I see you have a basketball, what about a half court in the back with room for plants around perimeter. It could be converted to a sitting patio if outgrown.

Here are a few plants that grow in dappled sun in zone 8: fatsia, aucuba, osmanthus, camellia, Sunshine ligustrum, ferns, Lenten rose, bleeding hearts, Japanese Forest grass, hosta, heuchera, cimicifuga, astillbe, gardenia, acanthus, cyclamen, mahonia, boxwood, aspidistra, cleyera, azalea, sarcococca. Poet's Laurel, hydrangea, evergreen clematis ....

Thank you so much Doug!!!