My View/Your View: June will be busy month for basketball

Just when you think basketball is winding down for the season, yet another event pops up, giving us three major outings for June.

But, hey, if you’re as passionate as I am about the game, then you gotta love it!

Of course, first up is the fourth annual Hoosiers’ reunion All-Star Classic in the historic Knightstown gymnasium on June 5. Many former Indiana All-Stars will be in attendance. The girls and boys doubleheader will be played at 6 and 8 p.m.

That’s followed by the first of two Indiana-Kentucky All-Star games – June 13 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Downtown Indianapolis and the next night at Bellarmine College in Louisville.

Then it’s off to New Castle and the nation’s largest high school basketball venue at the New Castle Fieldhouse on June 20 for the inaugural Indiana Class Basketball All-Star Classic.

Former Mr. Basketball and New Castle High School and Indiana University standout Kent Benson will help put his stamp on the showcase event. He’s joined by Steven Stremming of ExcelSports, along with board members John Brush, Curt Benge, Chad Wetz, Tom Beach and Jeff Robison to form the All-Star game.

“The prime reason,’’ said Stremming, “is to give Indiana a more complete view of Indiana’s high school graduated seniors to the general public.’’

It also will serve as a fundraiser. Booth spots sell for $100, and proceeds will go to the New Castle High School athletic department.

The seniors can play in only two games before they graduate. Ironically, they can legally play in as many games as they want after graduation.

Anyone interested in purchasing booth space to sell various products should contact Stremming: chiefs@ori.net.

Several Indianapolis-area boys and girls will join athletes from throughout the state to play in the all-star games at different class levels, with games set for noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m.

Mr. Basketball Jordan Hulls, of Class 4A state champion Bloomington South, will play in the 4A-3A Central-Metro game. He’ll be joined by Indianapolis-area players Greg Rice (Ben Davis), Daniel Froedge (Anderson), Jay Mohr (Anderson Highland), Damon Ellison and Justin Reed (North Central), Aaron Evans (Roncalli), Kelsey Barlow and Jarett Hamilton (Cathedral), Phillip Freeman (Arlington), and Charlie Duffy (Hamilton SE). Center Grove’s Cliff Hawkins is one of the coaches.

Blake Metcalf (Plainfield) will play in the 4A-3A state game.

The 2A-Class A Central-Metro game, coached by Guerin Catholic’s Pete Smith, will feature Ryan Nowicki (Guerin Catholic) and Tommy Eggleston (Heritage Christian).

In the girls 4A-3A Central-Metro game, coached by Plainfield’s Curt Benge, the lineup includes Lauren McRoberts (Carmel), Karli Harris (Fishers), Adrienne Sahm (Cathedral), Katelynn Walker (Perry Meridian), Rachel Turk ( Plainfield), Emily Huber (Ben Davis), Cierra Dotson and Talaya Earls (Indianapolis Northwest), Lauren Meadows (Brebeuf Jesuit), Stephanie Meyer (Brownsburg), Keona Bruen (Warren Central), and Cassie Bills (Mount Vernon).

Area players in the 2A-Class A Central-Metro game include Claire Freeman (Heritage Christian), Mackenzie Pheifer (Covenant Christian), Lauren Miller and Whitley Emerson (Speedway), Kelsey Larkey (Triton Central), Alison Burger (International), Stephanie Graves (Metropolitan), Katie Adlam (University), and Kaela Hunt, Indianapolis Washington. Tri-West’s Brad Acton will coach in that game.

Mark Morrow is an online columnist for VYPE High School Sports Magazine, Central Indiana. He can be reached at mediamarko@sbcglobal.net or by leaving a comment.