IBCA E-Newsletter

Indiana All-Stars

It’s that time of year again. We are working on putting together the 2014 edition of the All-Star series with Kentucky. We are coming off our best crowd in the past six years.

I have been asked many times how the Indiana All-Star team is selected, and I would like to share with you some of the selection process.

In one respect, this is the easiest job in the state. At the same time, it may be the most difficult. Year in and year out, there is a seemingly endless supply of All-Star-caliber talent, but the challenging part is that we only have 13 uniforms.

Three things we try to keep in mind in the process – we try to be informed, we try to be fair and we try to be qualified. There is no perfect process, and some subjectivity always is an unavoidable aspect of the selection process.

We try to see as many potential All-Stars as possible in person. Knowing that we cannot see all of them, we have a group of current and retired coaches from around Indiana who “scout” games throughout the state and provide input to us.

Another useful tool in the evaluation process is video. With the advent of firms such as Krossover and HUDL, we get to see several videos of potential All-Stars.

We also attend the IBCA’s Top 100 Showcase each July and the Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 60 Senior Workouts each March and April to see how the players perform and to see how they work together with their teammates.

Each year, the IBCA has two groups of 22 coaches from around the state (one group for boys, another group for girls) that select the All-State team. We attend their meetings and listen to what they have to say about the candidates.

We seek the input of our Junior All-Star Coaches. They had the opportunity to work with several potential All-Stars, and they fill out an extensive evaluation form on each player. However, this does not mean that Junior All-Stars from one year are the only candidates considered for the next year’s (senior) All-Star team. In fact, of the last 10 (senior) All-Star teams selected, the All-Stars have had at least one player on each team who had not been chosen a Junior All-Star the previous year.

We must also look at the positions played by the candidates. It is pretty obvious that we cannot field a team of 12 point guards when we face the Kentucky All-Stars. We need guards, forwards and centers.

Finally, we sit down with the All-Star coaching staffs for that specific year to discuss personnel with them as we try to fill out a roster that will be competitive and represent Indiana well.

One other question that arises in some years is the use of a 14th uniform. That is for a player who clearly would have been an All-Star, but because of a severe injury, he or she cannot finish his or her careers. They DO NOT take anyone's uniform from the top 13 chosen, but they deservedly receive the lifetime honor of being selected an All-Star.

Perhaps Steve Witty describes the entire process best. The veteran coach calls this is a selection process, not a rejection one. We try to reward those players who have had outstanding careers and at the same time select a team that can beat Kentucky.

Thank you for all you do for our players throughout the state!

--Charlie Hall

2014 IndyStar.com Indiana All-Star key dates

2014 IndyStar.com Indiana Boys All-Stars

Roster to be announced in mid- to late April.

Head coach: David Benter, Brownstown Central
Assistant coaches: James Blackmon, Marion; Clint Swan, Crown Point

2014 IndyStar.com Indiana Girls All-Stars

Head coach: Eric Thornton, Norwell
Assistant coaches: Amy Brauman, Brownsburg; Gretchen Miles, Washington

2014 IndyStar.com Boys Junior All-Stars

Head coach: Jamie Kolkmeier, Corydon Central
Assistant coaches: Chad Ballenger, Hamilton Heights, and Brent Keck, Perry Meridian

2014 IndyStar.com Girls Junior All-Stars

Head coach: Kristi Kaniewski Ulrich, Penn
Assistant coaches: Donna Keck, Noblesville; Terry Rademacher, Borden