IBCA E-Newsletter

Indiana All-Stars

The 72nd renewal of the border war between Indiana and Kentucky is under new management. The IBCA, your coaches association, now is the primary administrator of the All-Star series.

The Indianapolis Star still will be on board as a promotional partner. The IBCA has been an active partner the past few years, and we are looking forward to the increased involvement and strong support of the association. The games are in good hands and should have a bright future with the IBCA.

Steve Witty has taken on a lot of new responsibilities and to my knowledge still has all of his hair (wish I could say the same, ha). Pat McKee, in his role as IBCA Director of Special Projects, will be on board to assist with the production of the games.

The Pacers have continued to be a great supporter of the games. They have agreed to help sponsor the event and allow us to play in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. All of our meal sponsors and cash donors are going to continue to improve the experiences for our All-Stars. We also are in negotiations with a prospective title sponsor that should ensure the charity’s solvency for years to come.

Kentucky is moving its games to Freedom Hall from Bellarmine University. The Kentucky coaches association also is getting more involved. Dave Satterly, the Kentucky Director, is as positive as he has been in years about the future of the games.

Most importantly, you and your communities continue to produce great kids (and players) in large numbers. I am really excited and looking forward to this summer’s games and beyond.

See you at the games!

2012 Indiana All-Star key dates:

BOYS 2012 INDIANA ALL-STARS

BOYS 2012 JUNIOR ALL-STARS

GIRLS 2012 INDIANA ALL-STARS

GIRLS 2012 JUNIOR ALL-STARS

In case anyone missed it, here is the news release that was issued on Nov. 21, 2011, about the IBCA taking over the operational control of the Indiana All-Star program, although The Indianapolis Star will remain involved as a primary sponsor.

The Indianapolis Star, IBCA to jointly stage 2012 Indiana All-Star games

Longtime sponsor turning over game production duties to coaches' association

The Indianapolis Star and the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association will work together to stage the 2012 Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Star Games, leaders of both organizations announced Thursday (Nov. 17).

Myrta Pulliam, director of special projects for The Star, and Steve Witty, executive director of the IBCA have agreed that the IBCA will take over the production of the games – which include the annual boys and girls home-and-home series with Kentucky as well as boys-and-girls doubleheaders with the Junior All-Stars – beginning in 2012.

The Star, sponsor of the Indiana All-Stars since its founding, will continue as the title sponsor of the games by providing promotional ad space in the newspaper and on the newspaper's Web site. The newspaper also will provide the IBCA historical information from the games as well as past information used in producing the games to assist with the transition.

The IBCA officially will take over the production of all aspects of the games, including the selection of coaches, players, exhibition sites, support staff, coordination with Conseco Fieldhouse, securing sponsors, interaction with players and families, etc. Charlie Hall, the All-Star Games Director the past three years, will continue in that role and oversee all items listed above for the IBCA.

Net profits from staging the games will continue to be donated to various charities that the IBCA will announced at a later date.

The Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Star basketball program dates to 1939 and has included standouts such as Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Damon Bailey, George McGinnis, Jumpin' Johnny Wilson and Eric Gordon as well as Stephanie White, Shanna Zolman, LaTaunya Pollard, Katie Gearlds and Katie Douglas.

In annual games against Kentucky since 1940 and, more recently, exhibitions against top Indiana juniors, the All-Stars have filled stands and highlight reels, and stoked the dreams of the next generation. Many players have gone on to greater glory, some even Hall of Fame pro careers. Indiana leads the boys' series with Kentucky 83-42. Indiana also leads the girls' series, added in 1976, 39-31.

The 2012 games are tentatively planned for June 8 in Louisville and June 9 in Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse. The Indianapolis games will begin at 5 p.m. for girls and the boys game will follow.