ShotTracker delivers real time stats for NAIA tournament
March 27, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
Kansas City-based sports tech firm ShotTracker deployed their technology for the 80th National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I Men’s National Championship Basketball Tournament, which ran March 17 through March 21.
Co-founder and COO of ShotTracker Davyeon Ross said participating in the tournament was a great learning experience for the firm.
“We received great feedback and ideas from players, coaches and fans about what they were looking for and how they would consume the data,” Ross said. “We learned a lot about the process of running a tournament, which is critical for our business”
This opportunity came via a partnership with the New York video company Keemotion. Together, the tech was used throughout the six-day tournament in 31 games to deliver automated, real-time stats to fans.
Ross said that not only was it fun to participate in the tournament, but it means that 32 teams from around the country were exposed to ShotTracker’s technology.
“This was a big deal for ShotTracker.” Ross said “As a team, we proved our level of execution and our ability to deliver. It was exciting, scary, historical and it was humbling to have such an incredible group of people assisting us in bringing the event to fruition.”
The product, ShotTracker TEAM is worn by a team to capture statistics in real time. The firm previously partnered with sporting equipment giant Spalding to implant sensors into basketballs that interact with sensors on a player’s shoes and the rafters above the court. The tech offers coaches more insight into player performance, including box stats, shooting charts, line-up comparisons and player efficiency ratings.
Pair that with Keemotion — an automated video platform that produces live content for broadcasters and coaches — and the product offers instant replay for referees as well as social media highlights.
“The NAIA is an organization of firsts. It was the first to provide championships for both men and women and the first tournament to host African-American student-athletes,” said Ross. “Both ShotTracker and Keemotion are on the cutting edge of sports technology, so we value partners that want to be first.”
Ross said the NAIA selection committee used ShotTracker’s data and analytics to decide the All-Tournament teams.
“The real-time nature and accessibility of the statistical data was well received,” Ross said. “Coaches and athletes couldn’t believe how real-time and accurate our technology was.”
Ross said that in the year ahead, the firm is excited to line up other partnerships with tournament organizers.
In addition to the ShotTracker Team device, the firm touts a wearable device for an individual basketball player. The device has three pieces — a wrist sensor, net sensor and mobile app — that track shot attempts, makes and misses.
In October, ShotTracker announced that basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and former NBA Commissioner David Stern led a $5 million round. The firm has raised over $10 million to date and was listed as one of Startland News’ top startups to watch in 2017.
Watch a video of ShotTracker’s technology below:
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
In second term, Mayor Q says he’ll help get City Hall out of entrepreneurs’ way as they build a more diverse economy
Creating economic equity in Kansas City goes hand in hand with building a sustainable city, said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “We will not be the city that we need to be — we won’t have the workforce, the entrepreneurs that we need — if we’re not actually investing in equitable tools in any number of ways,”…
Sandlot Goods takes a swing at a brick and mortar; new JoCo storefront expected to be a home run with brand’s fans
Sandlot Goods — Kansas City’s only local hat manufacturer — is hoping to score big with its first, dedicated, standalone retail space. The new location at Park Place in Leawood — 11530 Ash Street — is slated for a soft opening Aug. 15 and a grand opening Sept. 16, shared Garret Prather, Sandlot vice president…
‘Oppenheimer’ actor says new Missouri tax incentives could bring investors, more film productions to KC
David Dastmalchian’s screenplays for movies set in Kansas City now have a realistic chance to be filmed in and around his hometown, said the acclaimed actor, writer, and producer who grew up in Overland Park. Recently-signed legislation paves the way for increased film production in Missouri by reauthorizing — and strengthening — tax credit incentives…
She witnessed short-staffed hospitals as a COVID patient; How her ‘Airbnb for health care workers’ could save lives like hers
After her own hospitalization with COVID-19, Shapree’ Marshall set out to make sure local hospitals have adequate staffing to care for the community, she shared. In February 2022, Marshall — now a 2023 Pipeline Pathfinder cohort member — founded A Traveled Path Homes, which she describes as Airbnb for the medical industry. She plans to…