France
ll May 1945

Dear Mr. Allen,

My aunt had told me to expect a letter from you, but
whet I got far exceeded my expectations.. I really did ap-
preciate your letter, because I realize that, as director of
physical education and basketball coach, you have plenty of
work to keep you busy. As for this answer being even a
reasonable facsimile of a presentable argument, there are
two strikes on me to start with. I'm a cinch to lose when
in discussion with a coach of your experience and recognized
ability.

Your letter did bring many interesting factors to my
attention. However, one point which you stress as being
favorable to the shorter man strikes me as being more of an
advantage for the taller boy.

You state, that with the 12 ft. basket, the shorter player
has more time to get into position and fight for the rebound.
That seems to me to be even more of an advantagé to the tall
man. While I never saw George Mikan play, several sports
writers have stated that he wes extremely agile for his height.
I believe the added time would give a man of his height end
agility the opportunity to recover nearly every rebound with-
in a 6 or 8 ft. radius of the basket.

You also mention the 12 ft. basket requiring a greeter
arch on the shot, said arch being pretty much lacking as the
game stands todey. On that point, I certainly agree. When
I was a sophmore in high school, we had baskets where the
ceiling wes only 9 inches above the backboard. -The longest
possible shot was from the free throw circle, and that was
like a line drive. The building was such an antiquated con-
struction that it was condemned as a public hazard and we
played no home games that year. In spite of these handicaps,
superior teamwork in the short passing game led us to the
championship semi-finals of the state tournament before we
were dropped out. As a longer shot will be required with the
higher basket, I believe that the short passing game will be-
come a thing of the past.