SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING A BASKETBALL PLAYER'S SHOOTING

1 . A system for facilitating a basketball practice competition between two or more basketball players, the system comprising:

an ejector configured to launch basketballs toward each of a plurality of pass receipt locations located about a basketball playing surface;

a user interface configured to receive a user selection of a subset of said pass receipt locations for said ejector to pass said basketballs to as part of a basketball practice multiplayer challenge for said two or more basketball players; and

a control system configured to receive data from said user interface indicating said user selection and command said ejector to launch at least one basketball towards each of said pass receipt locations in said subset a first time for a first of said two or more basketball players, and subsequently launch at least one basketball towards each of said pass receipt locations in said subset an additional time for each additional one of said two or more basketball players.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a detector configured to detect passage of any of said basketballs through a rim of a basketball goal to indicate a made basketball shot; and

a reporting module configured to generate a display of shooting statistics individually for each of said two or more basketball players based on data from said detector indicating said made basketball shots and data from said control system indicating a number of said basketballs launched towards each of said pass receipt locations in said subset each of said times as part of said basketball practice multiplayer challenge.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein:

said display comprises percentages of successfully made shots for each of said two or more basketball players at each said pass receipt locations in said subset.

4 . The system of claim 3 wherein:

said user interface comprises a visual depiction of a three-point line and individually selectable pass receipt input locations (“ISPRIL”) arranged in relation to said visual depiction of said three-point line to correspond with said pass receipt locations located about said basketball playing surface; and

said user selection is made by way of said ISPRIL at said user interface.

5 . The system of claim 4 wherein:

each of said percentages in said display are visually depicted in relation to a second visual depiction of said three-point line at positions visually corresponding with each of said pass receipt locations in said subset.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein:

each of said percentages in said display are visually depicted in relation to said second visual depiction of said three point line at said positions visually corresponding with each of said pass receipt locations in said subset on a one-to-one basis such that one of said percentages is provided for each one of said ISPRIL in said subset.

7 . The system of claim 5 wherein:

said display is configured to indicate a distance associated with each of said ISPRIL in said subset from said basketball goal.

8 . The system of claim 7 wherein:

said display is configured to indicate points attributable to each of said made basketballs shots based on said distance.

9 . The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a doppler measurement system configured to determine, for each of said basketballs launched by said ejector, a height of shot, said distance, a release angle, and an entry angle into a hoop of said basketball goal.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein:

said user interface is configured to receive de-selection of at least one of said pass receipt locations in said subset and selection of at least one of said pass receipt locations not in said subset to revise said subset prior to initiation of said basketball practice competition.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein:

said user interface comprises an initiate program input area, wherein said user interface is configured to accept multiple revisions to said subset prior to actuation of said initiate program input area; and

said control system is configured to command said ejector to initiate launching of said basketballs following actuation of said initiate program input area.

12 . The system of claim 4 wherein:

each of said ISPRIL are spaced apart along said visual depiction in an arcuate fashion.

13 . The system of claim 12 wherein:

each of said ISPRIL are configured for selection by way of direct, physical touch.

14 . The system of claim 13 wherein:

each of said ISPRIL comprise physically depressible electro-mechanical buttons.

15 . The system of claim 4 wherein:

said control system is configured to receive data from said user interface indicating a non-serial order in which said ISPRIL of said subset are received as part of said user selection; and

said control system is configured to command said ejector to launch said at least one basketball towards each of said pass receipt locations in said subset in said non-serial order during said basketball practice multiplayer challenge.

16 . The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a selectable shots-in-a-row input area provided at said user interface and configured to receive a user selection of a desire to participate in a shots-in-a-row challenge and a number of shots to be made in a row at each of said pass receipt locations in said subset, wherein said control system is configured to receive data indicating said user selection of said selectable shots-in-a-row input area and said number of shots to be made in a row at each of said pass receipt locations in said subset and command said ejector to launch said basketballs to a first one of said pass receipt locations in said subset until data is received from said detector indicating that said number of shots to be made in a row at each of said pass receipt locations in said subset has been made in a row and subsequently commanding said ejector to launch said basketballs to a next one of said pass receipt locations in said subset.

17 . The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a selectable shots made input area provided at said user interface and configured to receive a user selection of a desire to participate in a shots made challenge and a number of shots to be made at each of said pass receipt locations in said subset, wherein said control system is configured to receive data indicating said user selection of said selectable shots made input area and said number of shots to be made at each of said pass receipt locations in said subset and command said ejector to launch said basketballs to a first one of said pass receipt locations in said subset until data is received from said detector indicating that said number of shots to be made at each of said pass receipt locations in said subset has been made and then commanding said ejector to launch said basketballs to a next one of said pass receipt locations in said subset.

18 . The system of claim 2 wherein:

user interface is configured to receive user input comprising identifying information for each of said two or more basketball players; and

each of said individual shooting statistics is displayed in association with said identifying information for each of said two or more basketball players.

19 . A system for facilitating a basketball practice between multiple players, the system comprising:

an ejector configured to launch basketballs toward each of a plurality of pass receipt locations located about a basketball playing surface;

a user interface comprising a visual depiction of a three-point line and individually selectable pass receipt input locations (“ISPRIL”) arranged at spaced angular positions along and in relation to said visual depiction to correspond with, on a one-to-one basis, said pass receipt locations located about said basketball playing surface, wherein said user interface is configured to receive a selection of certain of said ISPRIL to define a subset of said pass receipt locations for said ejector to pass said basketballs to as part of a custom basketball practice multiplayer challenge;

a control system configured to receive data from said user interface indicating said selection and command said ejector to launch at least one basketball towards each successive one of said pass receipt locations in said subset for a first time for a first of said multiple players, and subsequently launch at least one basketball towards each successive one of said pass receipt locations in said subset an additional time for each additional one of said multiple players;

a detector configured to detect passage of any of said basketballs through a rim of said basketball goal to indicate a made basketball shot;

a network connectivity device configured to receive data from said control system for transmission to a server, wherein said data is sufficient to generate a display of individual shooting statistics for each of said multiple players based on data from said detector indicating said made basketball shots and a number of said basketballs launched towards each of said plurality of pass receipt locations in said subset each of said times as part of a custom basketball practice multiplayer challenge.

20 . A portable basketball launching machine which facilitates a basketball practice competition between multiple players, the portable basketball launching machine comprising:

an ejector configured to launch basketballs toward each of a plurality of pass receipt locations located about a basketball playing surface;

a user interface comprising a visual depiction of a three-point line and at least part of a key and individually selectable pass receipt input locations (“ISPRIL”) arranged at spaced angular positions along said visual depiction of said three-point line manner to correspond with, on a one-to-one basis, said pass receipt locations located about said basketball playing surface, wherein said user interface is configured to receive a selection of certain of said ISPRIL by direct, physical touch to define a subset of said pass receipt locations for said ejector to pass said basketballs to as part of a custom basketball practice multiplayer challenge, wherein said user interface is configured to visibly indicate the ISPRIL forming part of said subset at said user interface following said selection, and wherein said user interface is configured to receive identifying information for each of the multiple players;

a control system configured to receive data from said user interface indicating said selection and command said ejector to launch at least one basketball towards each successive one of said pass receipt locations in said subset for a first time for a first of said multiple players, and subsequently launch at least one basketball towards each successive one of said pass receipt locations in said subset an additional time for each additional one of said multiple players;

a detector configured to detect passage of any of said basketballs through a rim of said basketball goal to indicate a made basketball shot;

a network connectivity device configured to receive data from said control system for transmission to a server, wherein said data is sufficient to generate a display of individual shooting statistics in the form of percentages of successfully made shots at various of said pass receipt locations in said subset for each of said multiple players based on data from said detector indicating said made basketball shots and a number of said basketballs launched towards each of said plurality of pass receipt location in said subset each of said times as part of said custom basketball practice multiplayer challenge at a second visual depiction of said three-point line and said at least part of said key in a manner correspondent with said pass receipt locations in said subset, wherein each of said individual shooting statistics is displayed in association with said identifying information; and

a collection net assembly comprising one or more height adjustable members and a net attached to said one or more height adjustable members, wherein said collection net assembly is configured for selective positioning in association with a basketball goal such that an upper edge of said net is selectively extendable above a rim of said basketball goal, wherein said collection net assembly is configured to capture at least some of said basketballs thrown towards said basketball goal during said custom basketball practice multiplayer challenge and guide said captured basketballs towards said ejector when said collection net assembly is extended and placed in association with said basketball goal.