Key Takeaways
- Hoop Habits will open a 41,000-square-foot training facility in Minnetonka this spring, adding four full courts to its Minnesota footprint.
- The organization experienced 80 percent membership growth over the past 10 months, driven by demand for professional-level coaching from former elite players.
- Notable athletes trained include NBA players Tyus Jones, Tre Jones, and Jamison Battle, plus Presley Watkins, the No. 2 ranked player in the 2027 class.
- Founder Anthony Tucker played professional basketball internationally across nine countries before launching Hoop Habits in April 2024 to address gaps in Minnesota’s development system.
- The expansion includes the launch of Hoop Habits Foundation, a 501(c)(3) addressing financial barriers to high-quality basketball training.
From Professional Courts to Training Facility Ownership
Anthony Tucker, a Minnesota native who played professional basketball across nine countries, launched Hoop Habits in April 2024 after identifying a disconnect in the state’s basketball development landscape.
The organization was built on a specific coaching philosophy. Tucker wanted athletes trained exclusively by coaches who had competed at elite or professional levels, believing that firsthand experience at the highest tiers of competition changes how skills are taught and translated.
“The people teaching the game were not always the ones who had lived it at the highest levels,” Tucker said. “Hoop Habits is trained exclusively by coaches who have played at elite or professional levels, because that perspective changes how athletes are taught and prepared.”
The organization currently operates a 6,500-square-foot facility in Edina and offers training memberships, the Hoop Habits Academy, Elite AAU programs for boys and girls, and camps and clinics.
80 Percent Membership Growth Fuels Facility Expansion
Demand has consistently exceeded available space at the Edina location. Over the past 10 months, Hoop Habits recorded nearly 80 percent growth in membership, prompting the organization to secure a second facility in Minnetonka set to open later this spring.
The new 41,000-square-foot space will feature four full basketball courts, dedicated areas for performance training and recovery, and spaces for athlete education programming. The facility will allow Hoop Habits to run multiple courts simultaneously and create more specialized development environments for athletes at different competitive stages.
The expansion will support increased capacity for Hoop Habits Academy and AAU programming while adding services focused on holistic athlete development. Planned offerings include financial literacy courses for elite athletes, recruiting and NIL (name, image, and likeness) education, orthopedic and sports performance services, and college preparation resources.
Elite Athlete Pipeline Includes NBA Players and Top National Prospects
Hoop Habits has trained several NBA players, including Tyus Jones of the Orlando Magic, Tre Jones of the Chicago Bulls, and Jamison Battle of the Toronto Raptors. The program also worked with Jackson McAndrew of Creighton University, who was named Minnesota’s 2024 Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year.
The organization trains high-profile emerging prospects, including Presley Watkins, the No. 2 ranked player in the Class of 2027, along with top 10 players in the 2027 Minnesota class Gavin Walter and Luke Schroeder.
Foundation Launch Targets Financial Access Barriers
Alongside the facility expansion, Hoop Habits launched the Hoop Habits Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization created to remove financial barriers that limit access to high-quality basketball development.
The Foundation will support training, competition opportunities, and resources for athletes and families navigating the youth basketball landscape. The initiative reflects the organization’s broader approach to athlete development that extends beyond on-court skill work.
Building Infrastructure for Minnesota Basketball Talent
The Minnetonka facility represents a significant capacity increase for an organization that grew from concept to multi-location operation in less than two years. The expansion positions Hoop Habits to serve more athletes while maintaining its coaching model centered on instruction from former professional and elite-level players.
The addition of the Hoop Habits Foundation alongside the physical expansion suggests the organization is building both infrastructure and support systems to address participation barriers in high-level youth basketball development.
via: Hoop Habits
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