BLOOMINGTON– Todd Peterson probably never dreamed that, after playing basketball in Europefor the past couple years, that his first minor league assignment would put himless than 30 minutes away from his native Pekin.
And yet, thanks to a phone call fromA. J. Guyton, the one-time point guard and shooting guard with the ChicagoBulls in the early 2000s and now is head coach of the expansion CentralIllinois Drive of the Premier Basketball League, being just that close to homeand having family and friends come see him play is a reality.
Playing power forward for the Drive,an expansion team which debuted in the Premier Basketball League when PBL’sseason started earlier this month, Peterson said he is charged by his coachwith bringing “a defensive presence” on the court at the Drive’s home arena,U.S. Cellular Coliseum, as well as on the road.
“It’s my job to help create mistakes(made by the opposition),” Peterson explained.
A 2002 graduate of Pekin CommunityHigh School, before joining the Drive, Peterson last played basketball inBloomington-Normal at the Illinois High School Association Super-Sectionals,when the Dragons squared off against Springfield Lamphier High School.
Peterson spent the last two-and-a-half years playing the game in France and Switzerland.He started getting calls from and having conversations with Guyton and formerBradley University star and now teammate Daniel Ruffin, encouraging him to tryout for the Drive. Now that he is here, Peterson and Ruffin are helping draw infans. They are doing it not just by scoring, but by making personal connectionswith fans.
As of Jan. 29, the Drive is a perfect 6-0, and Peterson is tied for 30thin the league in scoring with 82 points, including 11 treys. The man he is tiedwith is former Illinois State University standout and current Chicago Muscleveteran Rico Hill. Defensively, Peterson’s
6 foot 8 inch frame has allowed him to be close to the top in blocks in theleague with 5 in six games, putting him 9th overall in the league inthat category.
Peterson said being able to earn his keep so close to home has been fun. “I’ve been outof the country for a long time, so (my family) couldn’t see a lot of my gamesunless they got on a plane, so, this is nice because they are right in thePekin-Peoria area, and all they have to do is get on (Interstate) 74. It’s justgreat news for them.”
Peterson’sbeing here has been great news for the Drive and their fans, too. His coachGuyton, is glad he was able to land the big forward, as well.
PBL is one of nearly a dozen minor leagues in basketball today. Even so, Petersonsaid playing in Bloomington with a PBL team can help get players noticed and movingfrom PBL to a league like the National Basketball Developmental League, thedevelopmental wing of NBA. For some, being in Bloomington could lead to playingin European leagues, too.
“Todd is definitely a leader,” Guyton said. “With his experience and where he’s beenin his career and how hard he works, and his I. Q. for the game, you have nochoice but to follow a guy like Todd and guys like (Ruffin)…guys who have donethis before.”
Even Peterson’s opponents are impressed with what he has shown so far. Hill, aforward and center for the Chicago Muscle, the team posing the closest threatto the Drive in the division, noted contributions Peterson was making on thecourt.
“He helped spread the floor,” Hill said after a season-opening loss here earlierthis month. “He’s probably their best shooter.”
Rim Shots: Headquartered in Chicago, PBL has nine teams playing in twodivisions….The cities PBL teams play in stretch from Rochester, N. Y. to St.Louis…..PBL plays a quick 20-game regular season followed by playoffs…….TheRochester Razorsharks are PBL’s current champions, having won the league titlefor three straight years….The Drive is owned by Bloomington businessman JimMorris, whose business ventures include operating two Sonic Drive-Inrestaurants in the Twin Cities….Morris recently purchased Bloomington’s IndoorFootball League franchise from developer Ed Brady. That franchise, the BloomingtonExtreme, which had existed from 2006-2011, will play in IFL under Morris’ownership with a new name starting in 2012: The Bloomington Edge.