How HIGHRISE Started
Savione Wright, Founder
When I first picked up a paddle, I did what most people do: I just played. Game after game, hoping that the reps would eventually make me better. And they helped. A little. But the real shift came the first time I did a clinic and started asking coaches specific questions about my game. Things started to move differently.
Then I started watching PPA matches. Studying how the pros set up points, how they move through the transition zone, why certain shots work and others don't. That's when it clicked: the players who actually get good don't just play. They drill. Intentional reps. Specific shots. Deliberate practice.
I played everywhere in Atlanta: the Y, LifeTime, outdoor courts all over the city. There are a lot of places to play. But nowhere truly focused on development. No structured drilling. No real coaching pathway. Just court time.
I did clinics at the professional level, played in tournaments, and took bits and pieces from every experience. And I knew I could build something better. A space, an environment, an experience for players who've caught the bug and want to actually accelerate.
There's no player development academy for pickleball the way there is for tennis or basketball. That's a gap. HIGHRISE is how we fill it.
And as a father of two young girls, that matters to me beyond just building a business. If we start building real development infrastructure for this sport now, for adults who are serious, and for kids who are just beginning. Who knows what they could accomplish. I want to be part of building that.
Pickleball Has Courts.
It Doesn't Have Development.
Every sport with a serious player base has infrastructure built around development. Tennis has academies. Basketball has AAU. Golf has lessons baked into the culture. Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America, has courts and open play. That's it. No real pathway from "just starting" to "actually competing." No structured system to move from 2.5 to 4.0. HIGHRISE is building that pathway.
What We're Building
Court Culture is where you meet us. But HIGHRISE is a full player development system, designed to take you from your first day on the court to wherever you want to go.
A monthly social series: tournament format, beginner zone, food, and good people. The place you meet the community and we meet you.
Structured, coach-led sessions focused on one skill at a time. Small groups, intentional reps, real feedback. Beginner and intermediate tracks available now.
Multi-week programs, max 5 players, one dedicated coach. This is the core product: the intensive track for players ready to make a real jump in their game.
Fully-run pickleball events for companies and teams. Flat fee, all production handled. We bring the energy. Your team just shows up.
Come Meet Us on the Court
Real competition, a beginner zone, and people worth knowing. Come see what we are building.