ROUTED

We are elated to report that former Peoria Central sharp shooter and Indiana standout A.J. Guyton was hired as an Assistant Coach at Loyola-Maryland. He will join forces with first year Head Coach Tavaras Hardy, who hails from Joliet and played collegiately at Northwestern. A.J. spent last season at Northwestern familiarizing himself with the day-to-day operational ritual of College hoops. He’s going to thrive well on the East-Coast while beating the recruiting trail in the highly competitive Patriot League.

Valparaiso Head Coach Matt Lottich just recently hired longtime pal Todd Townsend who took a break from coaching last season, while his previous stint was at UW Milwaukee. In addition to Townsend coming over, Rob Holloway will join Lottich’s staff as well. Holloway has spent the last two seasons at Eastern Illinois where he was often viewed as a rising Assistant. This tandem should form a potent presence around here in the heartland.

We’re starting to see some resemblance to change perhaps a re-birth of a new era in potency; witnessing a significant upgrade in our talent level around these parts. A surging 2020 Class has us hopeful, followed by our promising 2021 cast, and based on what we’ve already viewed in the 2022 Class head-lined by 6-4 phenom Amari Bailey (we are currently wishful he doesn’t break for some out-of-town prep situation), add to the mix 6-2 sharp shooter Kameron Kraft, six-foot seven A.J. Casey, heady play-maker Jaylen Drane, 6-3 athlete Xavier Amos, and steady general Jalen Brown, this gives us something special to follow, considering this particular 2022 group has our area in position to bolster three consecutive classes where we likely could have an abundance of high major recruits. “Now, the young talent need to be turned-over and developed.”