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In making the announcement, Cox also indicated that William "Uncle
Bill" Bishop of Springfield will work with Future Stars as southern
Illinois regional director A league for boys grades 3-8 will open
at Gold's Gym in Springfield on Feb. 15 and run through the league
championship tournaments April 3.
Six age divisions -- 9 and under, 10 and under, 11 and under, 12
and under, 13 and under, and 14 and under -- will be offered, with a
limit of eight teams or 80 players to a division.
Teams and individual players are sought for the program. Costs
are $100 per player, which covers gymnasium rental, officials, AAU
membership cards, AAU entry fees and expenses for age group league
champions, coaches' costs, and a program T-shirt for each player.
Springfield area teams and coaches are sought, and individual
players and teams from throughout central and southern Illinois are
encouraged to contact Bishop about registration details. A
particular focus of the program is small school Illinois teams and
players frequently denied the opportunity to compete on this stage.
Future Stars President Mark McLaughlin noted the significance of
the club's development for basketball players in central and
southern Illinois.
"This program is designed to open the doors to any player with a
dream of improving himself for the next level, be that middle
school, varsity basketball or the college level." McLaughlin said.
"We will provide great instruction, opportunities to be seen by
college coaches, a 'home' for spring AAU basketball for downstate
Illinois, and the organization, support and credibility of a
nationwide organization that believes quality basketball is played
south of I-80 in Illinois."
Cox, the Illinois director, is a Springfield High School graduate
and former player and assistant coach at the University of Northern
Iowa. He said the area is ripe for an organized, high-powered
basketball club.
"Travel team and league opportunities for downstate Illinois kids
have, in large part, been limited to the ability of Chicago-area
sponsored teams to pick off players from this area and really not
give much back," Cox said. "This program will build a foundation for
players from age 9 and on that gives them great leadership, an
educational focus off the court and a developmental focus on the
court.
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 "Our affiliation with Bill Bishop represents a relationship with
a very high-integrity individual that is driven to provide
opportunities for kids in Springfield and throughout central and
southern Illinois. Bill is a tremendous organizer who gets things
done for kids and is a high-energy person of real substance."
The affiliation with Gold's Gym, directed by Springfield
Southeast girls basketball coach Michael Collins, is also a
significant achievement for Future Stars.
"Gold's Gym provides athletes throughout downstate Illinois with
a state-of-the art developmental basketball facility from which to
base club operations," Cox said. "It is capable of housing exposure
showcases, leagues, practices and tournaments that we will also be
bringing to central and southern Illinois."
Future Stars and travel team organization Ambassador Sports
International have been directed by Future Stars managing partners
Mark McLaughlin of Harlan, Iowa, and Damon Vogt of Creston, Neb.,
since 2000. More than 1,150 players have come through these travel
teams since 2000, with more than 200 players advancing to some level
of college basketball.
A total 320 players from five states competed on Future Stars-ASI
teams last summer, including 50 from the state of Illinois. Nearly
300 Illinois high school players were evaluated through Illinois
exposure showcases in Bloomington and Deerfield in October.
For more information on the Future Stars Central Illinois
Basketball Club, visit
www.futurestarsonline.com and click on "FSCI Basketball Club"
after Wednesday. Interested parents and coaches can contact Bill
Bishop at (217) 524-0459 or (217) 553-8469 or by e-mail to
billybishop3@msn.com.
[Future Stars Central Illinois
Basketball Club news release provided by Bill Bishop, southern
Illinois regional director]
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