It might be the high school off-season, but the area hoops scene is moving forward at a fast pace.

Today marks the end of the spring AAU circuit for most area players, with high school teams gearing up for a month-long schedule of practices, team camps and weekend tournaments.

High school teams, per IHSAA regulations, are allowed to practice and play as a team during two separate period during the summer months.



CAI’s Taylor chooses IU Southeast

Christian Academy senior J.T. Taylor announced last week he will continue his basketball career in college at IU Southeast.

“(IUS) is in the middle of building a solid program,” Taylor said. “It helps that they’re located in my backyard. They’ve got everybody back and I want to be a part of that, definitely.”

The Grenadiers advanced last season to the NAIA Division II National Tournament, and return nearly their entire roster.



New Albany announces schedule shakeup

New Albany has added a pair of high-profile games to their 2009-10 schedule, athletic director Don Unruh confirmed.

The Bulldogs will open the season Nov. 28 at Bloomington South, the defending Class 4A state champion and school that eliminated the Dogs last season from tournament play at the Seymour Regional.

New Albany will also face Zionsville at Purdue’s Mackey Arena in the Super Hoops New Year Classic, a one-day shootout slated for Jan. 2, 2010.

“We have wanted to add a couple teams to our schedule,” Bulldog coach Jim Shannon said. “Zionsville will definitely be really, really good next year, and Bloomington South is one of the state’s top programs year-in and year-out. It will be really good for all of our kids.”

Anderson and Clarksville are no longer on New Albany’s schedule.



Hale planning visit to Oklahoma State

Travis Ford’s Oklahoma State program entered the picture this week for New Albany junior Donnie Hale.

The Hale family is currently planning a visit to the Stillwater, Okla., campus in mid-June.

Hale will also make a visit in June to Xavier, where he’s scheduled to participate in the school’s elite camp with other potential recruits.



Maschmeyer having plenty of spring success

Jeffersonville’s Evan Maschmeyer is traveling with the Derek Smith All-Stars’ 16 and under team.

The Louisville-based group has captured three spring tournament titles, including the String Music Classic in Nashville, Tenn., the Queen City Classic in Cincinnati, Oh., and the Kentucky AAU State Tournament.

The AAU experience has been “fast-paced and a good challenge so far,” Maschmeyer said.

“When you’re driving the lane and you run into 6-foot-7 guys as opposed to guys we face (at Jeff), it’s a different look,” he added. “I’d like to get more colleges to notice me and really just get better (this summer). I think (Jeff) has a shot at being a really good team (next season).”

Providence trio, TSI 2012 reaches Chicago Shootout semis

Three Providence sophomores – A.J. and Blake Schmidt and Jacob Wethington – played integral roles in the success of Team Southern Indiana’s 2012 group last weekend at the Chicago Shootout.

TSI 2012 cruised through pool play undefeated, advancing to the gold-bracket semifinals before falling 43-49 to the Eric Gordon All-Stars. A.J. Schmidt led the team with 17 points in the loss.

Other team members include: Max Clemons (Scottsburg), Logan Hamilton (Southwestern), Sean Hoevener (Madison), Markus Jenkins (Southwestern), Keegan Kincaid (Switzerland County), Seth Pennington (Madison) and Clayton Sullivan (West Washington).



Bloomington South adds Arizona transfer, IU recruit

The rich get richer. At least that seems to be the case for Bloomington South.

The Panthers lost point guard Jordan Hulls, Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and an Indiana University recruit, to graduation. But word broke earlier this week that Matt Carlino, also an future Hoosier and a noted Class of 2011 point guard from Arizona, will transfer to South.



Quick hitters

• Erik Fromm, a 6-foot-9 post player from Bloomington South, last week gave a verbal commitment to Butler.

• New Albany junior Dylan McDaniel is playing with a northern Kentucky-based Shining Star Sports team, which captured the 17 and under Kentucky AAU state title earlier this month in Lexington.

• Two coaching positions in the Hoosier Hills Conference are currently vacant. After just one season, Scott Holdsworth is out at Jennings County, and former New Washington coach Jim Matthews will no longer be at Madison.

• Many local teams were in action this weekend in Louisville at the Stimulus Tournament. The championship games are slated for this afternoon, and results will be available at www.hoosierhillshoops.com.



Contact Matt Denison at mattdenison@gmail.com.