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Here are the 94 Peoria-area players who'll coach at Curley 'Boo' Johnson's basketball camp

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·4 min read

Curley “Boo” Johnson has built the Peoria area’s largest and most competitive youth basketball camp.

And now players from nearly all over the world are coming to his Skills for Life Basketball Camp. The former Harlem Globetrotter has campers registered from 85 Illinois communities as well as ones traveling from Iowa and journeying even as far as Vietnam.

“Word of mouth,” he said of the secret behind the growth of Skills for Life. “When people call to sign up, I ask them, how did they find out about the camp? Of course some say, ‘Social media’, but a lot of them (say) from recommendations.

“Best form of advertising. No doubt. Word of mouth.”

Johnson released his complete Skills for Life basketball camp high school staff on Monday. The 1982 Peoria High grad is hosting the boys camp for a 16th year, while the girls camp is gearing up for Year 12.

'Joyful, bright eyes': 9-year-old Mackinaw boy struck by car was part of 'Boo' camp family

In 2023, “Boo” Camp boasted record numbers for a second successive summer with over 600 in attendance. Johnson says he anticipates the 2024 edition being just as big if not bigger, noting numbers are ‘ahead of last year’s’.

Journal Star all-area players from the 2023-2024 season once again highlight each of the boys and girls staff.

Three all-area boys camp “coaches” are on staff including Division-I recruit Dietrich Richardson (Manual). Malachi Persinger (Peoria Christian) and Devon White (llini Bluffs) were both members of the Class 1A all-area squad.

On the girls side, seven from across all three all-area teams – Class 1A, Class 2A and Class 3A – will be on staff. Avery Tibbs (Washington) is the lone 3A representative, while Lexi Baer (Peoria Notre Dame), Kaitlin Cassidy (PND), Dalia DeJesus (Deer Creek-Mackinaw) and Allison Wheeler (Canton) were all on the 2A squad. Ava Heinz (Brimfield) and Kennedy Quinn (Abingdon-Avon) made the 1A all-area team.

2024 Journal Star all-area basketball teams: High school girls | High school boys

Other notable names include Dunlap Division-I football prospect Mack Sutter, D1 hoops recruit LeShawn Stowers (Peoria High) and Emy Wardle, who hit the game-winning shot for PND in the Class 2A state title game. Former campers make up 81 of the 94 prep “coaches”.

Five gyms throughout the Dunlap school district — Dunlap High School, Dunlap Middle School and Dunlap Valley — are hosting the camp for the 10th year from Aug. 5-9. The boys camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., then the girls camp is 2-6 p.m. for players ages 9-for-14 years old. Registration remains open, costing $190 per camper.

Visit skillsforlifepeoria.com for more details, including registration forms.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

2024 Skills for Life Basketball Camp high school coaches

A full list of players who will be "coaches" at the 2024 Skills for Life Basketball Camp hosted by Curley "Boo" Johnson.

  • Girls (56): Caroline Holmes (Dunlap); Sammie Yeh (Dunlap); Hannah West (Limestone); Michaela Pilgrim (Limestone); Symone Jackson (Peoria High); Kyra Lee (Richwoods); Allison Wheeler (Canton); Ella Demler (Canton); Leah Brown (Pekin); Allie Lambe (Pekin); Zoe Kormah (Pekin); Cadence Covert (Pekin); Savannah Jost (Tremont); Katie Brock (Morton); Paige Selke (Morton); Ellie VanMeenen (Morton); Anja Ruxlow (Morton); Abby VanMeenen (Morton); Harper Nightingale (Morton); Abby Brooks (Morton); Izzy Ripka (Morton); Claire Ceresa (Morton); Payton Hays (Morton); Carly DeSutter (Midwest Central); Mary Zerfass (Illinois Valley Central); Rianna Foster (IVC); Tinley Lemmerman (Elmwood); Chloe Eeten (Illini Bluffs); Alivia Vaughan (Metamora); Mia Stivers (Metamora); Kessa Sell (Metamora); Becca McDougall (Washington); Avery Tibbs (Washington); Adrienne Donald (Washington); Mazzy O'Brien (Washington); Dani Guedet (Washington); Ava Heinz (Brimfield); Kennedy Quinn (ATown); Kaydin Quinn (ATown); Dalia Dejesus (Dee-Mack); Kenzie Knowles (Dee-Mack); Lexi Cottingham (Dee-Mack); Kylie Moeller (East Peoria); Kaitlin Cassidy (Peoria Notre Dame); Emy Wardle (PND); Julia Mingus (PND); Lexi Baer (PND); Ivy Edwards (Eureka); Mya Edwards (Eureka); Emily Demetreon (Stark County); Kayla Herron (Culver Academy, Ind.); Josie Hughes (Havana); Ella Hebard (Knoxville); Pieper Whiteman (Lincoln); Jocelyn Perkins (Lincoln); Joley McLaughlin (Lewistown).

  • Boys (38) — Mack Sutter (Dunlap); Sam Hjort (Dunlap); Julian Matthew (Dunlap); Kendall Farmer (Dunlap); Preston Quine (Limestone); LeShawn Stowers (Peoria High); Marlon Herron (Richwoods); Lakon Otto (Canton); Brogan Benassi (Pekin); Peyton Hess (Pekin); Tripp Rugaard (Morton); Tommy Krupa (Morton); Wes Gudeman (Morton); Grant Selke (Morton); Alex McKie (Morton); Preston Sledge (Morton); Josh Dawe (Midwest Central); JJ Proehl (Midwest Central); Brynden Coventry (IVC); Brady Ward (IVC); Devon White (Illini Bluffs); Matthew Zobrist (Metamora); Ashton Grieves (Metamora); James Johnson (Washington); CJ Duncan (Washington); Jerry Hahn (Dee-Mack); Caden Latta (Manual); Quinton Kitt (East Peoria); Cole Dubois (East Peoria); Barrett Marfell (Peoria Heights); Malachi Persinger (Peoria Christian); Nas Jackson (Manual); Dietrich Richardson (Manual); Jack Wilderman (PND); Sean Graham (PND); Patrick Graham (PND); Mario West (PND); Jack Logan (PND).

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: All 94 of the coaches for 2024 Curley "Boo" Johnson basketball camp