Compared to his teammates, LaJuan Whitney is a local.

As the Southern Indiana Timberjacks take the court this weekend to begin the adventure of the new Hoosier Hardwood Basketball Association, they will be representing Medora, population about 700.

Whitney, 20, played high school ball for Pike at the Class 4A level in Indianapolis and is now an Indiana University student in Bloomington. This is his shot at playing basketball for pay, and after skipping the chance to walk on at IU, he calls this continuation of his basketball life “not the traditional way.”

There isn’t much traditional about this startup league in the midst of an international pandemic. The four-team league situated in Indiana and promoted by former basketball star Kent Benson and his partner, Bob Petty, will play from early March into May.

The Timberjacks are anchored in Medora and will play home games in the Medora High School gym, starting Sunday with a 5 p.m. game against the Pendleton Legends.

“I saw the announcement about tryouts on social media,” Whitney said of how he connected with the Timberjacks.

New Castle, Terre Haute, Medora and Pendleton are the four squads kicking off league play.

“I would like to get as many wins as we can and work on my personal game and see where I can go from here,” Whitney said of his goals for this short season.

Mark Morin, the Medora High School boys basketball coach who was leading the Hornets in the IHSAA sectionals Friday night, is the coach of the Timberjacks. His father, Larry, owns the team.

The Timberjacks will play on weekend days. There will be an early-April All-Star break showcase including a slam dunk contest, 3-point shooting contest, and an All-Star game.

Playoffs begin May 22.

Southern Indiana Timberjacks Schedule

March 6 at New Castle, Blue River HS

March 7 vs. Pendleton, Medora HS

March 12 vs. Terre Haute, Medora HS

March 14 at Terre Haute, Gerstmeyer Gym

March 19 vs. New Castle, Medora HS

March 20 at Pendleton Pendleton Heights HS

March 26 vs. Pendleton, Medora HS

April 3 All-Star Game

April 9 vs. Terre Haute, Medora HS

April 11 at Terre Haute, Gerstmeyer Gym

April 16 vs. New Castle, Medora HS

April 17 at Pendleton, Pendleton Heights HS

April 23 vs. Pendleton, Medora HS

April 24 at New Castle, Wes-Del HS

April 30 vs. Terre Haute, Medora HS

May 2 at Terre Haute, Gerstmeyer HS

May 7 vs. New Castle, Medora HS

May 8 at Pendleton, Pendleton

May 14 vs. Pendleton, Medora HS

May 15 at New Castle, Blue River HS

May 22 Playoffs