About The Basketball Heritage Project

The Basketball Heritage Project, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit Organization.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS BASKETBALL HERITAGE PROJECT, INC.

Carolyn R. Teague - President

Elizabeth Joan (Stout) White - Executive Vice President

Stephen Akers - Executive Vice President

Jared McMurry - Secretary

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In 2009 the Basketball Heritage Project, Inc. (BHP) was founded by a group of Crawfordsville and Montgomery County high school alums.  Our mission statement is, “to preserve and promote the rich basketball heritage of Crawfordsville and Montgomery County, Indiana.”

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In 1892, Nicholas McCay moved from Massachusetts, where he was affiliated with James Naismith, to Crawfordsville to become the General Secretary of the YMCA which was located in the historic Terminal Building in downtown Crawfordsville.  He brought with him the 13 rules of a “new” game developed by Naismith called basketball.  Some of the earliest games between high schools and colleges were played in Crawfordsville and from those early games, the game of basketball eventually became known nationwide as “Hoosier Hysteria!”

In 1911, Crawfordsville High School won the first IHSAA State Tournament and has been State Runner-up twice since then.  Wingate won the state tournament in 1913 and 1914 and the first 8 state tournaments were won by teams within a 30 mile radius of Crawfordsville.  Because of this propitious record, Crawfordsville and Montgomery County became known as the “cradle of basketball”.

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In April 2011, coinciding with the 100th Anniversary of the victory at the first IHSAA State Tournament, BHP joined forces with the Montgomery County Basketball Hall of Fame, Inc. to dedicate a Historic Marker.  This marker commemorates the heritage and significant contributions Crawfordsville and Montgomery County high schools and Wabash College have made to the growth of the game of basketball nationwide.  The Marker stands at the site of the original YMCA gymnasium at 103 W. Main Street in downtown Crawfordsville.  The dedication was followed by a reception in the old Crawfordsville High School gymnasium where all former and current Montgomery County high schools and Wabash College were honored.  We hope you will have an opportunity to visit the Marker and exhibits of basketball memorabilia from all the schools that are displayed at the PRKD Building at 103 E. Main Street in Crawfordsville.

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Currently BHP is developing a web site to provide a virtual basketball museum.  We also plan to provide an outreach program to high school scholar-athletes in Montgomery County by providing scholarships to basketball clinics and camps.  Basketball has been and continues to be an important part of our collective culture.  We hope to nurture that culture and, at the same time, bring visitors to Crawfordsville and the other towns of Montgomery County to help revitalize their respective downtown areas.

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It was through donations from many people like you that we were able to finance the Historic Marker and Reception for Celebration 2011.  The then mayor of Crawfordsville, the recently retired 35-year coach of Wabash College,  former coaches and basketball stars from around the county, and other celebrities and dignitaries all spoke during Celebration 2011 about the good things that are happening as a result of our drawing attention to the rich basketball heritage of our area.

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We will have to depend on continued donations to fund future projects like the completion and continual maintenance of the web site and basketball camp scholarships.  In other words, we need your help! If you have contributed to Montgomery County’s basketball heritage as a high school player, coach, cheerleader, or as a player at Wabash, or are just a fan of the game of basketball, we invite you to make a donation to help fund these future projects of BHP.  Any size donation will help!  Please make checks payable to:  BHP, Inc. and mail to BHP, Inc., P. O. Box 349, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.  BHP is a 501-c 3 corporation, thus your donation may be tax deductible.  Check with your accountant.

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BHP would also welcome any donations of memorabilia you may have and would like to contribute.  You are invited to send memorabilia to the same post office box address listed above.

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Please visit our web site at: bhpinc.org for more information about the Basketball Heritage Project, Inc. (Please note that this website is still under construction and more information will be added soon.) If you have further questions regarding BHP, please contact us via email at bhp58@yahoo.com  or by phone at: 765-225-1574.

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Executive Committee of the Board of Directors
Basketball Heritage Project, Inc.
Carolyn R. Teague, President
Stephen Akers, Executive Vice President
Joan (Stout) White, Executive Vice President