As we reach the conclusion of the 2017-18 basketball season, we hope that everyone has had another fantastic season.
This past year has been an outstanding one for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as we have been involved with events that have furthered the knowledge, interest and love of Indiana high school basketball. The hall also has adopted the following as our mission statement: “Honoring, Preserving and Promoting the Heritage of Indiana High School Basketball.”
Our 2017 Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic was a terrific event, drawing some of the best teams, players and coaches of Indiana high school basketball. Congratulations are in order for our girls’ tournament champion, Carmel, and the boys’ champions from New Castle. Further, the Hall congratulates each of our eight participants on outstanding seasons.
We look forward to the 2018 Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic. We are excited to continue our partnership with title sponsor Raymond James and hope you will mark your calendars for our Girls’ Classic featuring Bedford North Lawrence, Homestead, Jeffersonville and Northwestern on Friday, Dec. 28 and our Boys’ Classic featuring Center Grove, Valparaiso, Warren Central and Westview on Saturday, Dec. 29.
We are proud of our newest class of inductees, Silver Anniversary Team honorees and Center Circle Officials Award honorees for both men and women. Ceremonies for the men took place Wednesday, March 21. The women’s annual banquet will be Saturday, April 28.
We are appreciative of the participation of IBCA-member coaches joining our Hall of Fame membership drive. IBCA-member active coaches are offered a membership for $25 per year, a 75 percent discount off the normal cost. Your support helps us run our operations and share the history and memories of Indiana high school basketball. Your Hall of Fame membership also gives you information and access to the many events that we put on each year. If you and your staff have not taken advantage, please contact us to help get you on board.
Upcoming Hall of Fame events include three golf tournaments this summer. Make plans to join us June 12 at Country Oaks in Montgomery for our Southern Indiana Golf Outing presented by German American Bank, June 27 at Chippendale Golf Course near Kokomo for our Coaches Golf Outing presented by Sharon Versyp or July 23 in Noblesville at Pebble Brook Golf Club for the Citizens State Bank Hall of Fame Golf Classic. Call our office at (765) 529-1891 for more information or to register.
If you have not yet visited our website, please head to www.hoopshall.com. The site has information on all Hall of Fame inductees as well as information about upcoming events and the ability to register for the golf events online. The website also features our online gift shop, including our line of Adidas apparel, books and more.
In addition, we can be followed on Facebook (@INHoopsHall) and Twitter (@HoopsHall) for news about the Hall of Fame and for a touch of Indiana basketball history.
We always encourage visitors to our New Castle museum. No matter the season, there is always something new to see at the Hall of Fame. Our 2018 inductees exhibit has opened, and the colorful Hoosier Hardwood Photo Project photo display has been well received. Also, we revamped many of our main exhibit cases in 2016, freshening them with new items never before displayed in our museum.
We offer extremely low rates for team tours, and a trip to the Hall makes for a great team-building activity. We are open seven days a week, and we are an extremely affordable destination, whether for a group or individuals. If you are planning your summer basketball schedule, what better way for team-bonding than a visit to the HOF – with a stop at the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown less than 20 minutes away?
We appreciate the support from the IBCA and the relationship between our organizations. Contact our offices at (765) 529-1891, e-mail me at chris@hoopshall.com or, better yet, visit our 14,000-square-foot facility in New Castle with any ideas or questions or to simply enjoy some time at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
– Chris May
