Looking down on the court from the 3rd floor you can watch guys playing pick up and shooting. the HOF is very NBA centric. Indiana is well represented in the small parts of the Hall that are college or HS. The pic of Indiana basketball has jumpin johnny wilsons ANderson Indian State Champs and the ball signed by the team. Jackie Moore's jersey, Kyle Macy's shoes and jersey. Well done.
I was fascinated watching the UK video of the 48 NCAA win. I asked my friend Cliff Barker what his number was and he would always wink and say "it doesn't matter'. I stood and watched the film and felt very grateful that this game has afforded me the opportunity to cross paths with so many guys who are really deeply ingrained in the history of the game....to hear their stories about winnng a gold medal, the Pro team the Olympians playing out of Hinkle, Meeting Arad McCutcheon in passing between games one day, Listening to stories from my gramps talking about being a season ticket holder to the Pistons games and listening to Hilliard Gates on the radio
I stood in the room where all the HOF guys are etched in glass and thought how cool my life has been around this game and how those legends that have been inducted guided and affected this game. i was not really impressed by the NBA stuff but i was impressed by the tribute to the game.
One of the things i really came to understand was how Indiana affected the game. The docent in the room was really working at imparting knowledge. Most of us guys growing up in this state know almost everything he was telling us and if we don't we are sure to come across it on boards like these. He was telling me about Mr Naismith and the family keeping the rules of the game in Kansas. I recalled the story about Naismith attending the HS finals and his famous quote about hoops 'being born in Springfield but it grew up in Indiana" and tried to tie it all together.
The tourney was entertaining. HS and prep schools in seprate divisions. Let me say...."I Love Indiana Refs" They know the game and take it seriously. They know the rules. Our worst refs are better than most of the best in other states. They grew up in the game and do well with it. I watched refs let guys hang on and do chin ups on the rim through 3 games. Coaches who said something were admonished. Halfway through the 4 th game they had a delay as the rim was in dire need of repair. RIDICULOUS.
that said. There was some pretty spectacular talent there. A hoops fest that I found immensely entertaining. Tommy's Hargrave team came in undefeated and ranked first in the Prep polls and dropped one 100 95 to IMG, coached by the coach who recruited him to college.
Not sure if they will drop but both are top 5 teams this year having beat Huntington Prep, Mt Zion, Oak Hill and others between the 2 of them.
