It’s still nameless, but the NCAA and NBA’s youth initiative project is starting to take shape. One year ago, the two groups announced they were partnering to address concerns about the culture of youth basketball, and in November, a Chief Executive Officer was hired to get the ball rolling.

Kevin Weiberg, former Vice President of University Planning and Development at the Big Ten Network, moved into an Indianapolis-based office and started his work as CEO in January. “There are a lot of good things going on in non-scholastic basketball, but the structure is largely free-wheeling and the focus has turned to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” Weiberg says.

“In many respects, the importance of education and other life values that can be learned through the game have been lost,” he continues, “while recruiting and eventually making lots of money in the NBA has taken over.”

One of the group’s main ideas is the development of a Web site that will serve as a social network and information source for players and their parents. The organization also plans to sanction leagues, tournaments, camps, and year-round development opportunities for youth players that NCAA coaches will be permitted to attend.

Weiberg is confident the youth initiative will also be a positive for high school coaches. “I think they will appreciate our efforts to bring a little more structure to the club environment,” he says. “And we’re going to be working with the NFHS as they continue to develop their online coaches’ training.”