Photo by Dominic Feo | The Crow’s Nest
By Dominic Feo
Basketball has been a recreational activity for University of South Florida students at the St. Petersburg campus since 2006. Twenty years later, the courts are more often hosting pickleball.
Over a hundred USF St. Petersburg students have played the recent phenomenon since the Pickleball Club began in 2024. Club meetings have provided students four extra hours a week to play, while basketball still shares the regular time of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday with pickleball.
A few students organized this semester to help USF St. Petersburg basketball reach overtime. Senior business analytics and information systems major and club president, Gabriel Lopez and his friends have considered creating the St. Petersburg Basketball Club since last April.
Photo by Dominic Feo | The Crow’s Nest
“We knew that USF [St. Petersburg] needed a basketball club, we wanted the courts a little later, and we want to start building a consistent community with basketball,” Lopez said.
The club gives basketball its own four additional hours, scheduling meetings every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Organized basketball events have always been hosted by Campus Recreation, the most recent being an Intramural 3v3 Tournament on Sept. 17. It has been almost four years, however, since USF St. Petersburg offered weekly basketball events.
Photo by Dominic Feo | The Crow’s Nest
Senior and graphic design major Jaeden Kyobe, who is the club’s first marketing chair and secretary, believes structured basketball will improve the quality of play at USF St. Petersburg.
“We can focus on developmental skills because I don’t think just shooting around when the courts are open will really improve your game,” Kyobe explained. “It’s really getting put into game-type situations that we want to focus on.”
Aside from learning, he just wants to see students benefit from basketball the same way that he has.
“Just coming out here, shooting the ball or just hanging out with friends on the court, it’s been a great way to clear my mind, that’s why I come out here all the time,” Kyobe said.
The first meeting, held on Jan. 30, consisted of three 5v5 scrimmage games. Their second meeting on Feb. 7 included halfcourt 3v3’s. Over twenty people have since joined the club on BullsConnect.
Photo by Dominic Feo | The Crow’s Nest
Every game included students with varying levels of experience, but the club’s founders are happy to assist newer players.
Photo by Dominic Feo | The Crow’s Nest
“If you’re just trying to learn, or if you’re an experienced ballplayer, it doesn’t matter,” said junior business analytics major and club treasurer Ryan Schwartz. “We’ve got opportunities for everyone, so just come out here, have a good time and get active.”
