Conference Preview: Big Twelve

<p>The high school season is almost here in the state of Illinois!  With that we look at some of the top conferences throughout the state and some of the prospects in those conferences!  Today it is the <strong>Big Twelve</strong>!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason Player of Year</strong></p> <p>Pee Wee Brown (Peoria Manual)</p> <p>The conference doesn’t have the dominant post players that it has had in past years like Francis Okoro and Chris Payton.  It will be more of a perimeter dominated league with Manaul shooting guard Pee Wee Brown being the best among them.  This kid just wins!  He led Manual which was mostly a junior core last season to the 3A final four.  Will look to do more of the same this season!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason Conference Favorite</strong></p> <p>This should be a fun conference to watch this year.  There are several teams that could take home the crown. It probably starts with Peoria Manual after their playoff run last year and they return most of their key players including Pee Wee Brown, Myriece Byrd, Joshua Ivory, Marshawn Tolliver, and Emaryon Byrd.  Peoria Notre Dame is intriguing as well with their backcourt of Winona State commits Connor and Declan Dillon along with junior point guard Noah Reynolds.  Matt Williams is a versatile forward that can play inside-out.  With Danville it is all going to come down to Tevin Smith’s health.  If the top 15 junior is back to his old ways they have a chance to win the conference with him and Nathanael Hoskins as a dynamic 1-2 punch.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Ranked Prospects to Watch</strong></p> <p>Landon Moore (Bloomington – 2021)<br /> Demarco Clayton (Bloomington – 2021)<br /> Jaylen Bryson (Champaign Centennial – 2021)<br /> Pryce Punkey (Champaign Central – 2020)<br /> Khailieo Terry (Champaign Central – 2021)<br /> Tevin Smith (Danville – 2021)<br /> Nathanael Hoskins (Danville – 2021)<br /> Drew Wollenschlager (Normal West – 2020)<br /> Corey Walker (Normal West – 2021)<br /> Chris Williams (Peoria – 2020)<br /> Pee Wee Brown (Peoria Manual – 2020)<br /> Myriece Byrd (Peoria Manual – 2020)<br /> Joshua Ivory (Peoria Manual – 2020)<br /> Emaryon Byrd (Peoria Manual – 2021)<br /> Marshawn Tolliver (Peoria Manual – 2021)<br /> Connor Dillon (Peoria Notre Dame – 2020)<br /> Declan Dillon (Peoria Notre Dame – 2020)<br /> Noah Reynolds (Peoria Notre Dame – 2021)<br /> Matthew Williams (Peoria Notre Dame – 2021)<br /> Isaiah Donnell (Peoria Richwoods – 2021)<br /> Jamauri Winfrey (Peoria Richwoods – 2021)<br /> Christopher Cross (Urbana – 2020)<br /> Bryson Tatum (Urbana – 2020)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Top Contenders</strong></p> <ol> <li>Peoria Manual</li> <li>Peoria Notre Dame</li> <li>Danville</li> <li>Urbana</li> <li>Champaign Central</li> <li>Bloomington</li> <li>Peoria Richwoods</li> <li>Champaign Centennial</li> </ol>