iHoops To Integrate Within USA Basketball

- USA Basketball Will Broaden Its Focus To Include Entire Youth Basketball Community -

Dec. 7, 2012

iHoops is partnering with USA Basketball and will integrate its programming and operations with USA Basketball in Colorado Springs effective mid-January 2013, it was announced today by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

This move will allow USA Basketball to reach even more young people, along with parents and coaches, with the important and positive values that can be taught through the sport of basketball.

“This is an exciting opportunity for USA Basketball, iHoops, and the entire basketball community,” said Colangelo. “iHoops is coming under the umbrella of USA Basketball because of USA Basketball's broad brand identification; its partnerships; its infrastructure and leadership; and then this whole area of basketball youth development. So it makes all the sense in the world for it to happen this way.”

Consistent with the mission of USA Basketball, the partnership will expand USA Basketball’s focus on elite players and the fielding of national teams for international competitions to a broader group that encompasses the entire youth basketball community, including boys and girls, providing tools for players, coaches, and parents.

“iHoops connected a terrific network of youth players, coaches and parents through our online community and grassroots outreach,” said Kathy Behrens, NBA Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility and Player Programs. “Now USA Basketball will be able to build on that success to further develop the game of basketball at the youth level and beyond.”

“iHoops is reaching hundreds of thousands in the youth basketball community, and has become an essential resource for all who play or coach the game,” said Mark Lewis, NCAA Executive Vice President for Championships and Alliances. “By integrating with USA Basketball, iHoops will be able to expand and strengthen its grassroots programs, life skills training and support for both elite boys and girls.”

The NBA and NCAA will continue to provide promotional inventory within events like the NBA Finals and the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours, as well as provide financial support for USA Basketball's new youth division. The NBA and NCAA established iHoops in 2009 to provide a structure and create programs to improve the quality of youth basketball in the United States. iHoops.com became the most popular online destination among youth sports organizations with more than 500,000 unique visitors each month.

USA BASKETBALL

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection; training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

During the 2009-12 quadrennium, 1273 men and women players and 235 coaches participated in USA Basketball, including the USA Basketball 3x3 FIBA championships, USA Basketball trials and USA teams.

Between 2009-12, USA Basketball men's and women's teams compiled an impressive 264-35 win-loss record in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, the Pan American Games, the World University Games, the Nike Hoop Summit and in exhibition games. USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics, men's and women's FIBA World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships.

USA Basketball also currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.