Developing Young Athletes.
Building Future Leaders.
Hickory Hoops is where basketball and character meet for young players to learn, grow, and succeed.
Learn fundamentals
Develop Character
Foster Teamwork
Elevate basketball.
Elevate character.
Youth sports should be more than games; they should be schools of character. Hickory Hoops recognizes the need for a balanced approach that develops not only athletic abilities but also essential life skills.
Our young athletes find their mentors in the right coach. Their parents give them an opportunity to build a passion for a sport. Sporting events and tournaments get everyone in the family out and engaging with each other. Our coaches are community-first and only want the best for the athletes. Constructive coaching helps our players build confidence from game to game, creating healthy goals and finding their skills. Hickory Hoops youth basketball leagues range from recreational to highly competitive. Our registration process gives parents the information they need to find a good match for their kid. We consider every child’s needs. We protect them first, and then we protect the joy they find in basketball.
PROUD TO PARTNER WITH

From fundamentals to the future
Hickory Hoops offers a range of leagues from recreational to competitive, ensuring every child finds a place to shine. Our program combines expert coaching with a supportive community to create a nurturing environment for young athletes to thrive.
We create a foundation for our players, developing their character, discipline and respect. Young boys and girls on our teams can work together to find their sense of sportsmanship and achieve a united goal.

Every player, a priority
Skill, character, and respect on and off the court
At Hickory Hoops, we understand the pivotal role sports play in character development. Our coaches are not just teachers of the game, but mentors who prioritize the well-being and growth of every player.
From sign-up to slam dunk
The Hickory Hoops Way
Our players don’t just play basketball; they embody teamwork, integrity, and resilience. Their success isn’t just measured in points scored, but in the confidence and respect they carry into the world.
Explore our leagues
Discover the range of programs from recreational to competitive that Hickory Hoops offers.
Sign up for evaluation
Register your child for an evaluation session to determine the best placement.
Begin the journey
Once evaluated, enroll your child in the appropriate league and watch them grow on and off the court.
WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING
DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
Our players don’t just play basketball; they embody teamwork, integrity, and resilience. Their success isn’t just measured in points scored, but in the confidence and respect they carry into the world.
“My wife and I are very happy with the quality programs offered by Hickory Hoops. Two of our grandsons currently play for Hickory, and they are very happy with the coaching, the playing schedules, and the commitment to their basketball experience. The level of consistency with the coaching is just what the boys need in the “fieldhouse” league. All our family members enjoy watching the teams play, and I hope the grandchildren continue to play with Hickory Hoops for several more years.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of having my son in Hickory Hoops for over 2 years now. Each of the coaches have not only taught my son basketball, but great teamwork and good character on and off the court. They teach great teamwork, hard work and have helped my son improve his skills on the court and instill a love for the game. As a mom, I appreciate their dedication to each and every player on the team and the work they put in to create a great environment. I highly recommend Hickory Hoops to anyone looking for a great basketball program!”
“Being involved with Hickory Hoops has been very rewarding for our family. As a parent and coach I’ve witnessed tremendous growth and confidence in our athlete’s abilities. In addition, the small group environment allows each player to receive one-on-one coaching which is imperative to building and fostering individual development.”
BEYOND THE GAME
THEY GAIN THE WORLD
By joining Hickory Hoops, your child can:
- Develop a solid foundation in basketball fundamentals
- Cultivate values like respect, discipline, and teamwork
- Grow their confidence on and off the court
- Enjoy a supportive and inclusive community of players and families
- Learn life skills that go beyond basketball
Give your child a head start on the court and in life with Hickory Hoops.

6th grade @hickory_hoops - Mt Vernon squad.
They are fun to coach. Great win today
Even better, they set a record for any team I’ve coached over the past 30 years:
One of the things I harp on is to limit dribbling in a game. Kids want to dribble, especially when facing pressure. They tend to look down at the court and the ball because of the fear of losing the basketball.
So we run no dribble drills at our various practices. The goal is to move the ball full court without one dribble. It teaches moving without the ball, cutting, finding open spots on the court.
Today, these boys were told (in the forth quarter), that until further notice there was to be no dribbling.
They went full court against a press THREE times down the court and scored without a single ball hitting the ground. They then asked “Coach, do we make the ‘Gram!!!??” (that’s their lingo for Instagram 😂)
Dudes are ballin”!!!!

Joshua Gray #13 literally put the 8th @hickory_hoops team on his back and willed them to a win. He dropped 30 points, including this play in the final moments…

7th grade @hickory_hoops with a solid win tonight. I use this team to also train up various 6th graders to push them in their development. Daniel, Gavin and Ryder played up tonight and provided a much needed spark off the bench. Proud of the boys not being afraid or timid.
They played full court man and cut off the passing lanes.
Those that join Hickory can get opportunities like this if they show a strong drive.
Let’s go Hickory!

Clutch win for 8th grade @hickory_hoops Red. Joshua with a clutch score AND 1 in the final moments.
Go Hickory!!!

Hickory Hoops Hickory Hoops Basketball was established 7 years ago. One of the significant “holes” in the program has been a clear player development path.
Practicing with a team and playing games is important. To take the next step, a program rooted in fundamentals is vital.
I am proud to announce that Howard Burd will be Head Trainer for Hickory Hoops. He is tasked with developing and implementing an organizational training program.
Howard’s basketball background is deep:
High School All-American Granada Hills
Division 1 Basketball Player West Texas State
Played on the Harlem Globetrotters World Tour(Generals)
Head coach Youth Boys and Girls Basketball (20 years)
Junior High Head Coach
Trainer 20 years
In addition, Howard serves as the President of the Fishers Kiwanis Club and is a Hollywood producer and writer known for, among other films, Mother’s Day (2016) featuring Julie Roberts and Jennifer Aniston.
Our Spring Session (2025) registration is NOW OPEN. The link to register is live on this post and will be live on our website by Saturday.
https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/469535
Here is what you get for $350 (all in, and we are happy to return to payment options plus only $50 to reserve your spot):
11 game session that runs (mid March until early June)
Uniform (if needed)
11 weeks of practices
2x a month a separate skills development program (total of 6 individual sessions)
If you register and pay in full by February 15th, the cost is only $330!!
All games are on Sundays/Mondays to help work around baseball and other sports.
https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/469535
Let us know if you have any questions.
Go Hickory!
Todd Zimmerman
Check out our new website!
hickoryhoopsbasketball.com

8th grader @rywilliams14 poured in 20 points, including multiple 3’s, to help lead @hickory_hoops to a W!!

8th grade @hickory_hoops with a W tonight. They rebounded the ball with authority!
Jackson with 15 boards
Rylan with 20 points
Jordan hit multiple 3’s

Evan Morrison’s career best game came Sunday for @hickory_hoops 8th grade. Evan poured in 22 points, nailing several 3’s!!!!
Great job @evanmorrison000 !!!
@hhfieldhouse

7th grade Hickory Hoops Basketball 🏀 powered by @hhfieldhouse
Only 5 players, with zero subs. Opponent had 9 players.
Got down 15 in second half.
Guys were telling me their cramps were bad. One had a limp to his run from it.
Cut it to 9 point deficit.
Switched up defense four different times to try and throw off opponent.
Boys responded. Kept chipping away. All of a sudden Jude fouls out and we are down to 4 players. I called my final timeout to regroup. The ref was asking the other coach if Jude could keep playing and he said no or it’s a tech (which is true).
I said, “ok, we will win with 4”.
I was trying to figure out if we run a 2-2 zone or take a chance on man. What made this coach realize how much they have grown was when they all looked at me and said “Coach, we will play man.” Each one said it.
Kia then says “Coach, I’ll take two of them!”
The boys WON by 1 point!!
I started shouting at the buzzer, more excited than I’ve been in a long time at a game. The RELENTLESS HEART these boys possess isn’t something that can be taught.
After the game, refs, and parents from other teams watching came up and congratulated the guys.
1. NEVER SURRENDER
2. Don’t look at the opponent and say “they outnumber us, we can’t win”
3. Pull everything you have from within and leave it all on the court.
I hope that they learned this life long lesson today.
Go Hickory!!
Coach Todd Zimmerman

5th grade @hickory_hoops took care of business today. Several of these guys are in 4th grade!
Great ball pressure and post play.
Bringing the @hhfieldhouse training to the court !!!

Lots of coaching tonight. This was my favorite shirt!!!
Spread the word. Drop the controller and GET ACTIVE!!!
@hickory_hoops
