Kentucky Basketball Foundation (K.B.F.)
Mission and Goals: The Kentucky Basketball Foundation is committed
to providing student atheletes with professional guidence and the opprotunity to
pursue higher education. We are geared toward assisting student atheletes of all
cultural backgrounds both academically and atheletically.
While we can not guarantee that scholarships will be offered we will use accurate
information to promote and develope life skills, community involevment and academic
achievements for the successful transition from middle school, high school, college,
and beyond.
Founded in November, 1996
Founder: Kris Vance is a 2001 graduate from the University of Louisville . He recieved
his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.
Dave Zuberer is a 1990 graduate from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee with a Bachelors
Degree in Business Administration. He recieved his Masters Degree in Business Education
from the University of Louisville in 1999.
Foundation: In June of 2001 Thad Blackmon Established the Kentucky Basketball Foundation
as a Non Profit Corporation with the State of Kentucky and The Internal Revenue
Service. He has a Bachelors of Arts Degree from the University of Georgia in Risk
Management.
Thad Blackmon -
thabla@safeco.com
Kris Vance -
krisdvance@yahoo.com
Dave Zuberer -
zuberer@alltel.net
The Kentucky Basketball Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, was founded
in memory of and as a tribute to the late Derek E. Smith. Our mission is to provide
avenues for high school athletes to improve their skill levels and gain the necessary
exposure to attract college scholarship offers. We stress to all our athletes the
importance of academic responsibility, leadership on and off the court, and sportsmanship.
It is our belief that academic and athletic success will provide our athletes with
a strong foundation that will enable them to excel and become productive citizens
in our community. Finally, it is the intention of the Kentucky Basketball Foundation
to establish a scholarship fund in memory of Derek Smith that will provide a scholarship
yearly to a student-athlete in Jefferson County Public School System.
In order to accomplish our goals, we offer events throughout the year for regional
high school players. The events offered include:
The Executive Inn All Star Classic
This annual all-star game started in 1998. It features over 100 of the top high
school players in Kentucky. The 2001 game had 108 participants with over 50 college
coaches in attendance. In 2000 we started the first girls game.
The Kentucky All-Stars Vs The Derek Smith All-Stars Scrimmage
This annual scrimmage game matches the Kentucky All-Stars, comprised of top seniors
from Kentucky, against the Derek Smith All-Stars, comprised of the top underclassmen
from Kentucky.
The Derek Smith Shootout
This annual summer tournament is played as a tribute to Derek Smith. The tournament
is in its sixth year of existence and has built a reputation as a top summer tournament
in Kentucky. The tournament provides High School and AAU teams an opportunity to
compete against each other with hundreds of college coaches in attendance.
The Derek Smith All-Stars
This traveling team is made up of the top underclassmen in Kentucky. This team travels
to many of the top AAU tournaments in the country, having participated in Akron,
Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada in the
past several years. Some of our former participants include current University of
Louisville players, Larry O'Bannon, and Coric Riggs and University of Kentucky players,
Josh Carrier and Brandon Stockton. Others include Brian Thornton, Michael Haney,
Anttony Grundy and Brandon Bender.
As you can see, we offer quality events and programs for all of our participants
and patrons. In order for us to be successful and continue in such endeavors, we
need support from individuals and organizations such as yourself. We are in need
of financial sponsorship for the Derek Smith Shootout and the Derek Smith All-Stars.
In return, we are offering advertisement space in the tournament programs and/or
banner space in the gymnasium for companies. See sponsor link for details.
Your tax-deductible donation can be made payable to The Kentucky Basketball Foundation
to the following address:
Kentucky Basketball Foundation
6108 Lynnchester Dr.
Louisville, KY 40219
As always, we wish you continued prosperity this year and thank you in
advance for your support. See you in the gym.
Thank you,
Thad Blackmon
President
thabla@safeco.com
Nolan Smith and Thad Blackmon