Coming to the '09 Shootout: Peoria Manual

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 Manual

Here's the scoop:

Peoria Manual

City: Peoria

Enrollment: 700

Nickname: Rams

Shootout appearances: Third (2-0)

Three things to know about the Rams, courtesy IlliniHQ.com recruiting blogger Jeremy Werner.

1

Illini Associate Head Coach WAYNE McCLAIN's former team, Peoria Manual, is coming off impressive wins in back-to-back Shootouts. The Rams defeated Illini signee JEREME RICHMOND and Waukegan in 2007 and No. 1 state-ranked North Lawndale in 2008. Returning to the Assembly Hall is always special for a program that produced former Illini JERRY HESTER, MARCUS GRIFFIN, SERGIO McCLAIN and FRANK WILLIAMS. "It's a great experience just to play on that floor and to know that some of Manual's past greats have played on there," Manual coach DERRICK BOOTH said. "Coach McClain – who is still a legend back here for all his accomplishments here at Manual – to be able to see him at U of I, it's just something we look forward to every year."

2

Manual lost three of its top scorers from last season to graduation, including all-state guards PARIS GULLEY and CJ MARCH. But as always, the Rams have reloaded. Senior guard MARVIN JORDAN, who signed a national letter of intent with Ball State last week, is set to become the first Manual player to play at the Division I level since Williams joined the Illini in 1998. Junior forward ANDREW JORDAN, an athletic 6-foot-5 transfer from Peoria Woodruff, is another Division I recruit and has fit in well at his new home. "One of the things he has is that he wants to get better," Booth said. "Someone at his level – that caliber of a player – to continue to want to get better, the sky's the limit for him."

3

Keep your eye on the sophomores. The Class of 2012 could be the next great wave of players to come out of Manual. Division I schools, including West Virginia and Southern Illinois, have already stopped in to watch 5-9 point guard LANDIS FARMER, 6-1 combo forward JEFF STOKES and 6-4 JACOB RODDY. "Jeff Stokes gave us big minutes in the postseason as a freshman, and he's a likely starter," Booth said. "Landis Farmer is going to give us some good minutes in the backcourt. Jacob Roddy is probably our most improved player in the program. I'm just excited about our sophomore class. We're going to count on them a lot to provide some input for us."

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