{"id":642332,"date":"2026-05-01T08:28:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T08:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/642332\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T08:28:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T08:28:21","slug":"finding-the-best-and-worst-basketball-courts-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/642332\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the best (and worst) basketball courts on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Basketball: the first sport I ever truly cared about. The first time I played I was in third grade. I was absolutely awful. I\u2019ve always had long arms and been horrendously uncoordinated, so as a child, sports didn\u2019t interest me at all. I tried again in fifth grade \u2014 same result.<\/p>\n

But in high school, that changed. I found myself actually drawn to sports for the first time, playing junior varsity and varsity tennis from my freshman to senior year. But as graduation drew near, I knew it would be hard to play tennis consistently in university. Between the weather, the cost of indoor courts and how hard it is to meet people who play \u2014 especially those at the right level \u2014 I knew I needed a new outlet for my competitive energy.<\/p>\n

Basketball was the answer.<\/p>\n

As I found out, basketball is a beginner-friendly sport centred around community, and because of that, I instantly found a passion in the game that I had not felt in any of my prior experiences. I was terrible at first, but I quickly learned, especially as I was drawn to the most unique part of the game: pickup. Coming from tennis, the idea that I could simply pull up (pun intended) at any court and jump into a game with strangers was both baffling and exciting.<\/p>\n

Some say that Gen Z lacks a sense of community, but anyone who plays pickup basketball would disagree. I return to the same court every time I\u2019m home in San Francisco, and even if I\u2019ve been gone for months, there\u2019s always a familiar face. Sometimes, even if I don\u2019t know someone\u2019s name, they\u2019ll greet me with a smile, a high five, and we get down to business.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the best part of pickup. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a man or a woman, gay or straight, or even good at basketball \u2014 all that matters is that you play hard. Every pickup game to 11 is treated like game seven of the NBA Finals, and all people care about is winning.<\/p>\n


\n\"Ian
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The courts at Totem Park \u2014 a first year staple. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

I spent much of my first year at UBC bumbling around the Totem Park courts, playing with people who were patient enough to watch me learn how to shoot properly. By now, I\u2019d tentatively say I\u2019m decent at basketball and I\u2019d confidently say I\u2019ve played at least one pickup game at every court on campus. Based on my experiences at each, I\u2019ve broken them all down here, worst to best.<\/p>\n

Ineligible: War Memorial Gym and the Student Recreation Centre (SRC)<\/p>\n

These two courts are not being included on my list as they are generally inaccessible to UBC students. Since the construction of Rec North, the SRC is now rarely used for basketball, and when it is, it\u2019s only for intramural leagues. War Memorial used to host drop-in basketball in my first year during final exam season, as the SRC was being used for testing and drop-ins had to be moved elsewhere. With Rec North now available, that overflow space is no longer needed. It\u2019s essentially reserved for varsity now \u2014 you won\u2019t find pickup ball there anymore.<\/p>\n

That being said, the SRC courts are some of the dustiest, slipperiest courts I\u2019ve ever played on, and I\u2019d advise anyone who\u2019s even slightly injury-prone to steer away. As for War Memorial, while the court itself is just like any other indoor court, it feels strange playing basketball in an empty stadium that seats over 2,000 people.<\/p>\n

The Nest:<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n While the courts at the Nest are accessible \u2014 being in the middle of campus \u2014 they\u2019re to be avoided at all costs. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the worst court on campus. I could dedicate this whole article to how much I dislike this court. I\u2019ve only ever played here to warm up before intramural games, or if I\u2019m walking by (in street clothes with my backpack on) and someone happens to be looking for a sixth man in their three-on-three game.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The court at the Nest, the worst on campus. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

There are no nets on either hoop and in my time at UBC, there never has been. The rusty remains of a chain net that might be older than I am doesn\u2019t solve the issue. The court is also on a noticeable incline and depending which side of the hoop you\u2019re standing on, you\u2019re either shooting up at or down into the basket. And finally, perhaps the most problematic part of the court is its location. It\u2019s smack-dab in the middle of the busiest part of campus and there is absolutely nothing around to contain the ball.<\/p>\n


\n\"The
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n If you decide to play here, good luck trying not to run into someone. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re on your own, you\u2019re always one bounce away from having to run at full speed trying to wrangle the ball as it barrels towards the masses. In the 15 minutes Sidney (the photographer for this article) and I spent at this court taking pictures, my ball accidentally hit two separate groups of people. Given the choice, I would steer clear of this one.<\/p>\n

Fairview Crescent:<\/p>\n


\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The court at Fairview Crescent is hidden, but not necessarily a hidden gem. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

This is likely one of the lesser-known courts on campus. It\u2019s tucked away behind the Fairview Crescent residence and it\u2019s the smallest \u201ccourt\u201d on campus. Perhaps the best thing about this court is that one of the adjustable nets is fixed at just around six feet. This allows you to live out your wildest NBA dreams and try some fun dunks, but it\u2019s a bit too low, running the risk of hitting your head on the backboard on the way down. As a nice change from the Nest, these hoops always have nets \u2014 but these are about the only positive aspects of this court.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n While you might be able to dunk here, the elementary school students that often crowd the court probably can too. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

There are no lines painted on the ground and the court is almost always infested with little children from the nearby elementary school.<\/p>\n

On one occasion I brought my boyfriend \u2014 who does not play basketball \u2014 and tried to teach him how to shoot (his jumper could be described as \u201cunorthodox\u201d at best). In the midst of this, a gaggle of children walked by. One of them, who was at most ten, watched for two seconds before loudly yelling \u201coh hell nah!\u201d My boyfriend hasn\u2019t touched a basketball since.<\/p>\n


\n\"Ian
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Don\u2019t miss a shot, or your ball is going over the fence and into the road. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

One of my main grievances with this court is the fences surrounding it. They are incredibly low, and more times than not, when your ball bounces, it\u2019s at risk of going over the fence and into the road. To make matters worse, the fences are also super close to the basket on both sides, meaning you don\u2019t have much space to move around. Overall, not the best hoops experience, but still nowhere near as bad as the Nest.<\/p>\n

Totem Park:<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Revisiting the courts at Totem Park is a fun exercise in nostalgia \u2014 but not much more than that. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Totem Park is where I first began playing basketball seriously, and because of that, I have a lot of positive memories associated with this court \u2014 and some possible lingering biases. This remains one of my personal favourite places to play ball on campus \u2014 but if someone were asking me where to go for pickup on campus, I\u2019d have a hard time actually recommending this one.<\/p>\n


\n\"Ian
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n From crooked rims and missing nets, there\u2019s something to be desired from the quality of this court, even if the surroundings are nice. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Like many of the courts on campus, the hoops here do not have nets, which noticeably affects the experience in a way that\u2019s hard to quantify \u2014 it just feels worse. One of the hoops is around nine feet high (rim-grazer dunks for Ian, yay) and the regulation rim is slightly crooked and leans left, which makes shooting inconsistent.<\/p>\n


\n\"Ian
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The court could use some work, but Totem Park is still a solid place to play at the end of the day. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Still, the vibes here remain high. The gardens behind the court provide a scenic background, and there\u2019s usually a few people here after class hours that are more than happy to run games, even if you come alone.<\/p>\n

Place Vanier:<\/p>\n


\n\"Ian
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The Vanier courts are a ghost town \u2014 but a nice ghost town. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

It was a toss-up between Vanier and Totem for this spot, but I think ultimately Vanier just edges it out. The courts are a bit dusty and \u2014 at least in the handful of times I\u2019ve played here \u2014 I\u2019ve never seen a single soul. The two hoops are way more than the standard 94 feet apart (I would guess well over 100 feet) which makes playing full court nearly impossible.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n You could fit a boat in this court. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Between the absence of people and ocean-sized court, Vanier is not conducive to group play, but what it lacks there, it makes up for with quality and atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Unlike most of the other outdoor courts on campus (even the skate park), both of the hoops have fully intact nets. The three-point line and free-throw line are both fully visible on the ground, and the actual court itself is completely level, largely thanks to it being on a former tennis court. The surrounding trees provide it with a really nice backdrop (even though they do create kind of a mess), the area is quiet and it always smells faintly of pine oil.<\/p>\n


\n\"Ian
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n A great place to shoot hoops, if you\u2019re not planning on actually playing a pickup game. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Overall, this court is the perfect spot for people in their \u201cBall w\/o You\u201d phase. If you\u2019re looking to be unbothered and shoot around solo, this is the court for you.<\/p>\n

Rec North<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The courts at Rec North are by far the most popular for pickup, but they aren\u2019t the best. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

This may be a controversial choice, as the basketball purists reading this may find it ridiculous that I have rated the only indoor hoops space for students at UBC second. However, as much as I think indoor hoops are superior, Rec North does have its shortcomings.<\/p>\n

The positives here are obvious. Playing inside almost always trumps playing outside. There\u2019s no wind to mess up your shot or sunlight to sear your retinas like tuna steaks. There are plenty of hoops and the courts are new enough that slipping is rare.<\/p>\n

However, Rec North falls short in two key areas: space, and on occasion, a welcoming atmosphere. Whenever there is drop-in gym time, Rec North is almost always operating near capacity. This can make it very difficult to get consistent playing-time and almost impossible to find space to shoot around on your own.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Getting space to shoot on your own is a near-impossible task at Rec North. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

But for me, the biggest problem with Rec North is how it works against the best part of pickup. While earlier I said that pickup is for everyone, in certain circumstances, it can brew an intimidating, exclusive atmosphere. Both because of how busy Rec North gets and how pickup basketball games usually work \u2014 the winning team gets to keep playing, while the losing team goes off and has to wait for another turn \u2014 games tend to get more competitive. The gym draws a crowd that has typically played basketball at least at the high school level, and the more recreational player may occasionally feel like there\u2019s no room for them.<\/p>\n

This problem stands out particularly for female basketball players. I play at Rec North at least twice a week and I\u2019d say that more than half of the time I\u2019m there, there is not a single woman playing ball. On our visit, there were only two, one of whom we spoke to.<\/p>\n

Ananya Ravichandran is a fourth year student in the Bachelor of International Economics program. For her, \u201cmore often than not\u201d, she is the only woman at the Rec North courts, with the only time she isn\u2019t alone being when she \u201ccoordinate[s] with [her] female friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a very real problem for women who love the game of basketball. The environment can feel unwelcoming, something Ravichandran has dealt with firsthand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe moment I walked in [to Rec North], for a second, I was just gonna turn around and not play,\u201d she said. \u201cBut at the same time, it is a sport I genuinely enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Rec North is a great place to go if you\u2019re dying for some competitive hoops, but you should consider another spot if you\u2019re looking for something more low-key. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

If, like me, you\u2019re looking for something very physical and competitive, then Rec North is perfect. But I would be lying if I said you\u2019re always going to be greeted with open arms. For the most part, people are friendly and inclusive \u2014 but on occasion, the atmosphere can be stifling.<\/p>\n

Skate Park:<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The court by the skate park embodies what\u2019s great about pickup basketball, being able to foster a friendly community on the go. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

For people who are looking to hoop outside, this should be your go-to on campus. Located across from the UBC Tennis Centre, it\u2019s a bit of a walk from the centre of campus, but it\u2019s worth it if you have the time. Of all the outdoor courts on campus, this is the only one that you can play full-court on. I\u2019m not entirely sure if the court is regulation-size, but there\u2019s a hoop on both ends, the ground is level and it doesn\u2019t dramatically slope off on one end. The nets are mostly intact \u2014 albeit with some noticeable tattering on one of the hoops \u2014 and there are fences surrounding the court to keep your ball from rolling away, as well as a third hoop ensuring there\u2019s almost always room to play.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The nets on the hoops at the skate park are intact \u2026 mostly. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

More importantly, however, this court is the outdoor court where the most people congregate for runs. I\u2019ve been here dozens of times over the last year, and there\u2019s almost always at least one game going on, in addition to the one court which is open for people to freely shoot around on. The pressure is lower than in Rec North and vibes generally seem higher. There seems to be a general understanding that people are here to have fun (with maybe a dash of competition), the most important part of basketball. You\u2019ll often find people with their friends playing games of HORSE or groups listening to music and playing friendly games.<\/p>\n


\n\"A
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The hoops by the skate park are the best on campus because, no matter what you\u2019re hoping for, there\u2019s a place for you. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n

Maybe I\u2019m biased because this court is within walking distance of my house, but it feels like the gold standard of outdoor basketball courts at UBC. Regardless of whether you\u2019re looking for runs or just to shoot around, there\u2019s always space for you.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the \u201cbest\u201d basketball court is subjective. It\u2019s not actually about the physical properties of the court, but rather what you\u2019re looking to get out of the space. Whether you\u2019re trying to establish your own little hoops community at the skate park or play silently with your headphones on at Vanier, what\u2019s most important is your presence. And, for people who have never played, I would encourage you to go give it a try. The court is out there waiting for you; you just need to pull up.<\/p>\n

Ian is a third year Psychology major. He reports on Men’s Basketball, and you can reach him at i.cooper@ubyssey.ca.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Basketball: the first sport I ever truly cared about. The first time I played I was in third…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":642333,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":["post-642332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=642332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642332\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/642333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=642332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=642332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=642332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}