Wilson, at least Wilson the Volleyball, who was Tom Hank’s “friend” in the movie Cast Away, hasn’t gotten much attention in recent years. Probably like Babe the pig, the rolls for a volleyball are few and far between. But Wilson the Basketball, which we assume is a cousin of the volleyball, is heading to court.
Not a legal or regal court however, but the much more high profile basketball court. Wilson will be the Official Basketball of NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships, and will be part of every winning shot, pass, dunk and dribble. The composite leather cover, composite laid-in channels and Cushion Core Technology variety was first introduced in 2003, the first non-leather NCAA tournament game ball.
“We’ve worked with the best coaches in the country to develop technologies that help student athletes perform to their potential day in and day out,” says Alan Davenport, Global Business Director of Basketball at Wilson Sporting Goods Co. “With all of the winning moments being realized through the amazing feats of these remarkable student athletes, it’s an honor and a thrill to put the Wilson NCAA Game Ball in their hands.”
The company is further encouraging youth to get involved in the game, and along with the NCAA will support community initiatives in the Final Four host cities of Houston and Indianapolis. On Sunday, April 3, the Final Four Dribble is a spectacle of over 3,000 children, each dribbling their own Wilson basketball from Houston City Hall to Bracket Town at the George R. Brown Convention Center. At the Women’s Final Four, the Circle City Dribble features thousands of kids dribbling their way through downtown Indianapolis from the Conseco Fieldhouse to the Indiana Convention Center and Tourney Town.
We almost wonder if Wilson the Volleyball will make an appearance, but probably not.