The Basketball League is a professional basketball organization. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with only eight teams but has expanded to 38 teams as of 2024. Recently, they made plans for a Logansport team. 

“Logansport is such an exciting opportunity for us,” CEO of TBL Evelyn Magley said. “We envision it as a community hub, a place where families can come together to enjoy the game, where local businesses can partner with a team that represents the town, to bring additional streams of revenue into the Logansport community, and where young people can look up to role models both on and off the court. We plan to build not just a basketball team, but a source of pride for the community, whether it’s through youth programs, community events, revenues to local businesses, or just the joy of experiencing a live game.”

The City of Logansport has invested over $50,000 for 2025, and Mayor Chris Martin is also working closely with the league.

“Right now, we are creating the need the community wants for the sports complex to make sense,” Martin said. “We are looking forward to working with the county in the future with Logansport’s vision.” 

Some members of the community disagree with this course of action. 

“I don’t think it’s popular with the public, nor a major priority for our city,” former Mayor Dave Kitchell said. “It’s more aligned with his [Mayor Martin] desire to work in sports after he leaves office. The basketball team would not provide permanent employment, high wages, benefits or new residents to the city.

Kitchell said it’s not right for the community.

“We need factories for the industrial park and white collar jobs that can sustain a mortgage payment, which the Mayor does not pay as a renter, and cities such as Kokomo, which is nearly three times our size, are struggling to support minor league baseball,” Kitchell said. “I’m told Kokomo will not renew their lease.”

Martin says Logansport has reached a point where Logansport has to decide where it wants to go. 

“Although manufacturing is important, it’s not the only thing that can help a community thrive,” Martin said. “The vision of Logansport is going to be focused around more sports and entertainment than manufacturers because the workforce for manufacturing is not something that will be sustainable in 10 years.” 

Preston Myers, who works for the TBL, is the acting team manager. He wants to put Logansport on the map.

“That’s really what our league is about is,” Myers said. “You know, we’re coming. We’re the last one, whatever that is, is that players that come around the team are coaches that can help reach and bring in talented young men from all over the country as new residents.”

Myers stated the big picture for Logansport.

“We’re talking about entertainment, and at the end of the day, basketball is entertainment,” Myers said. “We can put a team in Indianapolis, but Indianapolis has a great population, and you’ve got to get out of the bubble of basketball, the Colts, the Pacers.”

Myers said the success of the team is dictated by the community

“Well, I mean, it will be a function of the team,” Myers said. “It’s not like we’re trying to reinvent the wheel. We know what we should do and how to make it positive. The truth of the matter is, it’s going to take a lot of hands-on work to make it a success. A few people can put together a few players, hire coaches, manage travel, get the basics done, and they’ll be fine with it. It’s not going to be special unless the community works.”

Magley said success to her isn’t the wins on the courts.

“It’s about the connections we make with the community and the positive impact we leave behind,” CEO Magley said. “Logansport has shown such enthusiasm and excitement for this team, and that energy is contagious. With the right partnerships and support from the community, I have no doubt that this will be a success in every sense of the word.”

Magley said she wants Logansport to be a part of something bigger and is deserving of such. 

“We want to bring professional basketball to places where it can truly make an impact,” Magley said. “Where families can bond over a game, young people can be inspired to dream bigger, and local businesses can grow alongside us. Logansport has a rich spirit. It is one of the most diversified cities in America, and we want to celebrate that by making it a part of this journey. It’s not just about bringing basketball to Logansport; it’s about making Logansport part of something greater and to put Logansport on the map both locally and internationally.”