Michael Linklater has hoop dreams of a new court for Saskatoon

When Michael Linklater was a boygrowing up on Saskatoon's gritty west side, he would sometimes sneak out late at night and take to the streets.

It wasn't aboutbreaking curfewand looking for trouble. These unauthorized sojourns involved fast breaks, layups and jump shots from downtown.

He was sneaking out to play basketball in the schoolyard at St. Mary's.

In those days, St. Mary's had a brand new outdoor court and all the ballers showed up to play. Focusing on the game helped keep themout of trouble.

"You could just go down by yourself," he said. "There probably would be somebody with a ball shooting and you could get a game started."

It's where Linklater's hoop dreams were born.

Centre court

Linklater said there's no longer a place like that,where boys and girls go to test their skills against other players,in Saskatoon. That's why he is now working to bring a marquee outdoor basketball court to the west side, in the Riversdale/Pleasant Hill area.

We're going to be doing the building and fundraising ourselves.- Michael Linklater

Linklater's vision is a court that can launch a thousand dreams, just like his.

"It's not just a regular basketball court that you see in the back of the schools with just asphalt hard top and regular backboards. We're looking at glass blackboards as well as a more soft finish."

Those late night pick-up games on the west side helped Linklater play college ball, claiming anational title with the University of Saskatchewan. Today, he's one of the best three-on-three players in the world and suits up as a pro with the hometown Saskatchewan Rattlers.

Linklater said there are many challenges for young people on the west side. He wants to give back so that kids will, "have something in terms of an outlet to create positivity within their lives giving them something to do."

Local organizations are getting on boardand NBA Canada is ready to pitch in with an offer of big league backboards and rims.

Build it and they will come

Linklater and his teamhave also made their pitch at city hall.

"All we're asking from the city is just a section of land. We're going to be doing the fundraising and the building ourselves."

The cost of building an outdoor basketball court on the riverbank in the Riversdale/Pleasant Hill area could be as high as $300,000. To cover the cost, the grouphas started a campaign on social media called Hoist the Hoops.