Building an Honest Dunk Baseline Near 50
Before any training talk, the dunk challenge needs a starting point. Here's exactly how I'll measure standing reach, touch height and vertical — and the empty slots waiting for the real numbers.
Why My Dunk Journey Went Quiet—and Why I'm Starting Again
In September 2025 I announced a challenge to dunk near age 50—then went quiet after a few days of training. Here's what actually happened, and how the restart will be different.
The Latest
The Essential Basketball Gear for Returning to the Court After 40
A practical checklist for coming back to basketball after 40—what's actually worth buying, what can wait, and how to sort the two without falling for the marketing.
ASICS vs. Nike Basketball Shoes: Fit, Cushioning and Stability Compared
A research-based comparison of how ASICS and Nike structure their basketball lineups—and why fit, cushioning and stability are decided by the model, not the badge on the side.
How to Choose Basketball Shoes After 40
Fit, traction, stability, and impact feel matter more after 40 than any model name. A research-based framework, a try-on routine, and a checklist for choosing basketball shoes in the US or Japan.
NBA, NCAA and Japan's B.League: How the Basketball Pathways Connect
High school, college, the NBA Draft, the G League, Japanese university basketball and the B.League—how the major US and Japanese basketball pathways actually connect, and which details you should always verify at the source.
How NCAA Basketball Recruiting Works for International Players
Divisions, the Eligibility Center, recruiting calendars, visits and scholarships—an orientation for international players and families, plus the questions to ask every school.
Youth Basketball in Japan vs. the United States: Two Very Different Development Paths
Japan develops players inside schools; the US splits the year between a school season and a club season. A side-by-side look at practice, games, coaching, cost and exposure — without crowning a winner.
Why ASICS Basketball Shoes Are a Game-Changer for Hoopers Over 40
ASICS began with basketball—not running shoes. For over-40 hoopers, fit, cushioning, and injury-aware design can matter more than hype. A clear-eyed look at history, priorities, and why softer landings often come first.
How U.S. High School Basketball Works: Seasons, Teams, Tryouts and Recruiting
Varsity, JV, tryouts, cuts, a winter season and a rulebook that changes at every state line. A practical guide to how school basketball actually works in the US—and what you have to verify locally.
AAU Basketball Explained: How America's Youth Basketball System Actually Works
What the AAU actually is, how clubs, teams and sanctioned tournaments fit together, what a travel season really costs in time and money—and why not every “AAU team” is affiliated with the AAU.
My Journey from Midlife Layups to Maybe… a Dunk?
Welcome to Half-Cent Hoop — where a guy closing in on 50 chases a real dunk. Honest progress, weekend hooper picks, and staying in the game after 50.