Now that the Indiana Fever and the Indiana Pacers have renewed their primary sponsorship with the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, another five or six dozen high school boys and girls will have the opportunity this coming season to win Pacers and Fever Player of the Week Recognition.
Launched last year when the Pacers and Fever came on board for the first time as sponsors of the IBCA, these awards were given to deserving boys and girls who had outstanding weeks during the 2008-2009 season.
Among the winners of the awards last year, who received a handsome special honor certificate from Indiana’s two professional basketball franchises, were players from Rockville, Plainfield, Terre Haute North, Northview, Mooresville, Brownstown Central, Columbus East, Hauser, Valparaiso, South Ben Washington, Merrillville, Calumet, Hanover Central, Oregon-Davis, East Chicago Central, Griffith, Heritage Christian, Pendleton Heights, Hamilton Southeastern, Terre Haute South, Covenant Christian, Carmel, Indiana Creek, Crothersville, White River Valley, Borden, Charlestown, Tell City, Rushville, Hobart, Gary West Side, Crown Point, Gary Lee Wallace, Munster, Boone Grove, Ft. Wayne Canterbury, Plymouth, Center Grove, Winchester, Zionsville, Whiteland, Washington Township, Wheeler, Lake Central as well as many others.
At least one player from each of the three IBCA Districts was honored each week as long as there were nominees for the awards. Occasionally no player was nominated from a particular district. That left us with two choices. Omit a nominee, or scan a major newspaper in that district to look for and find a deserving candidate. The IBCA would prefer that nominations come from coaches of potential winners or from media in those areas.
Two media watchers who helped the IBCA get the program started last winter were particularly helpful and alert to skilled performances. Fortunately, they are aboard to help us again this year. They are Andy Amey, Terre Haute Tribune-Star, who will keep his eyes open for deserving efforts in the Wabash Valley area and beyond, and Steve Hanlon, former Indianapolis Star sports reporter who is now covering high school basketball and scouting the hoops scene for the Northwest Indiana Times in Munster.
Pat Aikman, Special Projects Coordinator for the IBCA, is handling the Pacers-Fever project again this year. He needs volunteer spotters/reporters to nominate players in the Ft. Wayne, Evansville, Richmond, and New Albany/Jeffersonville areas. Simply email or call him each Monday by noon with your nomination. Over 90% of nominees make the final list. Coaches of individual schools are also encouraged to contact Pat with deserving candidates, citing key stats or plays that would be considered exceptional and meritorious. Coaches must be a member of the IBCA to nominate players.
After all players are selected during a given week, they will be added to a growing list that will expand each week, called Pacers/Fever High School Player of the Week. The weekly listings will be posted no later than noon Tuesday. Coaches or A.D.s of the weekly winners will be notified by Pat Aikman.
Last year, at the conclusion of the high school season, seven previous winners – some repeaters during a particular week – were invited to Indianapolis with their parents to receive their recogntion certificate from the Pacers and Fever at the Pacers final home game with Toronto before more than 10,000 fans in Conseco Fieldhouse. Quinn Buckner, former IU and Boston Celtic star, coordinates the sponsorship for the Pacers & Fever with the IBCA.
The first deadline for reports for the coming season will be noon on Monday, December 14, and each following Monday until after the IHSAA Boys’ and Girls’ State Finals.
Coaches and Media: If you would like to volunteer to identify Players of the Week nominees in your area, contact Pat Aikman at 317-564-3774.
