Coming to the '09 Shootout: Peoria Central

Read about the other teams coming to the Shootout here.

Each Monday, we'll introduce a team participating in the IlliniHQ Shootout at the Hall presented by State Farm Insurance, our annual boys' basketball extravaganza which this year takes place Dec. 12 at the Assembly Hall. Today: Peoria Central and Illini recruiting target Bobo Drummond

Here's the scoop:

Peoria Central

City: Peoria

Enrollment: 1,071

Nickname: Lions

Shootout Appearances: Fourth (0-3)

Three things to know about the Lions, courtesy sports editor Jim Rossow

1

Central coach Dan Ruffin expects point guard Bobo Drummond to be at his best when the Lions meet Chicago Mount Carmel at the Shootout's 4:15 p.m. game, That's because the Central sophomore will be matched up against Illinois recruit Tracy Abrams. "Bobo is the kind of kid who rises to the occasion," Ruffin said. "He'll play to the level of his competition, which can be a bad habit as well because he also plays down to the competition. We're trying to get him to stop that. But we won't have to worry about that against (Abrams)."

2

The 5-foot-10 Drummond has offers from Illinois and Iowa and is hearing "from everybody," Ruffin said. "Right now his primary focus is on grades. When it comes time to decide, it will be based on the personnel these schools have at the time. He has to go to a situation which is good for him." Drummond started as a freshman and averaged nine points, five assists and three rebounds. "He got better game after game," Ruffin said. "It was a big jump from grade school, but I think he did a great job with the pressure he was under. He has a high basketball IQ and a lot of skill."

3

Drummond isn't the only Division I prospect on the roster. Shooting guard TONY BANKS (15 ppg, 7 rpg) was a first-team all-conference player for a Central team that earned a No. 1 regional seed. He's the only senior in a rotation that will include TRAVIS KELLUM at power forward, DARIAN WHITE at wing and three sophomores at center. "We have a shot to be good and an outside shot to be real good," Ruffin said. "It depends on how dedicated the kids are to making sacrifices. All kids want to be the top scorer. But you have to understand it's not all about scoring. We'll see."

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