OTE'S MISSION:
MISSION - WE PREPARE OUR PLAYERS TO EXCEL IN BASKETBALL, AS WELL AS LIFE. BEGINNING IN 3RD GRADE THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS, OTE, IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20+ YEARS AND OVER 90% OF ALUMS HAVE GONE ON TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL AND HAVE EXCELLED. OTE IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE ARE "OVER THE EDGE ON FUNDAMENTALS."
Mission Statement: Our mission is to inspire and empower young athletes through the sport of basketball by fostering a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment. We aim to develop not only their skills on the court but also their character, discipline, and teamwork. By emphasizing sportsmanship, respect, and a love for the game, we strive to build confident, resilient individuals who excel both in basketball and in life. Our goal is to help each player reach their full potential, nurture lifelong friendships, and instill a passion for continuous growth and learning.
Why choose **Over The Edge**?
Our program isn’t just about winning – it’s about helping you reach your full potential. With a track record of developing top-tier talent and providing athletes with opportunities to play at the collegiate level, **Over The Edge** offers an unparalleled experience.
Take your game **Over The Edge** and start your journey toward success!
At **Over The Edge**, we focus on:
**High School Player Development**
- Elite coaching from experienced professionals
- Individualized training programs tailored to enhance your strengths and target areas for growth
- Mental toughness and leadership development both on and off the court
**National Competing Teams**
- Compete against the best teams from across the country
- Gain exposure at national tournaments and showcases
- Experience the thrill of travel basketball with a team that feels like family
8th Girls - STATE CHAMPS
8th grade girls went 5-0 for the weekend. Four out of the five games they won by 22+ points. As a team the girls put up 202 points for the weekend. The girls prioritized team success over individual accolades. As a result of embracing this philosophy the team achieved enhanced cohesion and overall performance. Coach Croix, Coach Shawn, and I could not be more proud of our 8th grade OTE girls!!!
~Coach Caitlin~
7th Girls - STATE CHAMPS
7th grade girls went 3-1 for the weekend. The team over came a devastating loss our first game to achieve championship success. The team won the next 3 games in a row by 10+ points. This achievement is a testament to the 7th grade girls resilience, determination, and unity. In the championship game the girls had to play Royalty Hoops, the team we lost to our first game by 7 points. With some defense tweaks, mental fortitude, and cohesive teamwork the girls put on one of their best performances, winning the championship game 36-22. Coach Orlando, Coach G, and I could not be more proud of our 7th grade OTE girls!!!
~Coach Caitlin~
WEEKEND CHAMPIONS - SPRING SEASON
Congratulations to OTE's own Natalie Eshoo and Sophia Calhoun for the invite to GYBC in North Carolina this past weekend.
The Girls Youth Basketball Circuit (GYBC) is the premier middle school league in North America offering a platform for top travel programs in the United States. The GYBC expects to be highly competitive, while featuring some of the best female basketball players in the Nation.
Congratulations to our 15U National Girls Team for winning the Ronnie Fields 'Big Time Balling" Tournament!
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It was great to see the girls play yesterday. I can already see the girls are starting to come together in true OTE form. I love the effort, passion, and team togetherness that the girls displayed, even the tournament director gave us some wonderful kudos about the girls, our parents, coaches and the program in general. I am so proud of all! And this was their first tournament together! The growth potential for this group is extremely high and I know this will be a fun journey for them, the parents, and coaches.
Now to prepare for USJN qualifier in Milwaukee! ~Coach Keith~ |
STATE CHAMPS - BABY! TIMES THREE!!!
What an outstanding weekend for Over the Edge. We sent four quality teams down to state to compete against the best the Illinois has to offer and we blew expectations out of the water! The 8th grade girls capped off the weekend with a perfect 5-0 dominating performance. The 7th grade girls stumbled out of the blocks with a quick loss and bounced back for redemption in the championship game against the team that beat them and finished by winning state with a 3-1 record. The 5th boys had four tough games in route to piggyback their runner up season from last year and won it all with a 4-0 record. Finally, our 8th grade team had a rough couple of games but redeemed themselves by winning the last two and finished with a very respectable 2-2 record!
Over the Edge went a combined 13-3 against some of the best teams Illinois has to offer! Congrats to all the teams, coaches and players.
SOPHIE & NATALIE - BLUE STAR INVITATIONAL
Sophia Calhoun and Natalie Eshoo attended the invitational Blue Star Saturday in Tampa this past weekend.
Blue Star Basketball and Rising Blue Star camps are the largest basketball exposure camps for girls in the United States. These camps “provide the platform to be elite and be evaluated by the elite.”
This past weekend’s camp invited 125 girls from 30 different states. It was a day centered on scrimmages. Both girls played in their age groups and faced fierce competition.
University of Pennsylvania Commit - former OTE Alum
The OTE SPECIALTY STORE IS NOW CLOSED - SPONSORED BY NEW BALANCE!
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Hello OTE Community,
Our OTE store sponsored by New Balance has temporarily closed. It will reopen in the next few weeks. At this time, we are processing your orders to try to get them to you as quickly as we can. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Croix Urcina at croix@otehoops.com.
Happy Shopping!
Let’s Go EDGE! |
OTE TEAM STORE APPAREL - SPONSORED BY NEW BALANCE
5th BOYS - STATE CHAMPS
If there was a phrase to some up this past weekend it would literally be “March MADNESS”.
The boys were battle tested and played 4 tough games. 3 out of the 4 they trailed.
In game 1 OTE was down by 7 points with 3:45 to go and they were able to get the job done holding their opponent to 0 4th quarter points!
OTE 27 IL Truth 23
Game 2
OTE 27 DKC Drillers 17
Game 3
Our boys were behind 17-7 with just over a minute and a half remaining in the first half. A huge 17-6 run to end the half gave OTE the lead 24-23 at halftime and they never looked back.
OTE 47 PHH 36
Game 4/State Championship
After the 1st quarter OTE was in the lead 10-3. At halftime Glen Ellyn led 17-12 after going on a huge 14-0 run.
What a game, what an atmosphere.
In the second half OTE held the Ball Stars to 7 total points. Going on a 25-7 run to finish the game including only allowing 3 4th quarter points!
OTE 37 Glen Ellyn 24
After losing the State Championship last year with a 22-2 record the 5th Burgundy boys finished this season on an UNBELIEVABLE 23 game winning streak and won the Illinois State Championship. 29-4 record on the year after starting the season 1-3. Just incredible.
We are so proud of our boys!! Go Edge!
~Coach Eddie~
8th Boys: 2-2 STATE RUN
While not the ending we wanted, the OTE 8th grade boys did the program proud, finishing in 4th place. While the games were primary, the memories they made will last a lifetime.
Good luck in high school, boys, and continue to show why OTE is the best basketball program out there.
~Coach Ben~
Recent News
Freshman Alums - Playing Against One Another!
- By Wolff - OTE 02/03/2025, 1:00pm CST
4th Grade Boys - Have joined the party! Headed to State!
- By Wolff - OTE 01/27/2025, 10:15am CST
7th & 8th GRADE GIRLS - QUALIFY FOR STATE!
- By Wolff - OTE 01/27/2025, 9:45am CST
5th Boys - HEADED BACK TO STATE!
- By Wolff - OTE 12/16/2024, 9:45am CST
8th Grade Boys - Qualify for State!
- By Wolff - OTE 11/25/2024, 9:00am CST
Dalton Scantlebury - Headed to Penn, OTE ALUM
With high academics a priority for the Lane Senior, Penn was able to navigate a recruitment that came down to the Ivy League school securing a commitment from a legitimate mid-major prospect. The 6-9 Scantlebury is a true, on-the-block post big man with a solid feel in the post.
Chicago Sun Times
Joe Henricksen
11/13/2024
SHEAHEN DOWLING - OTE ALUM
At OTE our coaches strive to make a positive impact on each and every student athlete. On occasion, there is a student athlete that ever so effortlessly makes an everlasting impression on their coach. This everlasting impression on me was made by a little girl, now a grown woman, named Sheahen Dowling.
Sheahen was always eager to learn and had a hunger to excel. She always embraced constructive criticism from her OTE coaches. Sheahen consistently displayed a strong work ethic, I remember how her freckles would disappear into her rosy red cheeks. I will never forget her contagious smile and positive attitude.
Sheahen was highly receptive to OTE’s skills, drills, and coaching. This young lady most definitely acquired a solid foundation of fundamental basketball training at OTE. We are so very proud of all her accomplishments and achievements!
~Coach Caitlin~
NATALIE ESHOO
Our own Natalie Eshoo (headed into 7th grade - has been playing up with the 8th grade girls (now 9th grade) all summer) was chosen to attend the USJN and Bluestar Invitational Summer Camp held in Indianapolis, Indiana last weekend. Natalie was one of 150 kids chosen from all across the United States for this invitation only camp. What an incredible achievement for Natalie! Being selected for such a prestigious event is a testament to her talent and dedication. It's exciting to see her hard work paying off, and I'm sure she has a bright future ahead. Congratulations to Natalie—her journey is just getting started!
8th GRADE GIRLS - STILL ROLLING! 5TH PLACE finish at the AAU World Championship in Ohio.
The 8th grade girls went 5 and 3, and a 5th place finish this past weekend in Ohio as the competed in the World Championship for AAU. Although I know the girls probably feel they could have won it all, this is the highest OTE has ever placed in Division ll AAU basketball!
Thanks to Coach Croix, Coach Justin, and Coach Marissa for leading the charge this past week. We are so lucky to have great coaches and people to be mentoring our girls.
2023 USJN U13 Milwaukee Windy City Classic Champions!
WOW, what a weekend in Milwaukee for the girls, parents, and coaches! Congratulations to all of you and the girls. And thank you for making this a wonderful event. Teamwork makes a dream work! We don't have to dream any more, we are the 2023 USJN U13 Windy City Classic Champions! I am so proud of our coaches, Coach Croix, Coach Marissa, Coach Justin, and I want to thank them for giving their time and energy so this event could happen for our girls.
Quick Links
YouTube - Over the Edge
All 5th and 7th grade boys games are here to replay! Come check out how they are "On Fundamentals."
8th GRADE GIRLS - TAKE 3RD PLACE USAB OPEN BRACKET CHAMPIONSHIP IN WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
The 8th grade girl's piggybacked last year's success as they took 3rd place in Washington DC at the US Jr. Nationals in 2023, by again, taking 3rd place at this USAB Open Bracket Championship held in Winston Salem, North Carolina this past weekend. The girls went 3-1 (only loss was to the eventual champion) as they competed against 16 teams from around the country.
Their next stop is the AAU World Championships 6/26 to 6/30 in Kings Island Ohio.
We are so proud of the girls and the way they represented themselves, our program, and Chicago! Congratulations, girls. GO EDGE!
8th Girls - DOMINATE AT STATE! 4th Boys - 2nd Place Finish
Both the 8th-grade girls and 4th-grade boys continued on their respective rolls this past weekend with the girls going a perfect 5-0 and winning State the boys going 3-1 and coming in 2nd at the University of Illinois. The 8th grade girls, led by Coach Croix and Coach Keith, put on a fantastic performance and took home rings and medals for winning! The boys, led by Coach Eddie went 3-0 Saturday which got them into the championship game Sunday, where they fell to a very talented team from Park Forest. It was a hard-fought battle and the boys played their hearts out! Great job, boys! We will see them next year! Same place, same time! Congratulations Ladies! Keep up the amazing work!
OTE 7th Girls win 2021 state AAU championship
OTE is proud to announce its latest championship team. The 7th grade girls team won the 2021 AAU state championship Division 1 by sweeping all four games it played May 1-2 in Rockford. Ill. The team is coached by Brandon Lathon and Shawn Cirton, and won each game by 10 or more points. The team prevailed by sharing the ball, playing tough team defense and winning the battle for loose balls and rebounds. Congrats to the girls!
OTE 7th grade girls roll at 2019 AAU Nationals!
Congrats to the OTE 7th grade girls, who finished 6th out of 34 teams in the National AAU championship in Knoxville, Tenn. The girls had a great run, losing by five points in the quarterfinals to the eventual AAU champs. The team was on fire all week, averaging 53 points a game -- one of the top-scoring teams in the tourney. Thanks to the players, parents and coach Croix for a terrific week of basketball! The OTE family is proud of all of you!
OTE WINS 2017 AAU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
OTE 8th girls became National AAU champions this morning, July 17, 2017 in Orlando! We're so proud of our players -- Angelica, Illiana, Maeve, Charleen, Lily, Caroline, Nicole, Christi -- and coaches Keith and Jean. What a great run! Congrats!