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“Basketball is not just a game, it’s a lifestyle,” said Mark Olivier, Executive Director of the Oakland Soldiers basketball program.

For a team that’s had so much success over the past couple decades, the Soldiers don’t only pride themselves on the amount they win.

“It’s bigger than basketball,” said Olivier. “Obviously we want to see them win, but most of all we want to see them grow as people. We really care about them as humans, not just basketball players.”

That may be one of the reasons this team has been so good over the years. With an alumni base that includes household names such as LeBron James, Chauncey Billups, and Brandon Jennings, kids want to play for this program. However, even with an extensive list of NBA players, Olivier doesn't want to just focus on them.

“Our goal isn’t to make NBA players; we just want to turn these boys into men,” he said. “Players always come back and sacrifice their time to share their experiences with the kids. It really gives them perspective.”

As far as basketball is concerned, the Oakland Soldiers keep it simple: They play in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) and they play in the Big Foot Classic at the end of the summer.

A few players to look out for include 6’8” Ivan Rabb and 6’ 5” Oscar Frayer. Rabb is 2015 grad who is ranked #1 in ESPN’s Top 60 with an overall scout grade of 96. He is being recruited by top programs across the nation, including schools such as Arizona, Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky just to name a few.

Frayer is a class of 2016 grad and was recognized by scout.com as one of the Top-25 players in his class.

However, Mark Olivier doesn't like to focus on individuals.

“We don’t need kids to come out and score 30 or 40 every game,” he said. “We want kids that not only love to win, but love to play together. We pride ourselves on our team camaraderie.”

Olivier kept reiterating that it wasn't just about the basketball. When the team travels to tournaments, they make sure to go to homeless shelters, children’s hospitals, or food drives so they can help people in need.

“These kids are born with something many people don’t have and they don’t even realize it,” he said. “We show these kids reality. We make sure every time they put on our uniform, it stands for something more than basketball. We call it, ‘The Soldier Way’.”

Look for the Soldiers to continue their tradition of success on the basketball court, as well as making a difference off the court.