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With a vote, Martinsville could be featured at 2024 NBA All-Star weekend. Here's how.

devin voss, the reporter times
·2 min read
Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies fans stand for the National Anthem before the start of the game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies fans stand for the National Anthem before the start of the game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

After a pandemic-driven delay in 2021, the NBA All-Star game is finally coming to Indianapolis in 2024. With it, the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee is launching various statewide initiatives.

One such initiative, the Hoosier Historia Arts Project, could feature Martinsville. All that's required is a vote.

Started in October, Hoosier Historia aims to give "Hoosiers and visitors alike a nostalgic look back at Indiana’s unmatched high school basketball tradition." Pairing with the Indy Arts Council and the Capital Improvement Board, the program is giving "Hoosiers a say in determining the 24 players, places, and moments in Indiana basketball that will be celebrated through art at NBA All-Star 2024."

Said art will be designed by artists from Indiana, who will paint their interpretations of the players, places or moments on 6-foot tall "basketball sculptures," which will be on display in downtown Indianapolis during All-Star weekend. The sculptures will include background information and stories to enhance the historical aspect of the work.

Currently, there are 50 selections to choose from, which will be narrowed to 24 and finalized on March 23, the final day of voting. Voters have the option to choose from 10 of the stories and may vote as many times as they want. The final selections will be announced at the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, March 24.

As it relates to Martinsville, it is rather unsurprising that the committee has nominated none other than the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden, highlighting the three state title games the Artesians visited during his time as a player, winning one in 1927.

John Wooden, guard for Purdue University, poses in action in West Lafayette, Ind., in this undated photo. As a student at Purdue, Wooden was the All-American basketball player for three years, 1930-1932, and Player of the Year in 1932.
John Wooden, guard for Purdue University, poses in action in West Lafayette, Ind., in this undated photo. As a student at Purdue, Wooden was the All-American basketball player for three years, 1930-1932, and Player of the Year in 1932.

More:Build-A-Team: Putting together the best Martinsville basketball team

Wooden went on to be a three-time All-American and 1932 player of the year at Purdue, who was retroactively named national champions by the Helms Athletic Foundation and Premo-Porretta Power Poll, before winning 10 national championships as head coach of UCLA.

In addition to the Hoosier Historia project, the committee announced three legacy grants, providing $50,000 to the nonprofit organizations Aspire Higher Foundation Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County and Phalen Leadership Academies.

To vote, visit this link, or pacers.com/HoosierHistoria. The page will display all 50 stories to choose from. A floating vote bar will be on the right side of the page. Clicking the vote button will direct users to the ballot, where they can select as many as 10 stories, or just the Martinsville related titled "The Wizard of Westwood Was First the Magician of Martinsville."

Contact reporter Devin Voss at dvoss@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @DevinVoss23.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: With a vote, Martinsville could be featured at NBA All-Star 2024