Amanda Knapp
OTE, or Overtime Elite, is a basketball league for 15 to 20-year-old elite players from around the world. It was founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner and launched in 2021. The league is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and consists of eight teams, including the City Reapers, YNG Dreamerz, and Cold Hearts. OTE provides year-round training and development for its players, and offers a unique fan experience through its social-first approach. The league has also partnered with brands such as Gatorade, State Farm, and Meta. OTE basketball typically starts in mid-March and lasts for about 10 weeks, with tryouts being held in the weeks leading up to the season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Overtime Elite |
| Type | Basketball league |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Age group | 16–20-year-olds |
| Teams | 8 |
| Players | Top 15-20-year-old elite players from around the world |
| Training | Year-round, individual and group training |
| Tryouts | OTE Dream Tryout |
| Games | Regular season and postseason games open to the public |
| Streaming | Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and league social channels |
| Founding year | 2021 |
| Founding owners | Dan Porter and Zack Weiner |
| Building | 103,000 square-foot facility in the Atlantic Station section of Atlanta |
| Building features | Three NBA regulation-sized courts, a 7,000-square-foot fitness center, a hydrotherapy room, classroom spaces, a dining hall, and locker rooms |
| Player benefits | Minimum salary of $100,000 annually, signing bonus, shares in Overtime's business, scholarship option, health and disability insurance, and $100,000 in college scholarship money |
| Brand partners | Gatorade, State Farm, Meta, Topps, GMC, Adidas |
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What You'll Learn
Overtime Elite (OTE) is a basketball league for 15-20-year-olds
Overtime Elite (OTE) is a basketball league for young athletes, aged 16 to 20 years old. It was launched in 2021 by Overtime, a company founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. The league is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers a unique opportunity for American and international basketball players to develop their skills and pursue a professional career in the sport.
OTE provides a platform for high school and college-age athletes to showcase their talent and gain exposure. The league has rapidly grown in popularity, with a strong presence on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This has allowed OTE to connect with a younger audience, particularly Gen Z, and build a dedicated fan base.
One of the distinctive features of OTE is its player-centric approach. Athletes have the option to choose between accepting a salary of at least $100,000 per year or taking a scholarship to continue their academic careers while maintaining college eligibility. This flexibility allows players to prioritize their education without sacrificing their athletic aspirations. OTE also places a strong emphasis on player development, providing access to state-of-the-art facilities, large practice gyms, and professional recovery experts.
The league has already produced notable talent, including Amen and Ausar Thompson, who were picked fourth and fifth overall in the NBA Draft, and Rob Dillingham, a highly-rated recruit from the University of Kentucky. OTE's success has attracted partnerships with well-known brands such as Gatorade, State Farm, and Meta, further elevating its profile in the sports industry.
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OTE was founded in 2021 by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner
OTE, or Overtime Elite, is a basketball league founded in 2021 by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. It is a professional basketball league for 16- to 20-year-old American and international basketball players. The league is owned and operated by Overtime, a sports media company geared towards Generation Z sports fans.
Overtime was founded in late 2016 by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. Initially, the company focused on short-form content featuring high school athletes, captured on iPhone technology developed by the co-founders. Overtime's social content helped grow the popularity of NBA stars, including Zion Williamson and Trae Young. The company has since expanded its offerings to include medium and long-form content.
In 2021, Overtime launched Overtime Elite, tapping into its existing worldwide network of fans. The league offers a minimum salary of $100,000 per year, a signing bonus, and shares in Overtime's larger business. Players can also choose a scholarship option and maintain college eligibility. According to the New York Times, Overtime "provides health and disability insurance and sets aside $100,000 in college scholarship money for each player if they decide not to pursue professional basketball".
Athletes in the league participate in an academic program with a 4:1 student-teacher ratio. The curriculum offers traditional high school subjects and life skills-related subjects like financial literacy, social media and other media training, and mental health and wellness. In addition, OTE provides year-round training and development with individual and group training for its players.
OTE has gained success and popularity, with a global audience of 45 million across all platforms and 14 billion views per year. The league has also secured partnerships with brands like Gatorade, State Farm, Meta, GMC, and Adidas.
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OTE players receive a minimum salary of $100,000 per year
Overtime Elite (OTE) is a basketball league for 16-20-year-olds, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The league is owned and operated by Overtime and was founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. OTE players receive a minimum salary of $100,000 per year, a signing bonus, and shares in Overtime's larger business. This is in addition to a scholarship option that allows prospects to maintain their college eligibility should they decide to pursue the NCAA route instead. According to the New York Times, Overtime also "provides health and disability insurance and sets aside $100,000 in college scholarship money for each player if they decide not to pursue professional basketball afterwards".
OTE's inaugural season in 2021 featured three teams: Team Elite, Team OTE, and Team Overtime. These teams played against each other and against prep schools and high schools. In the league's first season, Team Elite defeated Team OTE 52–45 in Game 3 of the Overtime Elite Finals to become the first league champion. Ausar Thompson was named MVP of the Finals.
OTE has since expanded to six teams for the 2022 season: City Reapers, YNG Dreamerz, and Cold Hearts, in addition to three high school teams: Hillcrest Prep Bruins, Our Saviour Lutheran Falcons, and the Word of God Holy Rams. The league has also signed several top-ranked recruits, including Naasir Cunningham, the first OTE player to accept a scholarship instead of a salary, and Rob Dillingham, a five-star recruit and Kentucky commit.
OTE players benefit from world-class facilities, including a 103,000 square-foot facility in Atlanta with three NBA regulation-sized courts, a 7,000-square-foot fitness centre, a hydrotherapy room, classroom spaces, a dining hall, and locker rooms. The league also provides an academic program with a 4:1 student-teacher ratio and a curriculum that covers traditional high school subjects as well as life skills such as financial literacy and mental health and wellness.
OTE has also secured partnerships with brands such as Gatorade, State Farm, Meta, GMC, and Adidas, which became the league's exclusive apparel and footwear sponsor in 2023. In addition, OTE has a multi-year global distribution partnership with Amazon Prime Video to stream 20 live games per season for the league's next three seasons.
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OTE's inaugural season included three teams
OTE, or Overtime Elite, is a basketball league for 16–20-year-olds, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The league is owned and operated by Overtime and was founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. OTE's inaugural season, which took place in 2021, included three teams: Team Elite, Team OTE, and Team Overtime. These teams played against each other and against prep schools and high schools. In the league's first season, Team Elite defeated Team OTE 52–45 in Game 3 of the Overtime Elite Finals to become the league's first champion. Ausar Thompson was named MVP of the Finals.
In the following season, OTE expanded to six teams. Team Elite, Team OTE, and Team Overtime were rebranded as the City Reapers, YNG Dreamerz, and Cold Hearts, respectively. Three new teams joined: the Hillcrest Prep Bruins, Our Saviour Lutheran Falcons, and the Word of God Holy Rams. In season three, OTE expanded to eight teams, with the addition of Fear of God Athletics, RWE, JellyFam, and Blue Checks. In season four, Diamond Doves were added as the eighth team.
OTE offers its players a minimum salary of $100,000 annually, a signing bonus, and shares in Overtime's larger business. Alternatively, players can choose a scholarship option and maintain college eligibility. OTE also provides its athletes with an academic program featuring a 4:1 student-teacher ratio and a curriculum offering traditional high school subjects alongside life-skill-related subjects such as financial literacy, social media training, and mental health and wellness.
OTE's scouting and recruiting team scours the world to bring in the most talented players, and the league has also hosted the OTE Dream Tryout, where 20 players are invited to compete for a spot on one of the teams. In addition to its focus on basketball development, OTE also offers its players academic acceleration and economic empowerment, as well as exposure to NBA scouts, college coaches, and a massive social audience and key brand partners.
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OTE players can choose a scholarship option to maintain college eligibility
Overtime Elite (OTE) is a basketball league for 16–20-year-olds, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The league is owned and operated by Overtime and was founded by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner. OTE was launched in 2021, and in its inaugural season, the league only offered professional opportunities to players.
In the first year, all of Overtime's players, most of whom were still in high school, signed professional contracts and received a minimum salary of $100,000 annually, along with a signing bonus and shares in Overtime's larger business. By signing these contracts, the players forfeited their NCAA eligibility.
Recognizing the importance of college eligibility, OTE introduced a scholarship option in the fall of 2022. This option allows players to maintain their amateur status and pursue a college education while still benefiting from the league's development and educational opportunities. Naasir Cunningham, the number one basketball prospect in ESPN's Class of 2024, became the first OTE player to choose this path, forgoing a salary to preserve college basketball eligibility after high school.
The scholarship option has been well-received by college coaches, who appreciate the league's focus on developing well-rounded individuals. OTE's academic program, registered with the NCAA's eligibility center, offers a 4:1 student-teacher ratio and a curriculum that includes traditional high school subjects, financial literacy, social media and media training, and mental health and wellness.
By choosing the scholarship route, OTE players can take advantage of the league's resources while keeping their options open for a future college basketball career. This flexibility ensures that players can make the most of their talents, both on and off the court, and sets OTE apart as a league that prioritizes its players' long-term success and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
OTE basketball, or Overtime Elite, is a basketball league that started in 2021. The season typically starts in March and lasts for 10 weeks.
OTE basketball is for players aged 16-20 years old.
OTE basketball is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The OTE basketball facility is a 103,000 square-foot space in Atlanta that includes three NBA regulation-sized courts, a 7,000-square-foot fitness centre, a hydrotherapy room, classrooms, a dining hall, and locker rooms.
OTE regular season and postseason games are open to the public, and tickets can be purchased on the OTE website. Games are also streamed on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
