Recruiting Wrap

Andrew Jordan working hard

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 8:27 AM

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Andrew Jordan's sophomore year at Peoria Woodruff didn't go quite as planned. The Division I recruiting interest he received as a freshman was non-existent, and he and his coach had a strained relationship. The frustration was building.

Now at Peoria Manual, Jordan has a different outlook.

"Ever since he walked in the doors here at Manual, he just took this opportunity as a fresh start," Manual coach Derrick Booth said. "He really hadn't said anything about his experience at Woodruff before he came here. He was just looking at this as a fresh start, and he's just capitalized on it in the classroom and on the court."

Jordan gives Manual, a perennial powerhouse in the state, an athletic 6-foot-5 wing that can play on the perimeter and in the post. Booth said the Woodruff transfer has improved his strength, jump shot and defensive intensity through hard work in the offseason.

That work ethic has carried over into the class room.

"One thing he takes pride in is that he has all A's and one B," Booth said. "The last two grading periods he's been here at Manual, he's been on the honor roll on both of them, and that carries on to the court. He's there everyday; he works hard; he's learning. He's just been a good leader for us. I'm going to lead on him quite a bit this year for leadership."

Jordan had interest from dozens of Division I schools as a freshman, including interest included Illinois, Marquette, Wake Forest, Kansas, Arizona, Penn State, Purdue, Cincinnati, Xavier and Bradley. Though not all those schools have remained in close contact, Jordan's recruiting seems to be on the mend.

"We had a lot of visitors during open gyms," Booth said. "Anyone from Wisconsin, West Virginia to DePaul has come in and seen him. Southern Illinois has been in the gym. He's got a lot of recruiting interest from really you name it. Every day, somebody's in the gym to see him."

Booth said Jordan will become the high-major player everyone projected him to become when he was freshman ­- as long as he continues to show the same drive he has displayed since arriving at Manual in the spring.

"He's the first one in the weight room," Booth said. "He wants to work hard. He's always asking questions. Someone at his level - that caliber of a player - to continue to want to get better, the sky's the limit for him. That's what Andrew Jordan does. He understands he's new and has to learn the system, and he's catching on quick. He's going to help us a lot this year in a lot of different ways."

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