1.88m)158 lb (72kg)1
F6BrazilCalderon, Samis6' 7" (2.01m)194 lb (88kg)1
F8United StatesCatchings, Kanon6' 9" (2.06m)201 lb (91kg)1
F31United StatesCrawford, Brandon6' 9" (2.06m)188 lb (85kg)1
G9BrazilDos Santos, Reynan6' 5" (1.96m)205 lb (93kg)1
C21United StatesMarshall, Peyton7' 0" (2.13m)300 lb (136kg)1
G00United StatesMartino Jr., Ralph6' 6" (1.98m)180 lb (82kg)2
G7United StatesOumiddoch, Adam6' 4" (1.93m)173 lb (78kg)1
G5United StatesParker, Trey6' 1" (1.85m)171 lb (78kg)2
Head coach
United States Tim Fanning (Whittier College)
RWE
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightYrs
F13United StatesCosby, Lincoln6' 9" (2.06m)164 lb (74kg)1
C2NigeriaCyril, Somto6' 10" (2.08m)241 lb (109kg)2
G1United StatesDavis, Daquan6' 1" (1.85m)173 lb (78kg)1
G9United StatesHill, Romelo5' 7" (1.7m)117 lb (53kg)1
G99United StatesJackson, Jason6' 3" (1.91m)177 lb (80kg)1
G11United StatesJackson, Tyler6' 1" (1.85m)152 lb (69kg)1
F18United StatesKnox, Karter6' 6" (1.98m)211 lb (96kg)1
F7BelgiumMissia-Dio, Nathan6' 9" (2.06m)215 lb (98kg)2
F16United StatesPonder, Marcis6' 11" (2.11m)288 lb (131kg)1
F6United StatesSutton, Darrion6' 8" (2.03m)182 lb (83kg)1
G21United StatesWilkins, Jayden6' 1" (1.85m)151 lb (68kg)1
Head coach
United States Corey Frazier (Saint Louis University)

Notable alumni

References
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  2. Draper, Kevin (March 4, 2021). "A New League's Shot at the N.C.A.A.: $100,000 Salaries for High School Players". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
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