WHERE TO PLAY : BELMONT SHORE (LONG BEACH)

Location--Bayshore Drive and Ocean Boulevard.

Facilities--Several courts, but only one that is used for competitive hoop. Single rim, metal backboard (complete with graffiti) and cloth net. Asphalt, no lights.

Remarks--Equipment isn’t the best--the rim had to be replaced recently after someone ripped it down on a dunk--but plenty of talent here, including current and former PCAA players and former players of Long Beach’s tough Moore League. The only game played is three on three. Wind blowing off the nearby bay can play havoc with outside shots.

CAPISTRANO BEACH PARK

Location--Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Street.

Facilities--One full court with double rims, fiberglass backboards and cloth nets. Slick concrete under good lights.

Remarks--Shares the distinction with Laguna Beach of being the prettiest court in the county. Attracts very good high school and good college talent. Half-court three on three is the game.

EDISON COMMUNITY PARK (HUNTINGTON BEACH)

Location--Magnolia Street and Atlanta Avenue, across from Edison High.

Facilities--Four full courts, four half courts. Double rims, metal backboards and metal nets. Concrete with excellent lights.

Remarks--Blue-collar hoop. Popular on weeknights with full-court games and wide spectrum of talent. Things can get rough at Edison. Consider one local’s T-shirt, “Don’t Touch Me!”

EL SALVADOR PARK (SANTA ANA)

Location--Civic Center Drive and English Street.

Facilities--One full court and one half court (with a badly bent rim) have double rims, wood backboards and cloth nets. Concrete surface and decent lights.

Remarks--Players must try to keep focused with kids screaming on the adjoining playground and adults screaming on the adjoining softball field. Decent high school talent.

MAIN BEACH (LAGUNA BEACH)

Location--PCH and Broadway.

Facilities--Two half courts with single rims, metal backboards and cloth nets. Smooth concrete surface, no lights.

Remarks--The best talent in the county is found here each weekend. Professionals such as Byron Scott (Lakers), Kiki Vandeweghe (Portland) and Kelly Tripucka (Detroit) are among those who have graced this court. Three on three is the game. A tip from the experts--don’t shoot from the street-side of the court--a subtle slope and winds coming off the ocean make it nearly impossible to be a consistent shooter from that area.

MILE SQUARE PARK (FOUNTAIN VALLEY)

Location--Courts contained in the large park at Brookhurst and Warner.

Facilities--Six full courts with double rims, metal backboards and metal nets. The smooth concrete surface sits below excellent lights.

Remarks--The widest variety of hoops in Orange County. Also the most popular. There always is some activity. Can be packed on weekend days and weeknights when $3, paid to park employee, buys you a bank of lights for one half court. Weekend games are almost exclusively full court. Wide range of players. The number of courts allow each player to find a niche.

NEWPORT BEACH (38TH STREET)

Location--38th Street and Balboa Boulevard.

Facilities--One full court that’s used almost exclusively for half-court hoops. Single rims, wood backboards, cloth nets. Concrete surface, no lights.

Remarks--Good high school and decent college talent. Surroundings aren’t much, the court is hidden behind buildings and trees, but good players attract other good players. Backboards are very soft, so warm up your bank shot.

NEWPORT BEACH (PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY)

Location--Surrounded by PCH, Seashore Drive and 59th Street.

Facilities--One full court with double rims, fiberglass backboards and cloth nets. The court has a sandy-slick cement surface with no lights.

Remarks--Games are almost exclusively full court. Talent is good to very good high school. Nice setting. Be sure to take shorter strides and steps on the court because the thin layer of sand that’s always present makes footing for a definite cut difficult.

PEAK AND BOISSERANC PARKS (BUENA PARK)

Location--Peak is on El Dorado Drive and Knott Avenue; Boissseranc is on Dale Street and Carnation Drive.

Facilities--Both spots have single rims, metal backboards and metal nets. Smooth concrete bordering on slick underneath good lights.

Remarks--Large chain-link nets--the kind of chain that people tow cars with. The court attracts the local high school talent on weeknights, but doesn’t see much action on weekends.