In a triumphant moment that was years in the making, 探花族鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams finally got their first look 鈥� and first shots 鈥� inside the just-completed Basketball Performance Center.
The facility, where both basketball teams will hold the majority of their practices and training sessions, helps elevate the program to a more prestigious level. It also solves practice scheduling conflicts that occurred when the basketball and volleyball teams shared Swisher Gym.
It features a full court, half court, weight room and coaches offices and will have direct access to the adjacent Swisher Gymnasium.
Balfour Beatty served as the construction partner on the project.
While the project broke ground in 2020, President Tim Cost and Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert have been dreaming of building such a facility for years.
鈥淓very day of our tenures we鈥檝e spent brainstorming about this facility,鈥� Ricker-Gilbert told the basketball teams before entering the performance center for the first time.
鈥淭his facility does not happen without the support of President Cost. The support of President Cost and those behind us have made this happen. This is a basketball-only facility and is unique to a lot of places in this country and unique to our league. That shows a commitment to the sport and a commitment to men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball here.鈥�
The goal behind the facility was for it to be a home away from home for Dolphin basketball student-athletes, Ricker-Gilbert said. As the teams shot around and filmed it to show family and friends following the Jan. 25 reveal, it seemed it was already beginning to feel that way.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been hearing so much about it and to finally get to see it and experience everything that not many other programs have, it鈥檚 big-time for us for sure,鈥� said junior guard Kevion Nolan
. 鈥淚t gives us another area to be able to really lock in and focus on our craft. We have to share the gym so much, it鈥檚 hard to get in exercise sometimes. Now with 24/7 access, it鈥檚 like our own little home, it鈥檚 everything you could ask for.鈥�
Junior guard Tyreese Davis called the Basketball Performance Center 鈥渁 life-changing facility.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to help us prepare better,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淭he weight room is right there, the coaches鈥� offices are there, I just feel like it鈥檚 going to be good all around because we will be able to connect with our coaches better.鈥�
The state-of-the-art practice facility will only aid the Dolphins鈥� ability to recruit and develop top talent.
Cameras are installed around the courts and practice footage can be immediately broadcast on televisions alongside the court so teams can review film in real-time. Speakers are installed on the court and in the gym with bluetooth access for student-athletes to play music from their own devices while practicing or training.
Coaches鈥� offices are sound-proofed, so sound from the court doesn鈥檛 disturb work or meetings.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got what we need to take these programs to the next level,鈥� Ricker-Gilbert said. 鈥淣ow let鈥檚 go do it.鈥�
