New Palestine (3,000) Built 1967
June 1, 2026: Indiana Futures All-Star Game North vs. South (Boys)
June 1, 2026: Indiana Futures All-Star Game North vs. South (Boys)
Summer basketball is both a blessing and a curse. June rolls around, it's been two long months since the state tournament ended, the weather turns to a blistering heat, and I'll take anything to fill the basketball-sized void in my schedule and heart. I refuse to partake in the AAU scene. It has its place for some players and I'm not knocking anyone who's involved in it, it's just not for me. June brings a lot of school team tournaments which can at least whet the appetite and give you an idea of what to expect in the upcoming season. June also brings All-Star games, which at least feature Indiana kids playing together, but I wouldn't exactly give the basketball being played an exemplary grade. Let's just say if you love the modern day NBA, you will LOVE the All-Star games that get played in early June. At the end of the day though, it's at least a vestige of Indiana high school basketball, which is better than nothing (I'm writing this at the end of July where there is actually nothing, and I miss June quite a bit in comparison). So on the night after my last day of school, I packed up the boys and headed out to New Palestine, not to watch the Dragons, but the Indiana Future All-Stars.
To get to New Palestine High School, I drove through the main stretch of downtown, and was taken aback by how quaint and unique it is. New Palestine is starting to get lumped in with Greenfield Central and Mount Vernon as "Hamilton County East" as the Indy suburbs are slowly starting to reach it and a lot of money is pouring into the area. From an outsider's point of view, it seems to have maintained much of its small town charm and character to this point. It certainly didn't hurt that when I pulled into the school parking lot, the first things I saw were the bus from the movie Hoosiers and Coach Norman Dale's car. I'm not sure who owns them, but I know they do make appearances from time to time, and this was my first time seeing them. My kids have watched the movie enough that they even they recognized them and loved going inside them and taking pictures. That definitely took us back in time a little bit! New Palestine has actually been playing basketball right on this very spot long before the time that Hoosiers even took place in. The current gym was built in 1967. That places it right in the center of the consolidation era, even though New Palestine isn't a product of consolidation. They've been a continuously independent school dating all the way back to 1917 according to Mr. Andrew Smith who is both a teacher and broadcaster at the school. I could be wrong, but after looking at the history of Hancock County school consolidations, I don't think New Palestine ever directly absorbed another county school at any point. Since 1917, portions of the original building were added onto and torn down until the current configuration was reached that stands today. Mr. Smith also told me that prior to this gym, one built in 1929 used to stand where the current auditorium is. It's pretty neat that so much history stands on one single plot of land. New Palestine found marginal success over the course of the single class era, winning five sectionals during that time. The class basketball era has been much more friendly to them though, especially in the last 15 years. They've bounced back and forth between 3A and 4A and it hasn't mattered. It feels like every other year they bring home a trophy.
The Dragons (one of the best active mascot names we have) play in a gym that hits every single note you would expect from a modern looking 60s-era gym. There's nothing that really stands out, but they have everything you would hope to see and they do it in a neat and orderly fashion. Along one sideline there is a big single section of red plastic bleachers that go up 16 rows. The opposite side has 14 rows on the lower end and 8 in the upper level. I'm not sure how old the bleachers are but they're in pretty good shape. On the upper sideline wall above the single section of bleachers is a long single row of red athletic accomplishment banners. They're the modern plastic kind, and there are so many of them that the row actually wraps around on both sides onto the baseline walls which is a little uncommon. There is no baseline seating, but the walls behind them have a lot going on. Above the main entrance into the gym are some red Indiana-shaped plaques for different state championship and runner-up teams (New Pal has arguably had the best football program in the state in recent years). To the right of this is a tidy Hoosier Heritage Conference team display. Below are a few Indiana All-Star jersey plaques, with the recent addition of Julius Gizzi. The opposite baseline wall has more state championship and runner-up plaques sandwiched inbetween some big HVAC vents that are much more decorative than what you'll find in most gyms. Above those vents are some red New Palestine signage. The playing floor is as classy as they come. Most of the hardwood is a lightly heathered light-gold color, while inside the three-point lines you'll find a much darker, almost brown color. "HHC" is inscribed right inside the free throw lines in red. The angry Dragon logo sits at center court. "New Palestine" is written across one baseline in a brownish font and "Dragons" across the other. A red interlocking "NP" is written inside each sideline.
When I went and watched this same All-Star game two years ago at Hamilton Southeastern, I was very thankful I could check that gym off my list because I had no desire to ever go back. While I'm glad I can check this one off as well, I'm actually eager to return to catch a game during the season to watch the Dragons. The gym and general vibe at HSE is just lifeless, New Palestine seems to have some soul to it, and I bet it's a pretty nice place to watch a game on a random Friday night in January. As New Pal continues to grow, I hope it's able to maintain its small town roots. It's not an easy thing to do, but it's not impossible. Maintaining that connection to the past while striving to put your best foot forward into the future is a fine line to walk. It seems like the town and school have done a pretty good job up to this point.
