Meet Dan - aka Hoopzter

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If you’ve played the game, you’ve probably seen the name “Hoopzter” floating above my head — that’s me, Dan, the creator of this experience and a lifelong lover of the game. Inside the Meta, players can add me, message me, and connect directly — because this isn’t just a game to me… it’s a dream come to life.

I grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but everything changed when I moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, at age 10. I lived two blocks from school, and in between sat the Cocoa Beach City Rec Center — a place that became the heartbeat of my life. It was the 1980s, the Jordan Era, and that gym was everything. When the waves were flat, the surfers turned ballers, and the court came alive.

That rec center had a full court and two legendary 8-foot side hoops mounted flush to the wall. Me and my friends learned to climb those walls and take flight — dunking became our obsession, and by 12 years old, I was doing every dunk imaginable and lived with wrist markings from slamming the ball so hard into the rim daily. Most players were grown adults, but me and my best friend Russell didn’t let that stop us. We chalked our names on the board and fought for our spot, even when nobody wanted two 70-pound kids on the court. But we were determined — and we always made sure we had next.

Those early battles taught me more than just how to hoop — they taught me resilience, drive, and the power of never backing down from what you love.

One day, I met an older kid named Sean — a surfer and basketball trickster. He taught me how to spin the ball, dribble behind my back, and unlock the magic in the game. From that moment on, something sparked in me — I became a showman, a trickster, a mini Pistol Pete with a creative flair. By 14, I was the most skilled ball handler and trickster in the area — razzling and dazzling on every court I could find.

I won every local camp contest — free throw, hot shot, one-on-one — I couldn’t lose. I was hungry, passionate, and fueled by nothing but love for the game. We didn’t have much growing up — raised by my mom, money was tight — but my dream was simple: order a Spalding Top Flight 100 basketball from the rec center catalog each year. It cost $50 in 1986, and somehow, I always made it happen — even though by year’s end, the ball would be black from endless use.

All I wanted in life was to play ball — NBA, overseas, anywhere. Just give me a ball and a court.

But life had other plans. I made varsity my freshman year — but barely played. Sophomore year, same story. Junior year, I got hit by a car. Senior year, I hyperextended my wrist trying to dunk. My dreams started to slip away.

I joined the U.S. Air Force, where I became a graphic design artist — and that’s where my creativity flourished in new ways. After leaving the service in 1994, I launched a freelance design career and started exploring tech — building platforms like Linkzter.com and more.

In 2018, I launched my first mobile basketball app — “3D Basketball Spinning” (soon to be renamed to mobile Hoopzter)— the first of its kind. It was fun, but the real magic began when I discovered the Meta VR headset. A friend’s son introduced me to it, and immediately, my mind lit up: What if you could spin a basketball on your finger — in virtual reality?

I hit up my old developer and asked if it was possible. The next day, he sent me a prototype… and Hoopzter was born.

We began building in 2021, and in time, we launched in Meta App Lab for $15. But exposure was tough — until October 1, 2024, when Meta discontinued the app lab and placed all games into the Meta Horizon App Store, giving apps like ours a real shot. That was the true beta launch of Hoopzter — and since then, we’ve been growing fast with nonstop updates, new features, and a rising community of players.

Just like those early days at the Rec, we’re back to earning our spot, proving ourselves, and getting next — and now it’s global.

But beyond the competition and the fun, my goal with Hoopzter is much deeper — it’s about giving back.

I created this game to share the love of basketball with others — to help young players fall in love with the game the same way I did. Hoopzter is more than just entertainment — it’s an introduction to the sport, a chance to experience the joy of learning, and a way to connect to the fundamentals in a creative, exciting environment.

From shooting form, ball spinning, and popular streetball games, to skill-building activities, the game is designed to both entertain and educate. Unlike other games that rely on unrealistic aim assist, Hoopzter uses real-life physics — so when you shoot or spin the ball in the game, it’s as close to the real thing as it gets. This helps players actually develop a feel for proper form, timing, and coordination — skills they can take to a real court.

Whether you’re a seasoned hooper or just starting out, Hoopzter is here to inspire, teach, and ignite passion for the game we all love.

So jump into the Meta, join the community, and experience what happens when creativity meets competition.

Follow my journey on social media — big things are coming.

🏀 Let the tricks begin. Let the magic flourish.

Welcome to Hoopzter.