About Us

Program Summary
The Idaho Select Program (legally known as Treasure Valley Idaho Basketball) exists to provide opportunities to student-athletes that live in the state of Idaho. Through team building and leadership development, our participants enhance their overall character that increases their likelihood of receiving earned financial assistance for college.

Through the program's various projects and events we are able to reach student-athletes from a wide range of ages and locations. The program uses the sport of basketball as a unifying vehicle to bring together these participants.

Organization Overview
Idaho Select began in 1998 as Boise Valley Select. It was started by local high school and college coaches that wanted to give some local kids a chance to show their basketball talents in front of college recruiters. From there, the program grew into a statewide program that included kids from all over Idaho.

In 2005, Idaho Select went through a transition from strictly a basketball-based program to a youth development program. The program became an established 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with our donors coming from a wide variety of local corporations and individual contributors. The focus shifted to the complete development of the program participants.

The Idaho Select Goals and Philosophy
The program's goals have evolved since its inception but the philosophy has remained basically the same.

Program goals include:

1. Bring together as many student-athletes from around Idaho and give them an opportunity to compete for a spot in the program
2. Improve the participants' team building skills and develop their leadership qualities while enhancing their basketball capabilities
3. Help our participants receive financial assistance to an institution of higher learning, whether it is a community college, four year college or university or technical school
4. Produce a stronger community through youth development

Our philosophy is that if a player is motivated to be educated and they are passionate about developing their talents and skills then they should have access to the best opportunities possible. We provide these opportunities by bringing in qualified coaches, working with groups that share our philosophy and work with the state's school system.

Our coaches all have a significant amount of basketball knowledge, coaching experience and communication skills as well as serve as positive role models.

Our partners include the Boys and Girls Club, Men Today Men Tomorrow and The Landing Community Center. These are just a few examples of groups that we work with.

The program seeks to work in coordination with the state's school system. We try to carefully plan each event so they do not conflict with the state, district or individual school's scholastic and athletic calendars. We are very conscious of the hard work that each school coach puts into their respective programs and we attempt to try and supplement those programs as opposed to compete with them. Every effort is made to open channels of communication with each school.

In short, our philosophy is to put the kids' needs above everything else.

Addressing Community Needs
Idaho Select recognizes the need for producing healthy, responsible and accountable young adults. After all, these will be the future leaders of our community. While we cannot affect all the things that will impact our youth, we do have a unique opportunity to influence the Idaho Select participants in the following areas:

• Leadership development - understanding their impact as leaders in their school and community
• Role model/action awareness - understanding their impact on the youth that look up to them as role models
• Team building - learning how to affectively operate as a team in a stressful environment away from their comfort zone
• Self evaluation - assessing their strengths and weaknesses and determining the best way to make self-improvement

In an effort to more completely address these needs, the Idaho Select program has expanded its operations in 2008. We are now a year round program that not only has multiple teams in high school but also junior high teams as well as an open gym project. Through this expansion we anticipate that the program will have a wider and deeper impact on the student-athletes that participate.

Measuring the Program's Success
Ultimately, the Idaho Select program will only prove to be worthwhile if it is able to reach its goals.

During 2006, 31 kids participated in our program. In 2007 we had over 100 kids participate from around the state including our "Open Gym" during the fall. With our expansion in 2008, we expect this number to continue to grow.

In 2006, eight of our participants were eligible to complete our program and graduate from high school. All eight of them graduated and are now attending either a community college or four year institution and all eight are receiving some form of earned financial assistance, either scholastically or athletically. We will have nine players eligible for graduation in May 2007. We anticipate a 100% graduation rate and that 100% will receive earned financial aid in college.

At this point, it is difficult to evaluate the overall positive effect that this program will have on the community. The players that went through the program since its overhaul in 2005 are still attending college and the results of their education combined with effects of our program will not be evidenced for a few years.

Recently, several of our players have been recognized for their accomplishments. Logan Thomas, Jaimie Brown, Anthony Beskoon and Mitch Bruneel were all selected by the Idaho Statesman as the Player of the Week. Additionally, Bruneel was selected as the United Dairymen of Idaho Distinguished Student.

Current Projects Within the Program
Spring Project:
During the spring, we assemble teams that range from 8th-12th grade. These teams will play and practice together from the end of February through May. During this time they will be expected to practice with the team twice per week, attend leadership training and play in various tournaments. This project will work with 60-70 student-athletes.

Summer Project:
Occurring mostly during July, players from around the state will be housed in Boise where they will practice twice per day, attend leadership training and travel to national tournaments. Players are generally from 9th-12th grade. This project will work with 50-60 student-athletes.

Fall Project:
From the end of August to the beginning of November, we host an "Open Gym" at the Boys and Girls Club. Through sponsorship, any student athlete that is in 9th-12th grade can get a membership to the Club. These players can then come in twice per week at night to the Club's gym where we keep the gym open and arrange for the participants to play in a safe environment.

The Idaho Select Staff
Idaho Select is made up of a variety of staff. We have one full-time staff member, as well as several part-time and volunteer members.

Use of Funds
All funds that are donated to the Idaho Select program are tax-deductible and are put toward the program's expenses. The expenses include travel (airlines, van rentals, hotels), tournament entry fees, and administration. Less than 20% of the program's expenses go toward administrative fees. This is less than the world's biggest basketball organization, USA Basketball, which spends about 25% on these same expenses (according to their 2006 Form 990).