OT: Multi-colored, non-rubber basketballs?

[Darrell KSR]

Looking for a relatively inexpensive, but quality composite or synthetic leather practice ball that isn't your traditional orange. Idea here would be ideally something like blue and white.

Would need to purchase probably 50 or so, but maybe over time. Ultimate idea here is to have a school "brand" basketball, have them easily recognizable, not walk away at other gyms, etc. School colors are blue and white, but they don't have to be the school colors, although I think it would look cool.

Any ideas? I don't know what the budget would be. I bought 5 last year to supplement the older boys and bought decent Wilson ones for $25 each, so no more than that I am sure.

[kingcat]

Looking for a relatively inexpensive, but quality composite or synthetic leather practice ball that isn't your traditional orange. Idea here would be ideally something like blue and white.

Would need to purchase probably 50 or so, but maybe over time. Ultimate idea here is to have a school "brand" basketball, have them easily recognizable, not walk away at other gyms, etc. School colors are blue and white, but they don't have to be the school colors, although I think it would look cool.

Any ideas? I don't know what the budget would be. I bought 5 last year to supplement the older boys and bought decent Wilson ones for $25 each, so no more than that I am sure.

You've likely searched this site, but here it is anyway.
http://basketball.epicsports.com/cat/259/p1/basketballs.html?gclid=CIyawd-zycUCFRCsaQodYKkADQ

Below, $25.29 for ten or more..it is a 28.5 ball though. Not sure what your boys use.
Mikasa is an NJB sponsor by the way.

http://epicsports.cachefly.net/images/15571/300/mikasa-bq-njb-series-compact-28-5-basketballs.jpg

http://basketball.epicsports.com/prod/15571/mikasa-bq-njb-series-compact-28-5-basketballs.html

[kingcat]

http://njbl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/i3-555x270.jpg

28.5 is Regulation for boys 12 and under I believe.

29.5 for high school and mens ball

7

Men's Official
Men, boys 12 and older 29 1/2 20 - 22 oz


Women's Official
Women, girls 7 and older, also boys ages 7-12 28 1/2
18 - 20 oz

Youth
Kids under 7 27 - 28 in
16 - 18 oz

[Darrell KSR]

Thanks, Kingcat. No, I haven't really checked yet at all, but that looks promising.

We will need all three primary sizes. The 7th and 8th grade boys use the regulation men's size, 7th and 8th grade girls and 5th and 6th grade boys use the 28.5, and younger uses the 27.

I'm not sure if they are going to do this in stages as they buy new balls each year to replace old ones, or buy enough for entire program of 1st through 8th graders right off the bat. So all information is helpful.

[KeithKSR]

http://basketball.epicsports.com/prod/93048/baden-contender-composite-recreation-basketballs.html

The Baden brand isn't well known, but we have some that must be nearly twenty years old that I have aired up and used the last few seasons. This model is available in different colors. They don't have the junior size, but have the 28.5" and 29.5" sizes.

[Darrell KSR]

Thanks, guys. Really appreciate the assists.

[KeithKSR]

BTW, you can purchase Rawlings Contour basketballs with the name of any institution or organization stamped on them. Our boosters have purchased the Contour with the KHSAA embossed on them and our school name stamped on them from a local sporting goods store.

[Darrell KSR]

BTW, you can purchase Rawlings Contour basketballs with the name of any institution or organization stamped on them. Our boosters have purchased the Contour with the KHSAA embossed on them and our school name stamped on them from a local sporting goods store.

That's interesting. Any idea of the cost of those? Buying it directly from Rawlings, or somewhere else?

Unfortunately, I fear that will be out of our price range for practice balls.

[KeithKSR]

That's interesting. Any idea of the cost of those? Buying it directly from Rawlings, or somewhere else?

Unfortunately, I fear that will be out of our price range for practice balls.

They are pretty pricey, $50-$60 each. The price is why we haven't replaced ours in a few years. You can order any Rawlings balls directly from rawlingsgear.com or go through a local distributor. Rawlings has other models that are half that price that are probably nearly as good. The Contour is more pricey because of the associations that choose the ball and have exclusive contracts. KHSAA, Indiana's high school association and many others use them. All our games use a required KHSAA ball.

[KeithKSR]

I should add that these are two balls I am looking at trying to get our boosters to purchase:

http://www.rawlingsgear.com/basketball/basketball-balls/rcewnfb.html - this is ball is $30.99 on clearance, it was $59.99.

http://www.rawlingsgear.com/basketball/basketball-balls/pulsew.html - this ball is $29.99 on clearance, it was $39.99.

The summer months generally are a good time to hit up the sporting goods industry for clearance items. They like the new models available when school starts.

[Darrell KSR]

Those look fantastic. I like the first one better than the second one (just by looks, which can be deceiving, as it looks a little slicker), but both appear to be game quality to me. I will pass these along as well.
I should add that these are two balls I am looking at trying to get our boosters to purchase:

http://www.rawlingsgear.com/basketball/basketball-balls/rcewnfb.html - this is ball is $30.99 on clearance, it was $59.99.

http://www.rawlingsgear.com/basketball/basketball-balls/pulsew.html - this ball is $29.99 on clearance, it was $39.99.

The summer months generally are a good time to hit up the sporting goods industry for clearance items. They like the new models available when school starts.

[Darrell KSR]

Generally, we try to stick to a $25 range for "practice balls." One board member has suggested getting a school 'brand" because we "lose" several balls each year, which is the idea behind the color. We've always found that to be the cost of doing business, but he's thinking we would preserve more of them each year if we go this route. I'm old school, traditional, but I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, either, provided it is a quality ball.

Love the idea of the branded ball--we buy one "game ball" for each division each year for home games, of course, and could do that for those. But couldn't afford it for the practice balls.


They are pretty pricey, $50-$60 each. The price is why we haven't replaced ours in a few years. You can order any Rawlings balls directly from rawlingsgear.com or go through a local distributor. Rawlings has other models that are half that price that are probably nearly as good. The Contour is more pricey because of the associations that choose the ball and have exclusive contracts. KHSAA, Indiana's high school association and many others use them. All our games use a required KHSAA ball.

[blueboss]

4718


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[blueboss]

Not multicolored but nice balls


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[Darrell KSR]

Not multicolored but nice balls

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If I'm not mistaken, I paid $25 for those at Academy in November. They were $20 there a week ago, and if they are the same ones, I will see if they are interested in a few of those at that price, if the Walmart here has them at the same price.

[Darrell KSR]

Those aren't the balls I bought, but they were nice enough I bought one for my son, who needed a new one anyway. Nice pebble grain, can use indoor but probably more suited for outdoor with enhanced pebble grain in its composite leather.

I would be fine with my team using those for practice.

Thanks for the heads up.