jim and juli at home.JPG

Jim and Juli Boeheim pose in their DeWitt home in 2003.

(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Soon, interested Syracuse basketball observers who own futuristic technology devices will be able to "see" inside Jim Boeheim's home gym as he narrates what they're witnessing.

Boeheim has signed with Next Galaxy Corp. to collaborate on a virtual reality experience designed to appeal to fans and Orange basketball recruits, said Barrett D. Ehrlich, a financial consultant to the company. Mary Spio is the president, founder and chairman of Next Galaxy Corp.

"(Boeheim has) spoken to management and he's looking for a tool for recruitment," Ehrlich said today during a telephone conversation. "He's looking for more fan engagement. He would be able to create content and fans will be able to view it."

Ehrlich said Boeheim's first production will take viewers into the coach's gym and show them his trophy room. In the future, Boeheim might provide immersive insights into the way he coaches his program.

NCAA regulations and SU restrictions will not permit the SU coach to, say, project what it's like to be in the middle of a practice huddle. The content he creates will be personal experiences, likely originating from his home. Boeheim's DeWitt home includes an indoor basketball court (a half-court configuration).

Viewing these 'events' requires the use of Google Glass or Oculus Rift, head-mounted devices that allow wearers to virtually experience games, sports, concerts and such as if they were actually there. (The Oculus Rift , a Facebook investment, looks like you're wearing giant ski goggles; Google Glass looks like a pair of eyeglasses.)

"You'll be able to wear (them) and feel like you're in Jim's house," Ehrlich said.

Ehrlich was unclear about the mechanics of "filming" and producing the Boeheim experiences. Next Galaxy Corp. hopes to provide a better understanding of the process next week.

The company hopes to shoot video for the Boeheim project in late October or early November. The experience could be available as early as three weeks after it's shot, Ehrlich said.

This is a promotional video about the process:

Next Galaxy - Virtual Reality company from Tina Brown on Vimeo.