Over the last four years, Urban Impact Hoops located in Pittsburgh has grown into more than a team to watch for the way they stand together and stand out on the court wearing Wooter.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The two words printed on the front of the newly customized light teal and black basketball jerseys and uniforms for the upstart AAU basketball program rooted in North Pittsburgh tell you a lot about the players suiting-up on the court for Urban Impact this spring and summer.
The rock is in their hands. It’s their time to shine. This is their chance to leave their own mark on basketball as the next generation in the game by proudly repping their city and by making an impact together, on and off of the court. Four years ago when Urban Impact Foundation Hoops first began teaming-up with Wooter Apparel to design and create their own unique custom made uniforms for their 2019 program teams, it was easy to tell there was a deep sense of community pride each time they wore their uniforms and stepped on the court to compete together.
The uniforms stood out like the players themselves: Cool and tough.
“Every tournament we are in, multiple people are coming and talking to us about our jerseys. To be honest, I had no plan or method for finding Wooter or a jersey sponsor. All I knew was our kids deserve something special to put on each game,” Urban Impact head coach and program director Rocky Higgins said as Urban Impact Foundation Hoops went on to claim tournament titles in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and throughout the competitive midwest AAU circuit.
“Wooter gave our kids the opportunity to rock something fresh…”
A lot has changed in the world since 2019, but some things simply remain steadfast and are built to last. Urban Impact Hoops keeps getting bigger and better. That part hasn’t changed, nor has their dedication to developing young men to succeed beyond the basketball court. They’ve grown individually and collectively as a unit in each of their team programs to help set another competitive tone for this 2022 AAU season.
“Wearing the organization – Urban Impact – across my chest means a lot, it truly does,” said Brent Manns, a 6-foot-3 small forward who attends The Neighborhood Academy in Pittsburgh and has been playing for Urban Impact for two years now.
Thanks to local standout student-athletes in and around Pittsburgh like Brent Manns, Billy Schaeffer, and Rayshawn Saunders among others helping lead the way, Urban Impact looks perfectly fitted to claim some more championships and look good while doing it.
“Here, it’s like a family. Your teammates got your back at all times. There’s nothing like it. To play on this team, you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It will be hard. You have to always be on your ‘A’ game. It gives me and my team a chance to put our city on the map. I like the black jerseys this year, they stand out from the past two years because of the charlotte colors on the jerseys. They are really cool,” Manns added.
Focused on growing as a player on the court in order to better his athletic and academic future in hopes of one day playing college basketball after he graduates, student-athletes like Brent Manns were made for this moment and are a big reason why Urban Impact has become a Wooter team to watch over these last four years – and especially today. Fresh new season. Fresh new look. It’s one of the best parts about working with organizations, teams, players, and coaches to design and create their own custom made jerseys and uniforms: watching the finished product instantly come to life just in time to stand out on the court.
We can’t wait to see what Urban Impact Hoops does next.
*Photo credit to Urban Impact Hoops and Hoop Editz