The average high school basketball player may think that the only place he can play on a competitive team is at school. However, there is an equally strong second choice for those who choose not to play for their school's team.

Recreational basketball is a competitive alternative for students who would otherwise not make their high school team or are unable to make a large time commitment. Junior Ben Menashe said,"It gives me a chance to play basketball, which is a sport I enjoy without the major time commitment of playing for school."

There are some drawbacks to recreational basketball. Many people would argue that the level of competition in recreational basketball can't compare to that of highschool basketball. Menashe said, "From watching high school basketball, I can say that it's definitely below that level, but it's still competitive."

Despite this, the players of recreational basketball can be more fired up before each game than those of high school basketball. Menashe said, "Even though it's rec basketball, people still get into it." That passion for the game sometimes translates into violent interactions between players. Junior Matthew Baker commented, "There's definitely some fights that happen, there's some aggression out there."

The players of recreational basketball get out of it what they put into it. Baker said, "You can make it competitive on yourself without having a coach make it competitive on you." Many players view the sport with that attitude and make the most out of it.

The environment of recreational basketball promotes fun in its players. Junior Nathan Henderson said, "I like the relaxed environment, there's nothing too stressful; you can just go out there and ball it up." This environment attracts many players who don't want to undergo the stress of school basketball.

Recreational basketball is a relaxed, fun-based alternative to high school basketball. It enables students who would otherwise be unable to play to be on a team. Henderson commented, "It's a great time…to go hang out and chill."