There is a group of people at the University of Maine who frequently play pick-up basketball at the New Balance Student Recreation Center. Every time you lace ‘em up with a new attitude and high hopes of experiencing good basketball, the same set of familiar faces has already taken the court. In most cases, you are let down. Before you have swiped your MaineCard you are already telling your buddy that the kid you insulted last game is on the court.

Then it gets worse. Your friend you came in with just missed his free throw after elbowing aside three freshman who sprinted over from court two when they saw the line filling up to be able to shoot to make a team. Your buddy hangs his head as you let out an expletive and stand with three other people you have never met, who are OK with losing 15-8 as long as they hit two fall-away 3s.

Good chemistry at the rec. center is as rare as a solar eclipse, and frustration is almost always guaranteed. Not only do you have to wait for 30-45 minutes to get onto the court, you are almost always playing with people you don’t want to while the friend you carpooled with is jogging a mile and twiddling his thumbs. But don’t lose hope, my pick-up comrades. There is an easy solution.

The solution was proposed during a conversation with my friend the other day — which was similar to the first two paragraphs. He suggested the issues could be solved with a court cam. The technology is available, and the rewards would be enormous.

It’s simple: A small camera would be placed on the first two courts of the rec. center. All identified university students would have access to the camera feed on some online website and could do a simple check-in to see who is playing at the time.

Imagine the difference this would make. Everybody knows there is no way to tell who is playing on the courts at any given time. One Monday there is a line the length of the court trying to shoot a free throw to play at four in the afternoon; the next, you’re asking any average Joe you see walking by to jump in, just to get 10 people.

Trying to avoid the kid who plays too hard and is putting emphasis on boxing out and hard fouls? Check the feed. Trying to avoid the creepy old man who doesn’t shower and only wants to operate from the high post? Check the feed. Trying to run with your buddies and find some good competition? Check the feed.

Let’s be honest: one of the best parts of UMaine is the Rec. Center. Numerous Rec. Center members enjoy pick-up basketball, and the accessibility of pick-up basketball is something I will miss when I leave this campus for good. Yet all good things can be better, and the court cam is the solution this student body deserves. Many hotels have court cams to see if somebody is on the tennis courts. It doesn’t have to be high definition, just clear enough to discern which kids are currently trying to get their run in. The court cam just might improve the way of life in Black Bear country.