Poll shows support for return to single-class basketball

MARION, Ind. (WISH) - Two more sessions remain for the survey of sentiments for single-class basketball in Indiana.

Thursday night's stop was in Marion.

The commissioner of the Indiana State High School Athletic Association has been all over state in recent weeks, hearing people for and against the current multi-class system. It's been around since 1998.

The discussions began because in the last session of the Legislature, a state senator started pushing for a return to single-class basketball.

"We have a whole generation of kids that don't know our history and our tradition, and I'm trying to bring that back to life through these public meetings," said Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel

IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox said the IHSAA is open to the public’s feelings on the matter.

"This whole exercise is about us going out and seeing the public and listening to the public and gathering data,” he said. “Once we do that and put it all together then we can start making some decisions."

A new poll suggests an overwhelming number of Hoosiers appreciate the importance of basketball as part of Indiana's identity. But only about half of the respondents said they would vote for a change back to single-class, if they had the chance this fall.