In these unprecedented times, welcome from the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Spring without basketball has been odd, and we look forward to a return to normal as soon as possible.
While our museum remains closed to the public during this public health scare, this past year has been another positive one for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. We have been involved with events that have furthered the knowledge, interest and love of Indiana high school basketball while fulfilling our mission statement: “Honoring, Preserving and Promoting the Heritage of Indiana High School Basketball.”
We are proud of our newest class of inductees, Silver Anniversary Team honorees and Center Circle Officials Award honorees for both men and women. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Awards Banquet ceremonies – originally scheduled for March and April – have been rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15 (men’s) and Saturday, Oct. 17 (women’s). Tickets remain available online at www.hoopshall.com/events, and we encourage you to attend these unique festivities if you have never done so.
Once basketball does return, we look forward to the 2020 Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic. We are excited to continue our partnership with title sponsor Raymond James. We also hope you will mark your calendars for our Girls’ Classic featuring Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Norwell, Fishers and Evansville Memorial on Tuesday, Dec. 29 and our Boys’ Classic featuring Blackford, Shenandoah, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian and Barr-Reeve on Wednesday, Dec. 30.
We are appreciative of the participation of IBCA-member coaches in joining our Hall of Fame membership drive. IBCA-member active coaches and active IHSAA officials 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 hold each year. If you and your staff have not taken advantage, please contact us to help get you on board – our member-engagement manager, Jared Green, can help you get your entire staff a membership at an even greater discount. E-mail him at jared@hoopshall.com for more information.
Upcoming Hall of Fame events include three golf tournaments. Make plans to join us June 9 at Country Oaks in Montgomery for our Southern Indiana Golf Outing presented by German American Bank, June 24 at Chippendale Golf Course near Kokomo for our Coaches Golf Outing or July 20 at Pebble Brook Golf Club in Noblesville 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, 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 2020 inductees exhibit has been installed and will be ready as soon as the museum re-opens to the public (TBD).
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
