It’s that time of year again. The excitement and anticipation of a new basketball season is upon us. As they say,”Times, they are a changing.”
This past spring, the IHSAA passed a new in-school out-of-season participation rule. In August, in an attempt to get high school coaches more involved in the recruiting process, the NCAA identified two weekends in June when the NCAA coaches will be allowed to attend scholastic events only.
The latter change came about because of a men’s basketball recruiting scandal that was exposed about a year ago, recommendations from the Rice Commission to clean up illegal recruiting and because of input from the National High School Basketball Coaches Association.
Every High School coach in the country who is a member of his or her state high school coaches association is concurrently a member of the NHSBCA. The national organization continues to grow, as 35 states now are represented and our voice nationally continues to grow as well.
Every Indiana head coach should have received an e-mail in September with preliminary information about how the IBCA is planning to use those two weekends in June. As plans are finalized, you will be receiving more information.
Another change is that Charlie Hall has decided to step down as Games Director of the Indy Star Indiana All-Stars after 10 years of outstanding service. Because of Charlie’s leadership, the support of the IBCA and others from the basketball community, the All-Star series is in a much better place at the end his tenure than at the beginning. The IBCA thanks Charlie and his wife, Penny, and wish them well as they enter a less stressful time in the lives.
The IBCA is pleased that Mike Broughton has agreed to accept the challenge as the new All-Star Games Director. Mike respects the tradition of the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, and he is committed to working with the IBCA to continue to grow the games. The IBCA looks forward to working with Mike.
As I do each year, I want to encourage each head coach as well as his or her assistant coaches to join the IBCA. An organization is only as strong as the support of its members. Also each January remember to go online and start the process to vote for district representative, Coaches of the Year, and nominate players for special recognition. You must be a current-year member to vote and nominate your players. Don’t hurt a deserving player‘s chances for recognition because you failed to become a member of the IBCA or you missed a deadline.
On behalf of the IBCA, thank you for your support. As I have said on numerous occasions, always maintain high expectations for your players and never sacrifice principles for victories.
Good luck, and may the best teams win.
Steve Witty
