New NCAA rule kills high school hoops games at Hinkle

Compton Strategies recently announced that a six-game high school basketball event scheduled for Jan. 21 at Hinkle Fieldhouse has been cancelled due to a new NCAA rule.

A deal to hold the one-day event—the Hinkle Classic—was crafted by Indianapolis-based Compton Strategies and Butler University officials earlier this year.

A new NCAA policy bans non-scholastic participants such as Compton Strategies from hosting boys high school basketball events at NCAA facilities. A night doubleheader between Avon and Mooresville and rivals Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern headlined the event.

"The rule is designed to prevent institutions from hosting these events to bring elite prospects to campus or to facilities regularly used by institutions in order to circumvent recruiting rules," said NCAA spokesman Cameron Schuh.

Meanwhile, NCAA officials said they will consider a rule involving similar girls high school basketball events at NCAA facilities during an upcoming January session.

Eight girls teams—Mt. Vernon, Pendleton Heights, Rushville, New Palestine, Greenfield-Central, Delta, Yorktown and Shelbyville—from the Hoosier Heritage Conference were to play four games at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Jan 21.

The Hoosier Heritage Conference contacted Compton and the two parties agreed to a marketing and promotional concept that would protect the conference schools from financial losses. Officials project at attendance in excess of 6,000.

Due to the new NCAA rule, Compton Strategies, which has done over 25 high school football and basketball events at Indiana facilities since 2006, has been forced to cancel three high basketball events (two at Hinkle Fieldhouse and one at Assembly Hall in Bloomington) that have impacted 36 Indiana high school basketball teams.

Six girls games and 12 boys games have been cancelled as a result of the new NCAA rule, said Ray Compton, the company’s president. Compton said his company provides the schools an opportunity to raise funds through advance ticket sales for the events while taking no financial risks.