HPER holds national youth hoops tourney

Elementary, junior high and high school basketball players from around the country and Canada have descended on campus this week to participate in the American Youth Basketball Tour.\n"It's a great opportunity for young teams to improve their game, and it gives the individual players an incredible chance to get the playing time necessary for their own development," said Dave Kreps, one of the founders of the 10-year-old AYBT.\nKreps oversees the games being played at the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the entire week the tour is at IU. \nWith a maximum availability of 120 teams for the first four-day session and 180 teams for the second four-day session, the AYBT is able to give teams from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, New York, and Michigan the chance to play competitive basketball on the courts of IU's facilities. The masses of proud parents and players are enjoying themselves on campus, as well as on the tour.\nCash Wingert, a 13-year-old participant from Springfield, Ill., said he has played nine AYBT games so far. \n"My favorite part is definitely the competition and the excitement that comes with that," Wingert said. "I like the IU campus too. It's a nice place to play basketball."\nOther participants said they enjoyed being on campus as well. \n"I thought the campus was awesome," said Kristen Tiedman, a first-year AYBT player from Kokomo. "Assembly Hall was really cool."\nThe Tiedmans are in Bloomington with the Taylor team, which comprises seventh and eighth graders from both Taylor and Western Middle School.\nCrystal January-Craft, mother of participating AYBT player Christian Craft, said the camp is keeping her son busy.\n"He's learning how to play with a team and gaining the social skills that come along with that, and of course all those good memories that he otherwise might not have the chance of gaining," she said. \nThe Crafts said they traveled from Grand Rapids, Mich., to participate with their United Methodist Community House team, the Spirits. The Spirits have played the guaranteed seven games of the first District Event and are currently playing in the second part of the tour, the single-elimination tournament. The Crafts are staying at the United Methodist Church in town along with the rest of the Spirit team. \nThe AYBT has been using the HPER facilities for tournament games and Assembly Hall for three-point contests since Saturday and will continue until this Sunday. \n-- Contact staff writer Justin Lev at