As we reach the conclusion of the 2021-22 basketball season, we hope that everyone has had an excellent year.
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 continues to remain focused on our mission statement: “Honoring, Preserving and Promoting the Heritage of Indiana High School Basketball.”
Our 2021 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, South Bend Washington, and the boys’ champions from Westfield. Further, the Hall congratulates each of our eight participants on outstanding seasons.
We look forward to the 2022 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, Mishawaka Marian, Noblesville and East Central on Thursday, Dec. 29 and our Boys’ Classic featuring North Daviess, NorthWood, Ben Davis and Penn on Friday, Dec. 30.
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 22. The women’s annual banquet will be Saturday, April 30.
We are appreciative of the participation of IBCA-member coaches 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 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. Please make plans to join us June 7 at Country Oaks in Montgomery for our Southern Indiana Golf Outing presented by Shepherd Insurance Group, June 29 at Chippendale Golf Course near Kokomo for our Coaches Golf Outing presented by Sharon Versyp or July 25 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 visited our website recently, 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, a variety of books and more.
In addition, we can be followed on Facebook (@INHoopsHall), Twitter (@HoopsHall) and Instagram (@INHoopsHall) for news about the Hall of Fame and for a touch of Indiana basketball history. We also have added a Hall of Fame YouTube channel, which includes videos from recent banquets as well as episodes of our Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Podcast with notable basketball personalities telling their stories.
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 2022 inductees exhibit has opened, and several parts of the museum were updated during a facility renovation in 2020 and 2021 with never-before-displayed items.
We offer 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 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. Please share any ideas or questions with me, or just enjoy some time at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Chris May
