Raptors Uprising gamers show off their well-appointed high-tech home in Toronto – TheRecord.com | Tech News

Raptors Uprising stands 15th with a 2-5 record going into this week’s game against seventh-place Wizards District Gaming (3-3). The Toronto gamers, however, insist their record, which includes three overtime losses against top teams, doesn’t tell the whole story.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but I do feel like we have an opportunity to close out this season with a big run and climb back into playoff contention,” said Shane Talbot, esports manager for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

That would mean a top-eight finish in the 14-game regular season, which includes several mid-season tournaments. Blazers Gaming currently top the standings at 6-0.

The residence, billed as the Bell Fibe House, is a triumph of sponsorship. There are Bell charging units and a Coors Light beer fridge. A giant NBA 2K18 poster occupies the wall near the pool table. The bathroom doors carry the logo for Axe body spray while Canadian Tire provided the deck furniture.

And the gaming centre, with its Alienware computers, DXRacer gaming chairs and HyperX headphones, looks like someone went on a spending spree at Best Buy.

McKenna, a 22-year-old native of Decatur, Ga., was studying sports management at Georgia State. Doyle, a 20-year-old from Hampton Falls, N.H., was at the University of New Hampshire. Hendrix, 21, was working at steak house in Arkansas. Harris, a 24-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, was homeless for a while. Hailey was working for AT&T as a distribution co-ordinator until he quit his job to game professionally.

All played for their high school basketball teams, with Doyle a top-rated New Hampshire prospect before suffering an injury. MLSE is paying them a salary as well as taking care of their room and board.

Hailey and Doyle were all former members of an elite NBA 2K Pro-Am team called Still Trill that won the US$250,000 grand prize in last year’s NBA 2K17 all-star tournament.

Hailey used his $50,000 prize money to pay off his 2012 Camaro while Doyle upgraded his PC gaming system.