Raymond will return

Two-time CCIW Most Outstanding Player Kent Raymond announced that he will return to Wheaton for his final year of eligibility.

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After a big freshman season, Raymond sat out his sophomore year for personal reasons. He then returned to play his junior and senior years at Wheaton. He'll be a 5th year senior in 2008-09.

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Raymond averaged 24.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists last season. He scored 47 points in Wheaton's Sweet 16 win over Whitworth. Raymond's 44-point performance at IWU in 2006-07 is the current Shirk Center scoring record.

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Certainly big news for Wheaton and the CCIW. Raymond will enter '08-09 as one of the premier perimeter players in all of small college basketball.

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The Titans, by the way, went 3-0 vs Mr. Raymond and the Thunder last year. More spirited IWU/Wheaton battles to come!

Freeman signs in Germany

After a successful rookie season, former IWU All-American Zach Freeman ('07) has agreed to return to Germany next year. Read all about in the Pantagraph.

Congratulations to Zach...one of the best to ever wear the green & white.

Zimmer named 1A/2A PJ Star "Player of the Year"

(Peoria Journal Star photo)

IWU recruit Jordan Zimmer was named 1A/2A "Player of the Year" by the Peoria Journal Star. There is a ton of small school talent in the Journal Star's wide coverage area, as evidenced by the quality of past POY winners...

2008 - Jordan Zimmer, Delavan (Illinois Wesleyan)
2007 & 2006 - Carlton Fay, Putnam County (Southern Illinois)
2005 - Ryan Burks, Midwest Central (Elmhurst)
2004 - Micah Lavender, Peoria Christian (Olivet Nazarene)
2003 - Chad Cox, Macomb (?)
2002 - Nathan Koster, Lewistown (Western Illinois)
2001 - Jake Sottos, Monmouth (U. of Hawaii)
2000 - Barry Welsh, Abingdon (Western Illinois)
2000 - Rhet Wierzba, Farmington (Austin Peay)
1999 - Seth Nelson, Farmington (Nebraska-Omaha)
1998 - Shawn Jeppson, Hall (Illinois State)
1997 - Travis Lewis, Williamsfield (Louisiana Tech)
1996 - Ryan Knuppel, Midwest Central (Elmhurst)


Complete story

PJ Star 1A/2A All-star team


Few is the number of high school basketball players given the chance to play in college at the Division I level. Even fewer is the number of those who pass on the opportunity.

Early this past season, Delavan senior Jordan Zimmer was extended an invitation to attend Saint Louis University as a walk-on player. The Rick Majerus-coached Billikins were even more interested shortly after Delavan's season had ended."

(Assistant coach) Porter Moser called and said they wanted to come up and watch me work out again," Zimmer said. "I had already thought a lot about it and told him I was no longer interested."He asked me if they offered a scholarship, would that make a difference," Zimmer said. "I said 'thanks but no' and told them not to waste the trip. I had already made my decision."
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"My dream coming into the season was to get a Division I scholarship, but eventually I realized the level I was going to play in college wasn't the most important thing," Zimmer said. "Wesleyan is close to home, and Division III feels right for me. It feels more like (small school) basketball. It feels more like Delavan."

All-stater Jordan Zimmer picks Illinois Wesleyan

On the heels of Eric McCullough's decision to attend IWU, Ron Rose received another extremely significant recruiting commitment today. Jordan Zimmer, a 6-4 wing from Delevan H.S., said he will attend Illinois Wesleyan and play basketball for the Titans.
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Jordan Zimmer Facts:

6-4 Sr. G/F, Delavan High School
- 28-4 (school record)
- Regional Title
- Ranked #4 in class 1A final AP poll

Senior season stats:
Points: 736 pts. / 23.0 ppg
3 pt made: 123 (top 10 on IHSA all-time list)
3 pt. %: 123-293 / 42.0%
2 pt. % 121-211 / 57.4%
FT %: 125-137 / 91.3%
Rbs: 132 rbs. / 4.1 rpg
Asst: 99 ast. / 3.1 apg
Steals: 54 stl / 1.7 spg

· Career high 44 points (including 22 in 4th qt.) in sectional semi-final vs. Putnam County…his final game of his HS career
· Awarded “Best Defensive Player” on his team which allowed only 45.7 ppg

Career highlights:
- 2045 career points scored
- 347 career 3-pt made (top 5 on IHSA all-time list)
- 86.5% career FT %
- Started 121 out of 122 varsity games in career (2 regional titles)

School Records
- Career Points 2045
- Career 3-pt made 347
- Season 3-pt made 123
- Game Points 44

Senior Season Honors
· 1st Team AP Class 1A All-State
· 1st Team Chicago Sun Times All-State
· 1st Team IBCA All-State
· 1st Team IHSS Class 1A All-State
· 1st Team IBS Small School All-State
· 1st Team Tomahawk All-Conference
· 1st Team ICAC All-Conference
· 1st Team Bloomington Pantagraph All-Area
· Player of the Year Pekin Daily Times

4.0 GPA Valedictorian
National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar
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I saw Zimmer play three times this year, including his 44-point effort vs Putnam County in his final high school game. I'm convinced Zimmer is going to be an outstanding CCIW player. He will have to get bigger and stronger - and there will certainly be a learning curve as he transitions from a Class 1A to the CCIW - but he has all the tools to be great.

Zimmer received pretty significant interest from St. Louis University. Rick Majerus came to Delavan to watch him practice and then had him on campus. Fortunately for Illinois Wesleyan, SLU did not offer. (They offered and signed G/F Kyle Cassity of Pinckneyville.) Zimmer was pursued very aggressively by the three CCIW schools that he made his choice between - Augustana and Elmhurst being the other two.

In two years, the name “Brady Zimmer” will be a big one on the small college recruiting trail. Jordan’s younger brother started at PG this year as a sophomore, averaging 13 ppg…he is going to be a stud as a junior and senior. Jordan's parents are Doug (an IWU alum) and Beth Zimmer...Doug was a track star at IWU, graduating in '88. Jordan's grandfather, Duane Sampen, also played basketball at Illinois Wesleyan (Class of 1959)...with my father actually.

Below are a few Jordan Zimmer-related links. Welcome to Jordan and the entire Zimmer family!

Pantagraph (April 3, 2008)

WMBD TV feature

Pantagraph feature (Jan. 30, 2008)

IBCA 1A/2A all-state team

IHSS Class 1A all-state team

AP all-state team

IBS Small School all-state team