Rossmoor's Backyard YouTube Stars

If the Harlem Globetrotters played basketball in a swimming pool instead of on a court, the results might look like PoolSide TrickShots, the brainchild of seven Los Alamitos High School juniors.

This summer, instead of skateboarding or hanging out at the beach, the longtime friends transformed themselves into a minor YouTube sensation with a series of wet and wacky basketball videos.

“It just started one day when we were all hanging out in the pool,” Blake Panarisi said. “We were doing tricks and had been for years, but this time we decided to film it and throw it on YouTube. After getting a bunch of hits, we decided to see what else we could do.”

So far, the group has posted about 20 under-a-minute videos, the most popular being “Poolside Eps. 4,” which features a choreographed routine of bouncing and tossing a ball around the pool before lobbing it over the house to Ryne Sickel, who hurls it back for a long-bomb swish.

Panarisi said many viewers don’t believe the group actually completes its tricks without editing. To add authenticity, they've had friends come by to watch some of the tapings.

“It is pretty breathtaking to know that people are viewing our tricks,” he said. “But we know we still have our doubters, so we will continue to do tricks to prove there is no editing.”

The group's biggest video has racked up more than 60,000 views on YouTube (although a newer clip posted Saturday is rapidly gaining ground). Greg Patterson said it took two hours of practice and an hour of filming before they got it right — but when they did, "we went crazy."

“It was awesome,” Patterson said. “We never knew if we would get it on camera. We only made two [over-the-roof baskets] during practice.”

The backdrop for most of the videos is Tom and Kelie Panarisi’s Rossmoor backyard. The couple added a cement pond five years ago as a gathering place for family and friends.

“We put the pool in because we wanted our friends and [their] kids to have a place to hang out,” Tom Panarisi said. “We are always home when they do the filming, and it has been a fun, safe way for them to spend their summer.”

The seven poolside tricksters—who also include Chad Benfanti, Dallas Probert, Brett Berger and Chad Kutzke—practice and film about four days a week, Blake Panarisi said. Thirteen-year-old Sage Panarisi handles most of the camera duties.

Kutzke said the group is trying to find sponsors.

“We would love to make money doing this,” he said. “We have been friends for years, and if we can find a way to turn this into something, we will pursue it.”

But for now, it's just been a lot of fun.

“This has been an awesome summer,” Patterson said. “Our parents love to come over and watch us, we have had friends over and so many people have checked us out on Facebook, and so far, no injuries.”