“Playground to the Pros” by Jeff Karzen

Jeff Karzen is a sportswriter who’s now telling the world what Peoria sports fans already know: that basketball plays a major role in the community.A hotbed of talent since the 1980s, Peoria has produced a number of standout players, such as Shaun Livingston, A.J. Guyton, Marcus Griffin, and Sergio McClain – just to name a few. The city captured six high school state championships – including Manual High’s run of four straight championship titles from 1994-97 – and boasted four Illinois Mr. Basketball winners.But Karzen’s book, “Playgrounds to the Pros: Legends of Peoria Basketball,” along with coverage of the game, also includes a view of Peoria’s South Side, the poor side of town where the income is low and the crime rate high. But the neighborhood has strong people--and talented players. He notes the positive effect basketball has had not only on this area but the entire region.“It just kind of popped in my head that there might be some great stories to tell here that haven't been told before,” said Karzen, who pulls the curtain back on the great players and coaches that made Peoria a basketball hotspot.