Bill Cole: Player Journal 1

Bill Cole: Player Journal 1
January 22, 2006

Heyyy Everyone,

Bill Cole here, time to start my first journal with MidState Hoops!

Wow has this season been a wild ride for me. Coach Ellis is working us real hard in practice and it is producing some good W’s on game night. We started out the season 2-1 at the Quincy thanksgiving tournament; we lost to the host team, Quincy, who is always tough to beat in there gym. From there we went to play a very tough Memphis Mitchell team at the Marshall County Shootout in Kentucky. Thaddeus Young plays for them, and let me tell you he is the real deal! Easily the best player I’ve ever played against. From there we drop two more games to state-ranked Champaign Central, and Peoria Manual who is very talented this year. Although we didn’t get the start we wanted we never gave up, and have gone on a run since then beating great teams like Moline, Thornridge, and Schaumburg last night, as well as many local teams. We are on an 8 game winning streak and our overall record is 13-5.

My team at Richwoods has great seniors as well as great team chemistry. Dan Mathis starts at point and he is newly converted from a 2-guard. He is doing a great job leading the team. Pat Hogan is an all out hustle player who is always making plays defensively –he starts at the 3. Ryan Phillips our key to the winning streak has stepped up huge to give me and Justin Dehm a break from scoring he holds down the 4. Justin is a pure shooter with RANGE he is the other junior who starts besides me. Well that leaves me the big man in the middle who just tries to go out and play hard every night! Right now I’m trying to get into the weight-room as much as possible to lift. I’m also trying to cram food down to put some weight on my body frame, but I have a feeling that is something that will come with time. My shot is feeling real well right now, and scoring is becoming easier because teams can’t leave my teammates to double team me or they will get punished. Our bench is also doing a great job and is very important to our success.

As most people know I verbally committed to the University of Illinois a month or two ago. The recruiting process was a rewarding experience, knowing that all my work was paying off. Coach Weber, and his staff have been great to me, and I see myself fitting in the system. People thought just because my Dad played football there, and my sister goes there now that I was automatically going to go there. The truth is that it didn’t really have anything to do with the process. I never felt pressure from my dad; he wanted me to go where I felt was a good fit. I spent a long time choosing which school felt right and I can’t wait to get down there, but first things first and I am focusing on Richwoods trying to get a chance to play for our ultimate goal, which is the state championship.

As we go on this run in late January, we are a team to be reckoned with. Friday will be a battle for the city of Peoria, as well as Conference. We play Manual for the second time around and it will be a game not to miss. Don’t be surprised to see us end up with a great record; if all goes well, we are setting ourselves up to sweep the end of the regular season schedule.

Peoria Richwoods Knight #42,

Bill Cole


THE BEST IN ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RECRUITING!

Previous Entries	Bill Cole: Player Journal 1 January 22, 2006 Heyyy Everyone, Bill Cole here, time to start my first journal with MidState Hoops! Wow has this season been a wild ride for me. Coach Ellis is working us real hard in practice and it is producing some good W’s on game night. We started out the season 2-1 at the Quincy thanksgiving tournament; we lost to the host team, Quincy, who is always tough to beat in there gym. From there we went to play a very tough Memphis Mitchell team at the Marshall County Shootout in Kentucky. Thaddeus Young plays for them, and let me tell you he is the real deal! Easily the best player I’ve ever played against. From there we drop two more games to state-ranked Champaign Central, and Peoria Manual who is very talented this year. Although we didn’t get the start we wanted we never gave up, and have gone on a run since then beating great teams like Moline, Thornridge, and Schaumburg last night, as well as many local teams. We are on an 8 game winning streak and our overall record is 13-5. My team at Richwoods has great seniors as well as great team chemistry. Dan Mathis starts at point and he is newly converted from a 2-guard. He is doing a great job leading the team. Pat Hogan is an all out hustle player who is always making plays defensively –he starts at the 3. Ryan Phillips our key to the winning streak has stepped up huge to give me and Justin Dehm a break from scoring he holds down the 4. Justin is a pure shooter with RANGE he is the other junior who starts besides me. Well that leaves me the big man in the middle who just tries to go out and play hard every night! Right now I’m trying to get into the weight-room as much as possible to lift. I’m also trying to cram food down to put some weight on my body frame, but I have a feeling that is something that will come with time. My shot is feeling real well right now, and scoring is becoming easier because teams can’t leave my teammates to double team me or they will get punished. Our bench is also doing a great job and is very important to our success. As most people know I verbally committed to the University of Illinois a month or two ago. The recruiting process was a rewarding experience, knowing that all my work was paying off. Coach Weber, and his staff have been great to me, and I see myself fitting in the system. People thought just because my Dad played football there, and my sister goes there now that I was automatically going to go there. The truth is that it didn’t really have anything to do with the process. I never felt pressure from my dad; he wanted me to go where I felt was a good fit. I spent a long time choosing which school felt right and I can’t wait to get down there, but first things first and I am focusing on Richwoods trying to get a chance to play for our ultimate goal, which is the state championship. As we go on this run in late January, we are a team to be reckoned with. Friday will be a battle for the city of Peoria, as well as Conference. We play Manual for the second time around and it will be a game not to miss. Don’t be surprised to see us end up with a great record; if all goes well, we are setting ourselves up to sweep the end of the regular season schedule. Peoria Richwoods Knight #42, Bill Cole
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