Quick Answer: First Team’s residential lineup spans three genuinely different price tiers: the portable Invader (44”x33” acrylic, 33-gallon base, crank-adjustable 7.5-10ft, $399.00), the fixed-height in-ground Sport II (36”x48” acrylic, 4-inch 11-gauge steel post, $1,359.00), and the adjustable in-ground Champ II (same backboard and post as the Sport II, but Insta-Just adjustable 7.5-10ft, $1,518.00). For most driveways, the Champ II is the pick — a real steel-post in-ground system with height adjustment at under $1,600. According to First Team, its 11-gauge steel posts run roughly 50% heavier than comparable goals in the same class.
Published September 20, 2026 — all three prices verified direct from First Team’s authorized-dealer network (americansupersports.com, oaksbatterup.com, njswingsets.com): Invader $399.00, Sport II $1,359.00, Champ II $1,518.00.
First Team shows up elsewhere on this site as the brand behind the RuffNeck Supreme, a $3,088.00 park-and-school system built to survive years of unsupervised commercial use — see our best commercial basketball hoop guide. What doesn’t get as much attention is that the same manufacturer also builds a genuinely affordable residential line, sold directly on Amazon rather than only through commercial dealers. That’s a real gap in the premium-hoop market: Goalrilla, Goaliath, and Pro Dunk don’t have anything close to a $399 entry point. Here’s how First Team’s three residential tiers compare.
First Team residential lineup at a glance
| Model | Type | Backboard | Height adjustment | Best for | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invader | Portable | 44"x33" acrylic | Crank, 7.5-10ft | Renters, movable use | $399.00 | ★★★★☆ |
| Sport II | In-ground | 36"x48" acrylic | Fixed height | Budget in-ground | $1,359.00 | ★★★★☆ |
| Champ II | In-ground | 36"x48" acrylic | Insta-Just, 7.5-10ft | Best overall | $1,518.00 | ★★★★½ |
1. Champ II — Best Overall
First Team Champ II Basketball Hoop
- A 36-by-48-inch acrylic backboard on a one-piece 4-by-4-inch, 11-gauge steel post — the same core hardware First Team uses across its residential in-ground line, direct-buried rather than bolted to a portable base.
- First Team's Insta-Just system adjusts the rim from 7.5 to 10 feet in 6-inch increments, so the hoop can grow with a younger player instead of staying fixed at regulation height.
- According to First Team, the one-piece post design is built to resist the wobble and rust that hit multi-piece posts first, and the 11-gauge steel is roughly 50% heavier than comparable goals in its class.
At $1,518.00, the Champ II undercuts most 54-inch tempered-glass systems from Goalrilla or Goaliath by several hundred dollars while still being a real in-ground steel-post hoop, not a portable. Stocking up on a spare net or an outdoor ball while you’re at it? Try Amazon Prime free for 30 days and get accessories shipped free in two days. The tradeoff versus the 54-60-inch boards covered in our best in-ground basketball hoop guide is backboard size — 48 inches instead of 54 or 60, which matters more for players shooting bank shots from the wing than for straight-on jump shots.
2. Sport II — Best Budget In-Ground
First Team Sport II Basketball Hoop
- The same 36-by-48-inch acrylic backboard and 4-inch, 11-gauge steel post as the Champ II, at about $159.00 less by skipping the height-adjustment mechanism entirely.
- Fixed at regulation 10-foot rim height — the right call for a backyard where the hoop will only ever see full-height play, not a driveway shared with younger kids.
- Carries the same one-piece post construction as the rest of the residential line, so the price cut doesn't come with a lighter-gauge pole.
This is the pick for households that already know the hoop will stay at 10 feet — skipping the Insta-Just mechanism is a real savings, not a stripped-down version of the Champ II’s core hardware.
3. Invader — Best Portable Entry Point
First Team Invader Basketball Hoop
- A 44-by-33-inch acrylic backboard on a fillable 33-gallon base — smaller than the in-ground models' boards, but a genuine step up from toy-grade portables at the same price point.
- Crank height adjustment covers the same 7.5-to-10-foot range as the Champ II, without needing a buried post or concrete footing.
- The only First Team model built to move — renters, HOA-restricted driveways, or anyone not ready to commit to a permanent in-ground system should start here.
At $399.00, the Invader is the cheapest real First Team hoop — see our best portable basketball hoop guide for how it stacks up against portables from Silverback and Lifetime at the same price tier. The tradeoff is stability: a filled portable base will always flex more on a hard rim-hang than a buried steel post, which is why First Team’s own in-ground models exist above it.
How the tiers actually differ
First Team’s three residential models split cleanly by two questions: does the hoop need to move, and does the rim need to change height? The Invader answers yes to both — it’s the only portable, movable option. The Sport II and Champ II share identical backboard and pole hardware and only differ on the second question: the Champ II’s Insta-Just adjuster costs about $159.00 more than the Sport II’s fixed 10-foot height. None of the three residential models come close to the RuffNeck Supreme’s park-grade pricing or the 60-72-inch tempered-glass boards covered elsewhere on this site — this lineup is First Team’s answer to a driveway budget, not a commercial court.
The bottom line
The Champ II is the right call for most driveways that want a real in-ground steel post with height adjustment for under $1,600 — $1,518.00 for a 48-inch acrylic board that grows with a younger player. Buyers who know the rim will always stay at 10 feet should save the $159.00 difference with the Sport II, and anyone not ready for a permanent in-ground install should start with the Invader at $399.00. Want to see how First Team’s bigger, tempered-glass systems compare against Goalrilla and Goaliath at the 54-60-inch tier instead? Our best in-ground basketball hoop guide covers that size class, and our best commercial basketball hoop guide covers First Team’s park-and-school-grade RuffNeck Supreme for buyers outfitting a public court instead of a driveway.