The Peoria Pipeline: prediction

[tornado]

If Manual's Adam Miller is successful in his transfer to a Chicago powerhouse high school
then he won't be the last talented Peoria kid who will go that way and the phrase...
"PEORIA PIPELINE" will take on a whole new meaning...

[Da Coach]

If Manual's Adam Miller is successful in his transfer to a Chicago powerhouse high school
then he won't be the last talented Peoria kid who will go that way and the phrase...
"PEORIA PIPELINE" will take on a whole new meaning...

It is unfortunate, but the "Peoria Pipeline" hasn't produced much D1 talent in recent years. Then just as it seemed that 2017 would be a breakthrough year with such potential D1 stars as A.J. Youngman, Romon Douglas-Watkins, and Da'Monte Williams, all three suffered serious injuries and health issues, leaving their futures uncertain.

Can anyone name the last Peoria high school basketball player to go to a Division I school on scholarship prior to this year?

[zessito]

Foote or Kellum

I wasn't sure where they ended up, so I did a little digging on them. Adonis Foote attended Middle Tennessee State and Trey Kellum went to SEMO. It's been awhile since the Peoria Pipeline has produced.

[MacabreMob]

Can anyone name the last Peoria high school basketball player to go to a Division I school on scholarship prior to this year?

Was it Dyricus?

[Da Coach]

I wasn't sure where they ended up, so I did a little digging on them. Adonis Foote attended Middle Tennessee State and Trey Kellum went to SEMO. It's been awhile since the Peoria Pipeline has produced.

I think you are right that Aldonis Foote (class of 2013 Peoria High School) was the last Peoria high school player to play at D1 on scholarship (he ended his career in 2016-17), however, he did not receive the scholarship out of high school. He attended Trinity Valley CC in Texas before transferring to Middle Tennessee for the last 2 seasons.
A.J. Riley also graduated in 2013, but from Manual HS. He eventually played a season (2015-16) at Eastern Illinois. However, he also got there via a junior college (John A. Logan CC).

So I think the last Peoria kids to get a D1 scholarship directly out of high school were from the class of 2012-
Trey Kellum- graduated from Peoria Central in 2012 and got a scholarship to Florida A&M, and finished his career at SEMO in 2016-17.
Jeff White- also a member of the Peoria high school class of 2012 who went to Loyola and stayed for 4 years, finishing in 2015-16.
Jacoby Roddy- also a member of class of 2012; went to Wright State on scholarship. He got injured his freshman year and played only 1 season at Wright State.

One additional note- The last Peoria high school kid to move directly from high school to a D1 team was Alex O'Neill of Peoria Christian HS, who graduated in 2015 and became a member of the Creighton team. But he was a walkon there. He did have a D1 scholarship offer from Nebraska-Omaha, but chose to walk on at Creighton. He stayed there one year and is now at D2 St. Cloud State.

Other earlier Peoria kids-
Bobo Drummond- He was at Peoria Central for 2 years, leaving in 2010, but transferred and played 2 years at La Lumiere prep school before attending Wright State on scholarship for one season (2012-13), then transferred to D2 Southern Indiana.
Max Bielfeldt (2011), Tyler Les (2010), Marvin Jordan (2010), Lawrence Alexander (2010), D.J. Richardson (2009), Paris Gulley (2009), Matt Roth (2008 ), Bill Cole (2007), Ahmad Grant (2007), Justin Dehm (2007), Arsenio Mims (2007).
Then a string of high major talent over a 10 year stretch- 2005- Jamar Smith, 2004- Shaun Livingston, Brandon Lee, and 2003- Daniel Ruffin & Brian Randle, 2001- Marcellus Sommerville, 1999-Jerrance Howard, 1998- Frankie Williams, 1997- Sergio McClain &Marcus Griffin, 1996- A.J. Guyton.

If I am missing anyone, let me know.
So again, considering how good the talent was from 1996-2008, the Peoria Pipeline has been pretty dry for the last several years.

[Da Coach]

Was it Dyricus?

Dyricus transferred and finished high school at Washington HS, so I wasn't counting him. There have actually been more high school players from the surrounding communities than from Peoria in recent years (I am sure I am missing someone)-
2017- Taylor Bruninga
2016- Nate Kennell
2013- Alec Peters, Nate Taphorn
2012- Brett Bisping
2011- Donivine Stewart

[tornado]

Lawrence Alexander, David Molinari (DePaul), Peter Hanley -only LA was scholarship


...but we were told a couple years ago by our local media (** **) and a few others that a whole load of young players 7th, 8th, freshmen...were coming up thru Quest, Central, Manual...
and there would be several DI prospects in the group....
looks like that mostly failed to materialize..