Recruiting Wrap

Peoria Manual sophs turning heads

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:45 AM

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Peoria Manual lost three of its top scorers, including all-state guards CJ March and Paris Gulley, from last year's 22-7 regional championship team. But you don't remain a perennial state powerhouse without being able to replace talent.

Senior Marvin Jordan, a Ball State signee, will be the Rams go-to-player But the newest bunch of highly touted Manual prospects - sophomores Landis Farmer, Jeff Stokes and Jacob Roddy - will be just as important to the Rams success this season.

"I'm excited about our group of sophomores," Manual coach Derrick Booth said.

Farmer, a 5-foot-9 point guard, gives the Rams a speedy point guard with good handles, and Jeff Stokes is a 6-foot-1 combo forward who can score in droves. Jacob Roddy, 6-foot-4, adds even more size and athleticism to the Manual frontcourt.

"Landis Farmer is going to give us some good minutes in the backcourt," Booth said. "Jacoby Roddy is probably our most improved player in the program. He had a great summer, working hard to get better. I'm just excited about our sophomore class. We're going to count on them a lot to provide some input for them."

Of the highly touted sophomores, Farmer and Stokes will likely receive the most playing time because of their court maturity.

"They're two good ballhandlers and smart basketball players," Booth said. "At their age, their basketball IQ is off the charts. It's just some stability. I feel comfortable with the ball in their hands. They have a good knack for getting the ball in the hands of our scorers. And they defend well, so we don't lose nothing when their on the court. So we're going to lean on them quite a bit this season."

The Rams' Class of 2012 standouts have already turned some heads at the college level with several Division I programs showing up to monitor the sophomores.

"Southern Illinois is heavy on Jeff Stokes," Booth said. "A lot of colleges have been in talking about them, our 2012 class. West Virginia's been here. Kansas State. A lot of programs have been here the last couple weeks."

Illini fans can get a closer look at the Manual sophomores when the Rams play Bowman (Ind.) Academy in the Shootout at the Hall on Dec. 12. Manual won its two previous games at the Shootout at the Hall - the Rams defeated a Jereme Richmond-led Waukegan team in 2007 and No. 1-ranked North Lawndale in 2008.

With former Manual coach Wayne McClain entering his ninth season on the Illini coaching staff - and he was recently named the associate head coach - you can bet Illinois will remain cognizant of the talent coming out of Peoria.

"They continue to recruit this area, make their presence," Booth said. "Not only Manual, but all the high schools in the area still look forward to them and you hear about them when they're in a gym or show up to a game. People are honored to have their presence."

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