Now that the Indiana Fever and the Indiana Pacers have renewed their primary sponsorship with the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, about 100 high school boys and girls will have the opportunity to win Pacers and Fever Player of the Week recognition in 2010-11.
Launched in 2008-09 when the Pacers and Fever came on board as sponsors of the IBCA, these awards were given to deserving boys and girls who had outstanding weeks during the last two seasons.
Winners recognized by Indiana’s two professional basketball franchises have included players from schools such as: Boone Grove, Borden, Brownstown Central, Calumet, Carmel, Center Grove, Charlestown, Columbus East, Covenant Christian, Crothersville, Crown Point, East Chicago Central, Fort Wayne Canterbury, Gary Wallace, Gary West, Griffith, Hamilton Southeastern, Hanover Central, Hauser, Heritage Christian, Hobart, Indian Creek, Lake Central, Merrillville, Mooresville, Munster, Northview, Oregon-Davis, Pendleton Heights, Plainfield, Plymouth, Rockville, Rushville, South Bend Washington, Tell City, Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South, Valparaiso, Washington Township, Wheeler, White River Valley, Whiteland, Winchester, Zionsville and others.
At least one boy and one girl from each of the three IBCA Districts is honored each week as long as there are nominees for the awards. The IBCA would prefer that nominations come from coaches of potential winners or from media in those areas. Coaches must be IBCA members to nominate players.
To submit a nominee, please e-mail info to IBCA Director of Special Projects Pat McKee (patmckee77@aol.com) by noon Monday each week of the playing season (girls from Nov. 15 through March 7; boys from Nov. 29 through March 28).
If you nominate someone, please include the player's name, school, grade, height, position, year in school and a recap of the player's performance in his/her game or games of the preceding week, Monday through Saturday. Please also include the coach's name, e-mail address and best phone number to reach the coach.
After all players are selected during a given week, they will be added to a growing list of Pacers/Fever High School Players of the Week. The weekly listings will be posted no later than noon Tuesday. Coaches and/or Athletic Directors of the weekly winners will be notified by Pat McKee.
Last year, at the conclusion of the high school season, several weekly winners were invited to Indianapolis with their parents to receive a recognition certificate from the Pacers and Fever at a Pacers' home game in Conseco Fieldhouse. Quinn Buckner, former Indiana University and Boston Celtics player, coordinates the sponsorship for the Pacers & Fever with the IBCA.
The first deadline for reports for the coming season will be noon on Monday, Nov. 15 for girls and Monday, Nov. 29 for boys. These will continue each week through the Monday following the IHSAA Boys and Girls State Finals.
