First Person: Peoria Heat

<p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">In our “First Person Grassroots Recap” series we take a look at how the travel team season went for one our state’s programs.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">In this episode we spoke with Chris Williams of the <strong>Peoria Heat</strong>.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">17U</span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Record: </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">.500 overall</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Championships/Accomplishments: </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">We placed in the Joy of the Game tourney by coming in 2nd place in the Silver Division.  We we&#39;re in the elite 8 game of 3 tournaments and played in the final four game in 4 tournaments.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Overall Thoughts on Season: </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Overall I feel as though we had a successful summer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Standout Performers:</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">The guys who stood out on the 17u team who got the most exposure were 6’3 wing Dakota Bennington (Peoria Christian) who has 3 offers on the table.  6’0 DeMonte Simms (Peoria High) who is receiving a lot of attention from NAIA schools, few DII, and JUCO’s.  6"1 combo guard DeShaun Jackson came on late in the summer as far as his recruitment and is receiving interest from some NAIA’s and JUCO’s.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">16U</span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Championships/Accomplishments: </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">This team won the Gold Division of the NY2LA in the spring and was either in the elite 8 or the final 4 in the other 7 tourneys.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Overall Thoughts on Season: </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Overall I feel as though we had a successful summer.  This team is loaded and very fun to coach and watch play.  I would match these guys up against any AAU team in the country.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Standout Performers:</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34)"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">The guys to watch are 6’3 wing Isaiah Walton (Springfield S.E.) and 5’10 Treyvon Williams (Springfield S.E.) both of these guys already have DI interest.  Another to watch is 5"11 NiShawn Brooks (Peoria Manual) and sharp shooters 6’0 Mason Carr (Pekin HS), 6’0 Ben Cash (Pekin HS), and 6’0 Noah Persich (Metamora HS).  We also have a couple of bigs 6’6 Deijour Burns (Springfield Lanphier) and 6"6 Deandre Robinson (Peoria High).</span></span></span></p>