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Former Richwoods coach among 16 from Peoria area part of IBCA Hall of Fame's Class of 2024

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·2 min read

Former Richwoods boys coach Mike Ellis highlights the Peoria-area individuals who are set to be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's hall of fame class of 2024.

The Peoria area was represented by 10 coaches and players as well as a media member and five friends of basketball. The banquet is scheduled for May 4, 2024, at Illinois State University. This class was announced Monday afternoon.

Evanston coach Mike Ellis previously coached at Richwoods High School in Peoria.
Evanston coach Mike Ellis previously coached at Richwoods High School in Peoria.

Ellis, who is the current Evanston head coach, led Richwoods to a pair of state runner-up finishes during his seven-year stint there.

His 2006 team took second in Class AA to Chicago Simeon, led by Derrick Rose. Four years later, Ellis took Richwoods to the 2010 Class 3A state championship game, falling 58-55 to Country Club Hills Hillcrest. He went 155-55 during his time on the Knights sidelines.

Illini Bluffs head basketball coach Clay Vass prepares the Tigers for the second half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal game against ROWVS/Williamsfield on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at Peoria Christian High School in Peoria. The Tigers advanced to the title game with a 61-34 victory over the Cougars.
Illini Bluffs head basketball coach Clay Vass prepares the Tigers for the second half of their ICAC Tournament semifinal game against ROWVS/Williamsfield on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at Peoria Christian High School in Peoria. The Tigers advanced to the title game with a 61-34 victory over the Cougars.

Current Illini Bluffs boys coach Clay Vass, who also spent time at Hamilton and A-C Central, will also be enshrined. His 2023 team lost in the Elite Eight this past March, spoiling an opportunity for IB to make its first-ever boys hoops state finals.

IHSA basketball news: Longtime Williamsfield boys basketball coach suddenly retires

Lewistown's Greg Bennett, Dean Cada of Macomb and Stan Prosser from Eureka round out the Peoria-area coaches up for induction.

Lewistown High School girls basketball coach Greg Bennett confers with his players during the 2020 Class 1A state-championship game in Normal.
Lewistown High School girls basketball coach Greg Bennett confers with his players during the 2020 Class 1A state-championship game in Normal.

Brett Bisping (Morton), William James Howard (Princeton), Reuben Slock (Bureau Valley), Rose Peeples (Spalding) and Maggie Mose (Krick), who starred at Washington, then Illinois State, complete the players heading to the HOF.

Former Galesburg Register-Mail sports editor Mike Trueblood goes into the hall along with Steve Derubeis (Wenona), Ginny and Jackie Gilles (Princeville), Ty Meiss (Eureka) and Mark Kleemann (Spalding) all getting the nod as IBCA Friends of Basketball.

More: What central Illinois HS coaches are saying about the potential change to football districts

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

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 16 from Peoria area part of Illinois HS basketball Hall of Fame