Read about the other teams coming to the Shootout here

Here's the scoop:

Centennial

City

Champaign

Enrollment

1599

Nickname

Chargers

Shootout appearances

Fourth

Three things to know about Centennial courtesy staff writer Jeff Huth:

1

The defending Class 3A state champions lost three starters off of a 32-1 team – including News-Gazette first-team All-Stater and Ohio University signee James Kinney – but the cupboard is hardly bare. Coach Tim Lavin welcomes back a pair of Division I-bound players in wing Rayvonte Rice (Drake) and center Jeff Johnson (Eastern Kentucky). "Obviously, it's a good duo to build off of," Lavin said. Each is entering his third season as a varsity starter, and each played a major role in Centennial's march to the 2009 IHSA title. Rice was that team's No. 2 scorer and top rebounder, while the 6-foot-8 Johnson was No. 3 in points and No. 2 on the boards. "With James leaving, I think those two will probably score a little bit more than maybe they did in the past," Lavin said. The Centennial coach is more concerned with this duo filling another type of void. "But the huge thing, losing three senior starters, they're going to have to step up and take a leadership role for the whole team," Lavin said.

2

First, it was Bill Cole of Peoria Richwoods. Then, Crandall Head of Rich South. Last year, Joseph Bertrand of Sterling. Each year, it seems, you can count on Centennial being invited to the Shootout at the Hall and to be paired against an opponent with a future Illini. Based on Centennial's 3-0 record in this tournament, the Chargers apparently relish these high-profile matchups. "I think it gets them up for that situation," Lavin said, "knowing there will be a pretty good crowd, and they seem to play well so far." Especially in the tightest of circumstances. In Year 1, Centennial won a memorable overtime battle with Cole and Richwoods, 49-46. The next year, Head's virtuoso 34-point performance didn't prevent the Chargers from pulling out a 62-60 win. The nailbiters stopped last year with a 60-43 romp against Bertrand and Co., but if Centennial should again find itself in a tight spot on the big stage, there's a favorable history to which Lavin can point.

3

The most pressing question the Chargers face entering the season: Who will take over in the backcourt? The departed trio of Kinney, Bryson Davis-Johnson and Jordan Johnson will be a tough act to replace for multiple reasons, although one in particular immediately comes to mind for Lavin. "We lost three seniors that were outstanding defensively," said the Centennial coach, whose team limited opponents to 52.8 points per game and 41.1 percent shooting last season. Current senior Jimmie McDonald saw the most time off the bench last season among the backup guards, while classmate Tiger O'Neil was impressive when injury-free and will receive a close look from Lavin as well. "We'll see at the beginning of the year how it works out filling those spots," the Charger coach said. Whatever happens, Lavin expects the versatile 6-3 Rice to lend an important hand. "I think Rayvonte will probably have to take a little bit more of a role as far as handling the ball," he said.