The Team Southern Indiana Travel Basketball Club will no longer offer travel teams beginning in 2012.
TSI, which organized its first travel team in 2008, experienced booming interest and rapid growth almost immediately, expanding to seven teams in 2009, 10 in 2010 and 14 in 2011, when the program’s Class of 2012 Red boys’ team captured the 17-and-under Indiana AAU State Championship.
The organization will, however, continue to offer spring, summer and fall basketball leagues on Sundays under the Hoosier Hills Hoops name.
“We had a nice run,” said Matt Denison, the program’s director. “But as the program grew in teams, so did my responsibilities in the oversight and day-to-day operations of TSI. As I prepare to tackle new challenges and opportunities both professionally and personally, I have realized that it will be impossible to continue leading a program of such magnitude.”
Denison cited strict program guidelines, such as not allowing parents to coach their own children at the high school levels, a set hierarchy of “red” invitation-only and “white” tryout-based teams at most grade levels, and the overwhelming support of quality coaches and financial donors, as reasons for the program’s success.
“Scouting players and staying in touch with area coaches, setting tournament schedules and disseminating information, managing finances and soliciting donors, handling issues and complaints from parents and arranging travel plans for coaches, among other duties, dictates a workload similar to an aggressive full-time job,” Denison said.
“I set off at the very beginning with a vision to build a program in a certain fashion,” he continued. “And while I feel confident that mostly we did just that, I am not confident that I could have continued offering a full-fledged program at the level of quality and organization my style demands.”
The program’s success, Denison said, was also contingent on a few key people — namely coaches Martin Luther and Sherron Wilkerson.
“Martin and Sherron from the very get-go were on board and instrumental in helping build the TSI brand,” he said. “They went above and beyond their coaching duties, and were always willing to step in and help with all aspects of the program.”
Besides continuing to operate Hoosier Hills Hoops’ leagues with partner Mitchell Speedy, Denison will remain on the board of directors for several basketball-related entities, including Indiana AAU and United States Sports and Fitness Association.
“As a young person, (TSI) was a tremendous opportunity for me to gain management experience and build relationships that will help me no matter what path life takes me down in the future,” Denison closed. “I look forward to staying active in the Southern Indiana basketball community. But most importantly, I hope that we have set a precedent for future teams and programs, and that we were able to provide a worthwhile experience for many area youth basketball players.”
