Basketball On The Internet.

BRAD Haydon is the new chairman of the Free Throw Foundation, with the SA basketball charity's founder David Spear tomorrow performing his final duties at its festive season luncheon featuring Opals coach Sandy Brondello.

Spear and fellow founding Board member Peter Ali - both playing members of the Adelaide 36ers' 1986 NBL "Invincibles" - started the charity six years ago, its major fundraising event being seasonal lunches featuring speakers as diverse as Luc Longley, Andrej Lemanis, Bruce McAvaney, Kevin Sheedy, Joe Ingles and Brad Newley.

The lunches are attended by a basketball historian's dream assembly, with past Olympians, Woollacott and Halls Medallists dating back to the 50s sprinkled throughout a room of state players and all-time greats.

As such, the FTF lunches have become the sport's premier social event. The Foundation remains confident it will not miss a beat despite the twin retirements of Spear and Ali, two of its initial visionaries.

 “I am incredibly proud to serve on the Board and equally proud to take on the role of Chairman," Haydon said.

 "I have been thoroughly impressed by the breadth of skills, passion and energy the remaining board members continue to bring to the Foundation's activities, I am excited to see where we can take the Foundation into 2020 and beyond.

 "I am sure we will continue to deliver great outcomes to the basketball community here in SA and continue to expand the awareness of the Foundation's activities.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Chairman David Spear (pictured) and fellow board member Peter Ali for their significant contribution to the Foundation. Without them the Foundation would not exist."

The Free Throw Foundation announced Haydon's appointment as part of its ongoing succession plan with the twin retirements.

“The Board of the Free Throw Foundation continues to evolve and part of that process is to ensure we meet our obligations to our constitution," Spear said.

"My tenure as Chairman reached its term of six years and I wanted to ensure clean air is provided to the incumbent chair.

“We continue as an organisation to see need within the basketball community and our Assist program sets out to meet that need.

"We have encouraged people from all aspects within the basketball community to apply and I believe we have made a significant contribution to the lives of the many young people we have helped.

"I am incredible proud of our achievements."

As its inaugural Chairman and founder, Spear has good reason to be proud of the outstanding assistance the FTF has given so many talented young SA basketball players.